Apply to pay contributions (CF83)

You need to apply to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions if you’ve been living or working abroad. This is to fill gaps in your National Insurance record. Before you apply, you should check the rules on which National Insurance contributions you can pay if you live or work abroad (or have previously) . You cannot apply if you’re over, or within 6 months of reaching, State Pension age. Contact the International Pension Centre instead. What you’ll need to apply You’ll need the following information: your full name your date of birth your National Insurance number (find your National Insurance number if you’ve lost it) your address in the UK (if you have one) your address abroad (if you have one) the date that you left the UK details of your employment before you left the UK how long you lived or plan to remain abroad details of your employment abroad if applicable details of any government benefit you were receiving or claiming if applicable You’ll also need a phone with a working camera and one of the following types of photo ID: UK photocard driving licence UK passport non-UK passport with a biometric chip UK biometric residence permit (BRP) UK biometric residence card (also called a BRC) UK Frontier Worker permit If you’re a volunteer development worker You’ll need to include information on your earnings. This should include all cash allowances paid by your employer. This should not include goods and services provided to you for free or at reduced cost (‘benefits in kind’), or any cash allowances not paid by your employer. Apply If you’re applying to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions for multiple periods, you need to provide information for each period. Apply now What happens next HMRC may contact you to ask for further information about your application. If your application is approved, HMRC will send an acceptance letter that includes: how much you need to pay when you need to pay it your payment reference number Find out when you can expect to receive a reply from HMRC . You can contact HMRC National Insurance enquiries if you have further questions about paying National Insurance contributions and living abroad.

Pay online using your bank account

You can pay voluntary Class 2 or Class 3 National Insurance contributions directly using your online or mobile bank account. You must apply to pay National Insurance contributions and wait for an acceptance letter from HMRC before making a payment. The letter will include your 18-digit payment reference number. You’ll need: a UK bank account your online banking details the 18-digit payment reference number on your HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ) acceptance letter If you do not have an 18-digit reference number, you cannot use this payment method. If you use the wrong reference number, your payment may be delayed or used to pay a different tax bill that you owe. Pay now The payment is usually instant but can take up to 2 hours to show in your bank account. After you’ve paid Your National Insurance record and personal tax account will be updated after HMRC gets the payment. This can take up to 8 weeks.

Set up a Direct Debit

If you know you’ll have gaps in your National Insurance record in the current tax year, you can make regular payments to fill the gaps. Pay by Direct Debit You can use Direct Debit to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions for the current tax year (6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027) and future tax years. To set up Direct Debit payments, complete the relevant section on the application form . Allow 21 days to set up a new Direct Debit. HMRC will send you a letter telling you when payments will be taken and how much they will be. Payments appear on your statement as ‘ HMRC NI-DD’. Stopping your Direct Debit payments You can cancel your Direct Debit at any time. HMRC will automatically stop collecting payments when either: you’re old enough to get your State Pension you’ve paid the maximum allowable amount of voluntary contributions After you’ve paid Your National Insurance record and personal tax account will be updated after HMRC gets the payment. This can take up to 8 weeks.

Make an online or telephone bank transfer

You can make a bank transfer using Faster Payments, CHAPS or Bacs: from your online bank account by phoning your bank You must apply to pay National Insurance contributions and wait for an acceptance letter from HMRC before making a payment. The letter will include your 18-digit payment reference number. Paying from a UK bank account Make your payment to the following HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ) bank account: sort code - 08 32 20 account number - 12001004 account name - HMRC NIC Receipts Payment reference number Use your 18-digit payment reference number when making your payment. You’ll find it on your HMRC acceptance letter. For Class 2 when making international payments, your number will begin with 11. For Class 3 when making international payments, your number will begin with 60. If you use the wrong reference number, your payment may be delayed or used to pay a different tax bill that you owe. How long it takes Payments by Faster Payments (online or telephone banking) usually reach HMRC on the same or next day, including weekends and bank holidays. CHAPS payments usually reach HMRC the same working day if you pay within your bank’s processing times. Bacs payments usually take 3 working days. Overseas payments Use the following details if you’re paying from an overseas account: Business Identifier Code (BIC) - BARCGB22 account number (IBAN) - GB49 BARC 2020 4830 9447 93 account name - HMRC NIC Receipts Overseas payment reference Use your National Insurance number followed by ‘IC’, your surname then your initial (the first letter of your first name). If your bank limits you to a certain number of characters, you should use your National Insurance number followed by ‘IC’ and as much of your surname as possible. Examples If your National Insurance number is QQ123456A and your name is Anne Jones, you’d write the reference as QQ123456AICJONESA. If your National Insurance number is QQ123456A and your name is John Douglas-Hamilton, you’d write the reference as QQ123456AICDOUGLAS-HAMILTONJ. If you use the wrong reference number, your payment may be delayed or used to pay a different tax bill that you owe. Banking address HMRC ’s banking address is: Barclays Bank PLC 1 Churchill Place London United Kingdom E14 5HP After you’ve paid Your National Insurance record and personal tax account will be updated after HMRC gets the payment. This can take up to 8 weeks.

Send a cheque through the post

You can pay by sending a cheque to: HM Revenue and Customs National Insurance Contributions and Employer Office BX5 5BD You must apply to pay National Insurance contributions and wait for an acceptance letter from HMRC before making a payment. The letter will include your 18-digit payment reference number. You can only pay using a UK cheque. What to include Write one of the following references on the back of your cheque: 18-digit reference number an overseas payment reference number National Insurance number An overseas payment reference number is your National Insurance number followed by ‘IC’, your surname then your initial (the first letter of your first name). If your bank limits you to a certain number of characters, you should use your National Insurance number followed by ‘IC’ and as much of your surname as possible. Do not fold the cheque or attach it to other papers. If you want a receipt, you can ask for one. Include a note that has: your name, address and phone number how much you’re paying the period you’re paying for your 18-digit reference number, overseas payment reference number or National Insurance number If you use the wrong reference number, your payment may be delayed or used to pay a different tax bill that you owe. After you’ve paid Your National Insurance record and personal tax account will be updated after HMRC gets the payment. This can take up to 8 weeks.

Paying voluntary National Insurance contributions if you’ve worked or lived abroad

Overview

If you’ve been working or living abroad you may be able to pay voluntary Class 2 or voluntary Class 3 contributions to fill gaps in your National Insurance record and qualify for the State Pension.

You can only pay for gaps in your National Insurance record for the past 6 tax years. The deadline is 5 April each year.

For example, you have until 5 April 2031 to pay for gaps for the tax year 2024 to 2025.

Before you pay

Check your National Insurance record  to find out if you have any gaps and how much it will cost to pay for them.
Check your State Pension forecast  to find out if you’ll benefit from paying voluntary National Insurance contributions. Voluntary contributions do not always increase your State Pension.
Check the rules on paying voluntary National Insurance contributions if you’ve lived or worked abroad.
Apply to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions using form CF83.

How to pay

You must wait to receive an acceptance letter from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) before making any payment. The letter will include your payment reference number.

Once you get your acceptance letter, you can choose to:

You may not need to pay if you’re eligible for National Insurance credits.

After you’ve paid

Your National Insurance record and personal tax account  will be updated after HMRC gets the payment. This can take up to 8 weeks. Payments from outside the UK may take longer.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Paying voluntary National Insurance contributions if you’ve worked or lived abroad

Overview

Before you pay

How to pay

After you’ve paid

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Paying voluntary National Insurance contributions if you’ve worked or lived abroad

Overview

Before you pay

How to pay

After you’ve paid

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