New Numbers and Recovering Lost Numbers for British Citizens
All British citizens who are in the UK on their sixteenth birthday are issued with an NI number. If you are British and you have lost your National Insurance number or can’t remember it there are a three ways to retrieve it.
However if you did not get a number issued on you sixteenth birthday there are two ways to get one – see below.
3 Ways to Retrieve an existing NI Number
If you lost or can’t find your NI Number but you did have one:
In 2010 the Chancellor announced that they would not be replacing cards any longer. The actual number is all that you need.
1) To retrieve your number the easiest way is usually to find it on a payslip or some tax documents you have.
If you cannot find your number:
2) There is a Form CA5403 form you can fill out to retrieve your number by post or online.
OR
3) Alternatively call the National Insurance Registrations Helpline on Tel 0845 915 7006 (8.30 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday).
If you never had an NI Number
If you are one of of many British Citizens that have never lived in the UK or was not in the in the UK on your sixteenth birthday, and you do not have an National Insurance Number there are two options available to you:
1) Assistance
2) DIY
- Proof of your identity
- An account of all your past years of work and travel
- How and when you arrived in the UK
Hi I need to get my National Insurance number.. and dont know how too..
I left England in 1998.. and moved to Ireland.
Many Thanks
Linda Murphy
Hi Linda, Were you 16 or over when you left the UK? If so follow the advice on this page to retrieve it.
If not you probably do not have one. Check out our https://easyninumber.com/category/coming-from-overseas/ page which applies to British citizens too. Cheers, Quinn
Hi, I turned 16 in March of this year and my tin brother got his NI number but I never. I’ve lived here my whole life and was born here. Who should I call to revieve it?
Might be worth waiting a bit if you can, but sounds like a good chance they somehow messed up. Since it is hard to know if they issued and you did not receive or they did not issue I am afraid a phone call might be the way to go.
I’m wondering if anyone could help me I’m 17 and have always lived in the uk and never been giving a national insurance number what do I do ?
Hi Mark,
You should have it by now obviously and I suspect you do. If I was you I would use one of the three ways mentioned above. They will tell you if you have one or not!
I am a Brisiths citizen I am now 17 and have not received my national insurance number. It is becoming a problem as I am leaving college in June an will need to work.
Hi Kristy, You should have it by now – if I were you I would go through the process of recovery as described above. If you have been living in the UK all you life you should have automatically been sent one.
Hello my daughter has just turned 16 and has still not received her national insurance number . She has a part time job to start but she is still waiting for her number . Can anyone help
Hi Julian, Gosh how frustrating. Hard to know what has happened for her to slip through the cracks. For example, if you changed address in the past few years it possibly went to your old address… If it were me I would start the recovery process assuming that she has one – this should then either retrieve it or you will find out if she has one in the first place. Also, if she just turned 16 it might just be a matter of waiting. This question has come up before. Let me know how you go please, so we can tell others. No dobt it will work out for her eventually!
Hello –
I was born and raised in England and left there in 1984 to emigrate to the United States of America. I am now nearing retirement age and need to locate my National Insurance Number (which I am currently having difficulty doing) so that I can pursue getting my UK Teacher’s Pension transferred from the UK.
Can anyone who is “in the know” help me figure out what I need to do to find my National Insurance Number? I can’t proceed with obtaining my old UK Pension until I locate it.
Thanks for your help!
Paul
Hi Paul,
Did you try the options listed above in the post? They are the ways to do it.
hy i have applied for national insurance number on January 15 2014 and left the country on January 22, 2014…. now i’m in romania and i don’t know what is the answer.. what to do???. and no longer live at theat adress..My family no longer live at this address…
Hi Johnny, You will need to update you address but I am not sure if they will snd it now that you are overseas.. either way good idea to let them know. C
Hi not sure if you can help me, we emigrated to Australia in 1997 and didn’t let the authorities know, we have worked here and paid tax for the last 17 years. Any advice will help , I have a nat insur. no.
Hi Ness, Not sure what help you need… should not be a problem from what you have said. If you pay tax in Aus and live there – you will be fine, but sometimes the UK may think you are still in the UK. After 17 years though I doubt it.
Hello,
I’ve never lived in the UK. I live in Bermuda which is a British Territory and I do have British citizenship. I’m looking to move to England with my family and I’m looking for jobs. They have asked for a National Insurance number which I do not have. How do I obtain one? Also if an interview is required, does it have to be in person or can it be done over the phone?
I love Bermuda! Has to be in person and you will have to do it. Check out the rest of the site for details!
Hello There I have an N.I number, I left the u,k around 1995 to live, grow up and school in Nigeria. I just discovered I have an N.I number and have the card with me..was wondering if Im a British citizen and if so what do i do now to get my passport since im in u.k at the moment on a visit visa.
NI Number has nothing to do with getting a passport – just means that you once were able to work in the UK
Hi there,
I need a little help here. I have been living and working in the UK from 2005-2011 then I moved to France. Upon leaving the country I claimed my tax back as I didn’t think I was gonna go back ever. Now, after 2,5 years it turns out that I am moving back to England. I do have a NI number and I would like to ask if it is still valid or is it expires any time? Thanks in advance. Regards
You will just resume on your old number. It never expires. Welcome back to the UK!
Hi there,i live in UK for over 7 years. I started to work straight away. I’ve never been requested by HM Ravenue for my nin and also never had an interview for it. Strangest thing is that there is nin on all of my payslips. Where from?Im worried that all my contributions goes somewhere to the air. What to do?
Hi, Sounds like you have one -“there is nin on all of my payslips”, but it could be an “emergency number” – you really need to make sure this is not the case and get one if not. Your NI contribution should be shown on your payslips. If you find that you did not have one all along, you need to talk to an accountant. I am not sure what they can do, but they may be able to sort it all out for you.
Hello,
My daughter is 17 in 2 months and has been living in Spain since the age of eight. I want to apply for her driving licence so she can take an intense course in the summer as she wants to return to the uk at the end of the year but they need her N I number. What is the best thing to do?
Many Thanks
Julie
Not sure who needs her NI Number but she will need to wait until she gets there to do the interview regardless. In any case they should be able to help her without one… perhaps just explain your situation.
Hello,
I am a British citizen and worked in the UK for more than 10 years until 1980. Since then I have lived overseas. I cannot find my NI card and I no longer have any old pay stubs or tax returns. Can I obtain my NI number by phone?
Thanks.
Clive
Hi Clive, See Option 3) above. Cheers!
Im 16, i recently moved house and my NI number may have been sent to my old address which seems highly unlikely. However i called in and requested a form but was not sent one. I have been 16 for a long time and i have yet to receive my number.
You probably have one or will have one soon, so I would just go through one of the retrieval processes.
My parents were travelers and never stayed in on place for very long. So the paper trail is scarce. I never had a NI number issued. I have gotten by a these years without one but now i want to live a “normal” life and settle down. Can I still get one? I am 44.
Absolutely – no problem! You basically have to if you want to work in the UK. If you worked in the UK before might be worth checking…
What would I need to do? I read a story about a man in London with a similar problem and they still have not given him one. He is official a “non person”…..like me!
Hi Claire, You need to apply just like a non-British person has to when they first arrive – start here https://easyninumber.com/national-insurance-numbers-for-non-british-citizens/ Hope that helps!
I have looked over the page and it looks like I will need at least one of these:-
valid passport
national identity card (any Nationality)
full birth or adoption certificate
full marriage or civil partnership certificate
driving licence (UK or foreign)
residence permit or card
biometric immigration documents
letter of employment – (this can be provided by a recruitment agency)
travel documents
None of these things I have. I have lived and worked with my family and have never needed them so far.
Hi, I was born in England but my parents moved to Ireland when I was a baby. I returned later with my husband, hence under a different surname and he worked whereas I did not. We returned to Ireland over 20 years ago and I am now divorced. I have recently completed a degree and want to return to England to work. I would like to know if I have a National Insurance Number under my married name through my husband being employed there?
Sorry for the delay in response – I took some much needed time off. Your NI number would not have been issued to you through your husband – it is only attached to individuals. That does not mean you do not have one. I guess it depends on how sure you are about not having but if you can retrieve your NI under your old name before applying for a new one, that will probably save you a lot of issues down the track. The details of how to do this are on this page.
Thanks for the reply Quinn. My husband did claim unemployment benefit for the family when we lived in London so would my NI number have been activated then? My daughter now lives in Manchester and her NI number was activated when my husband claimed unemployment so this is why I am asking.
You are welcome Marion. Really hard for me to know how your specific situation was handled but if you suspect you have one perhaps it would be best to try retrieve it first.
I was married to a british citizen. I received an NI
number. I believe it is still valid.Can i return to the UK
If i get the number & Begin to work again?
Yes – no problem
Hi there, I’m 16 and lost my national insurance number shortly after getting it due to misplacement. I sent off the form to the HM Revenue place 2 weeks ago and am still yet to receive my number but I desperately need a job for a trip next year and if I don’t get it within the next few weeks I won’t be able to go. I’ve rung up the place too a few times but they’ve not accepted my call etc so I just wondered how long it will take to eventually come through?
You can start work without a NI Number and you do have one – just waiting to get the number. Sorry no idea how long that will take – could be months but this should not stop you from finding work.
Hi
My grand mother who was born around 1913-15 lived and worked here(UK) I am trying to apply for citizenship through both her and my mother. I do not have her exact date of birth or the date when she first arrived here, however I do have her national insurance number, who would I approach for them to give me details which I need to support my claim? both grandma and mom are deceased.
thanks in advance for our reply.
Hi Patrice, Sounds more like a visa question … As I understand it, birth or marriage certificates are generally what is required but the NI number may be helpful or help at least lead you retrieve the other documents. Sorry I can’t be more helpful – there will no doubt be a list of documents somewhere to support you application. Usually you get an Ancestry visa before you get citizenship if you are going the grandparent route…
Hello,
I lived in work in the UK while in the country on a visa, as I was American at the time I was in the UK through my marriage to a British citizenshin. I left before my visa’s expiry date and am now divorced, since then I have claimed dual citizenship with Italy and now hold an EU passport through them. I am back in the UK for work and have an appointment at JobCentre Plus, do I continue using my old NI no. or do I obtain a new one as the reasons as to how I’m legally within the UK have changed? Any help at all would be much appreciated.
Hi Ember, Good question. You will need to retrieve your old one. Once you have one you have it for life. It will be to your benefit to do so as well! Use the British page I have provided to see how you can retrieve it.
Hello i applied for ny NI 4weeks ago, i havent got it yet and i need it to get a job as i have gotten offers but i couldnt get the job due to my NI, i cant claim Jobseekers as i havcent been in the uk for up to 3 months, i am a uk citizen who has lived outside the uk for a very long time, now i get home and i am fustartred hiow am i suppose to survive in the uk which is my home, help me and find my NI please
You can definitely work without it! Also if you lived in the UK previously I hope you checked that you do not already have one.
i wasnt 16 when i was in the uk i left i was 5 , can i get a contact number to ask them if my number is ready
I’m 17 and am a British citizen who has lived in the UK all my life. I never received my national insurance card/number and have tried looking for several websites yet none have given me the right guidance.
Who do I phone in regards to this? as i’m always told I have to arrange an interview? even though i assumed that’s what immigrants would do when wanting to work in the UK?
What do I need to do?
thank you
Not 100% sure, but I would try to retrieve it as if you have one but it got lost. Then I would get one from scratch if that did not work.
Hi I have printed and sent a form in to retrieve my N I number by post as I need written conformation of it. Could you tell me the longest possible time it will take to come as this is the second week and I need it to apply for a driving licence thank you
Sorry I have no idea on the retrieval times – you would think it should be relatively quick – lets hope so!
Please help, I am a Brit citizen who was educated in UK but has lived overseas nearly all my life. I have an old NHS card, with my boarding school address, as well as an old type paper driving licence with my maiden name and what was my parents address, but no NI no. However, I did do summer work for Marks and Spencer’s in 1981 but I have no pay slips. Presume I would have had a NI No to work????
My parents have passed away and I can’t find any other documents. I just want to update everything . However it’s all very well asking us to phone from overseas at vast expense and none of these depts have email addresses where you can ask advice. It seems I cannot do one thing without the other form of ID.
I can only imagine and share your frustration. I would say you have a very good change of having an NI number. I would use skype for the calls (much cheaper) or try to do one of the other methods (if possible!).
In 1986 we came from S.Africa with our parents(minors at the time) went too school and automatically received N.I numbers turning 16. Now government saying we are not british citizens if this is the case why where we automatically issued with N.I numbers??? Any info appreciated.
You do not have to be British to have an NI number.
Hi iv just found out that my mother whom I dont live with or have been for 5 months.she moved from the address where I used to live with her around the same time. She just text me saying that she got sent the form for my natural insurance and that she has filled it out and sent it. I don’t understand why it never got sent to me at my new home. My guardian claims child benefit and child tax credit for me, also my doctor has my address ect. So why would my mother get it sent to her please.
You mothers address must be what they must have on file – In any case it may be a good idea to get it changed assuming your are staying at the same address for a reasonable period of time…
I was born and lived in the UK till I was 2 years old. Have lived in Ireland and now returning to UK for work. Do I still go through interview process for National Insurance Number? Also if I use an agency to assist me to get a number will I get the number any quicker?
Thanks
Hi Veronica, You still have to go through the interview process. Please see the FAQs for my answer about speed of an agency – I can not put it better. In essence it can save you a lot of time if things get messy or you can avoid the interview (unfortunately you will not avoid the interview)
I am an Irish citizen teaching and living in England. I applied for my NI number well over 8 weeks ago now and it still has not arrived. I am nearly up on my 12 weeks of working in the UK on a temporary one and am having a nightmare trying to get through to someone who can help me.
Im really starting to worry because I don’t want to be left without pay in December. Any help or advice would be extremely appreciated.
Thanks a million
Hello,
I am a British citizen. I was born in the UK and moved to France at the age of 5. I have been accepted into two university’s in the UK. So I am moving back but I need a nino for student finance however i cannot affors to come back just for an interview. Can i proceed any other way ?
Thank you
Unfortunately not.
I have sent off to forms to retrieve my national insurance and have not had anything back. I have called the helpline numerous amount of times and have been on hold for about 15 minutes which is when I gave up calling. I really need it as I need to apply for student finance, but nobody is getting back to me. What can I do?
Hi Jade, I understand your frustration. These are the only ways to do it unless you used a service in which case they do this for you. Staying on the phone is your best option – the form may no work if there is a problem with your application and you do not actually have one.
Hi I am a British Ctizen living in South Africa for over 20 years. In the UK I worked for 11 years from leaving school at various places, so I must have a National Insurance number. Is there a system that I can do an online search for my National Insurance Number from South Africa.
Hi Alison, There is no online system, just the 3 methods mentioned.
hey, I am a British citizen but i wasn’t in UK on my 16th birthday.. I attended a interview and was told I would get my nose in a month… It’s been well over a month and I haven’t received anything. I can’t find a number to call or anything, do I have to attend another interview or why? Thanks
Just have to wait I am afraid.
Hi! I am a Hungarian citizen but 3 years ago I lived in the UK and I did get a NI number but when I moved back unfortunately I lost my paper and I can’t remember the number! I am returning back to England next month to live with my parents again and to start working right away! what should I do? If I post my request in the printed letter form which address should I write in the form? My Hungarian one or my parents’ new address? Also, it requires a phone number should I write my Hungarian one? thank you for the advice in advance! I need my number by the time I get there so I can work I don’t want to/can’t really wait 4 weeks after arriving there .
Hi Alexandra, Use your UK address (which may be the one they have on file) and also use the phone number in the UK. The reason I say this is that you NEED a UK address to apply so it makes sense that they would prefer to send it there. Personally I would use the UK phone number as well for simplicity and the fact that they probably wont call, they just want to send it to the right person.
Hey, I have been 16 for six months now and I still haven’t got my national insurance number. I am a british citezen who was born and brought up in the UK all my life. I was expecting to get it 2/3 months before my birthday as usual or 2/3 months after. Also I only moved houses once which was 5 years ago. I really don’t understand why I still don’t have it yet?
Hi My wife died 16 years ago . Im trying to claim exta pension but I cant find her NI number where do i get it from.
Hi Terry, You will need to go through the process of recovering it. See above – 3 Ways to Retrieve an existing NI Number – I suggest calling the number and I am sorry in advance for the wait but just relax with a good (insert word for something that lasts a while) and hopefully you will have it sorted in no time.
Hi I worked for 10 months in England in 2006 then I applied for my Nin but I never was called for the interview.
I went to ask about It to the jobcenter and they told me they have moved to a new office and probable they have lost my aplication. I applied again but I had to return to my country before the interview.
I had An emergency number and I paid high Taxes .
At the time of leaving England I claim for tax back but It hasn’t been possible to finish because the nin problem.
Is It normal? Is not possible to claim the taxes without the Nin although you have applied for one and you have paid the taxes every month?
Regards
Hi Sofia, How frustrating … I am afraid it is normal. Without getting your NIN you are not on the system. The NI Number makes sure you are who you say you are and links you to your tax and social services profiles. The only solution is to keep trying to get it. The good new is your payday is going to be pretty significant one day…
Dear Quinn
Would It be possible yo get the NI number
Years later?
Regards
Dear Quinn thank yoy very much for your answer.
Do you think Is possible to get the Nin now? Would It be valid for that past time?I don’t know how to do It , I am not living in England Now. I have all documents to prove I was working and living in England in 2006
Hi,
I am 15 and 8 months, I was wondering if I could apply for a NI number next month, as I want to start working ASAP. I have a job lined up, but they said they won’t accept me until I have it. Is it true that you can get your number 3 months before turning 16?
Thanks, Zoe
Afraid so Zoe – 16 for the NI Number – That does not mean you cannot work – https://www.gov.uk/child-employment/minimum-ages-children-can-work
Hello- I wonder if you could let me know how long it takes to receive a lost NIN after you have sent off the appropriate forms?
I’ve been applying for jobs and it’s been almost a month since I sent off for it.
Sit tight – It will depend on how busy they are at the time. Certainly 1 month would be considered quite quick. After a couple months I would begin wonder and try another method.
I just obtained my UK Passport in May, went through the whole interview process. I am currently Working and living in Greece. Is there a way for me to obtain my NIN without flying back to London to have another interview. Or can you interview me online?
Hi Laurel, Unfortunately not – separate departments.
I received my national insurance number when I turned on my 16th, does that make me a British Citizen? Since I came to UK under an EEA Family Permit Visa.
Having an NI does not make you a British Citizen unfortunately.
I left UK in 1987 and have been living abroad ever since. I did have an NI number when I was in UK but now have lost it.
I now need by NI – I have found my old NHS number, will this help in anyway in to retrieve my NI number?
Hi Liz, The Form CA5403 has a bunch of questions related to past address etc. Not sure if they will ask you for NHS as it is a different department. Cheers, Quinn
I turned 16 in January of this year and never got my national insurance number but my friend with the same birthday as me got his. In early February I called the number on the gov.uk website that they tell you to call if you never recieved your national insurance number and they told me they would send it in 7-10 working days through the post. A month and a half later I still have no national insurance number. I’m just wondering what my next step should be from here. There is no reason I shouldn’t have a number as I was born in England and have lived in England my whole life.
I would say just wait a month or two longer and it will arrive.
Roughly how long does it take for your NIN to arrive when you’ve sent that CA5403 form because I can’t get paid until it arrives and it’s been 3 weeks since sending the forms
Hi Naf, Very hard to know but certain could take another week or three. You should still be able to get paid though just with emergency tax removed – which is a lot and very annoying but at least you get some of it.
hi I was born in the uk and my family moved to Australia i am an adult now but would like to work in the uk what do I have to do to work in the uk
Lucky you Lyn! Take you British passport work, but you will need to get a NI number and go for the interview. Using the service I recommend can save a lot of trouble!
Hi there
I was born in UK but in my childhood i moved to dubai and came back about 10 years back, the nin my parents gave me i have been using that nin from last 10 years, i had to call recently to hmrc to discuss something about my tax and they said my nin is not on my name.
I have been paying tax on this nin for 10 years and dont know what to do as my parents past away and i have no idea weather my nin is right or wrong, i am really worried what should i do. please help me out.
ohhh my – think the first thing to do is double check your NI is not associated correctly with your name. Then you need to see what they can do to move it over. Not sure how 10 years have passed with out a flag somewhere perhaps your name is very similar with that of your parents?…
WORD OF CAUTION FOR BRITISH CITIZENS WHO MOVED ABROAD DURING THEIR CHILDHOOD:
I was born in America but lived in the uk, where I am also a citizen, for three years before the age of 16. Just this month I was trying to register to vote in the upcoming EU Referendum. I submitted my paper application (yes, Northern Ireland still lives in the 15th century) with limited time to spare, only to have my application returned to me for not writing down my NI number. I was flabbergasted. I left at the age of 6 and yet I was issued a NI number on my 16th birthday. Not only is this terribly inconvenient, this paperwork was sent to an address my family no longer lives at AND because of confidentiality laws, I couldn’t be told the number, but if I gave them information like my birthday and legal name, they’d send the papers to an address in a foreign country. For all they know, I could be some other person committing identity theft… So word of caution for British citizens who plan to return or just need their NI number, call the relevant office and just make sure they don’t have one registered in your name.
Have had the same NI number since I was 16 and am now 46. All my pay slips up to leaving UK for NZ had this number on. I tried to change my address details online and they said the NI number does not link to my name. I return to the UK in 2 weeks and am worried how long this has been happening for and why when my pay slips have the number why it doesn’t match on the system. Any ideas? My name is quite unique.
Hi Karen, I have heard this happen recently to someone else. When you say, “they said the NI number does not link to my name” – was it an automated response or do you think someone actually looked into it? If the later, then you need to set about proving it is you who is attached to the number – then they can sort it out. If the former – it could be as simple as not recognising the data you added and in that case perhaps try another method (like post). Hope that helps!
Problem, I live in Thailand, but have a UK pension and need my national insurance number, started with the overseas phone inquiry number, waste of money, talking to a computer from a mobile phone the jungle of Issan.
Next the on line text service, everything was fine, until last UK address, left to live in Australia 25 year ago, my last address was my house, which I sold to move to Australia
They say wrong address, fill in the postal application, but the address will not match their records again and there seems no other way to prove my identity.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
H,
My parents and i moved to spain and i was only 12 year old i am now 22 and wanting to move back to england with my two month old baby. i have never worked in england or been given a national insurance number. which is the best option to apply for my national insurance number?
kind regards, jessica mcelwee
Hi Jessica, Definitely recommend using the service I suggest to step you through the process – https://easyninumber.com/apply-for-a-national-insurance-number-online/ Does not matter if you are British or not you still have to go through the same process (With the exception of Non-EU applicants that usually can avoid the interview if they use the service I recommend)
i have been living and working in belgium since 1989; i worked in all sorts of jobs for ten years in england i have an insurance number that sticks in my head, would i still get a bit of money from britain when i retire eventually
Yes – that is generally how it works. Everyones circumstances are different but you just need to ask.
10 years ago I lived and worked in the UK on a working holiday visa and was issued with an NI number which I still have. I am now in the process of getting my Settlement Visa to return to the UK and just wanted to check if this NI number will still be valid, or if it was tied to the original visa in any way?
If it is still valid, I have since married so my surname would have changed – would this be an issue?
Yep – it is still valid as it is linked to you for life! There may be an issue with your new name, but clearly that happens all the time. If you have your old number – terrific just start using that. If not you may need to go through the recovery process I outline on this website.
Hi, Im a British citizen and have been for most of my life, but I wasn’t born in England, does that mean I have to apply for a national insurance number? My friend, born in August, already got hers this year and it doesn’t make sense as I was born in June which is before her? Anyone got advice on what to do?
If you have been granted British Citizenship it is possibly just a matter of waiting. Apart from that, you could check you have been made a British Citizen.
Hi,
I’m Australian born with a UK passport. I have never worked or lived in the UK. I am moving to work soon, do I need to apply for a Nin?
I am over 16 now.
Yes you will need to get one if you are going to work in the UK.
I am 78 years old, born in the UK but left with parents in November 1949 and have lived in Southern Africa since. I have a British passport. Can I obtain a NI number and will I also be eligible for National Heath benefits. My two adult children are U K citizens and have lived there for several years. It is my intention to reside
permanently with my daughter who lives I Raynes Park, Merton.
Your help will be much appreciated.
George Leggett
Great question. Would recommend you discuss this with the service I recommend as they will be able to ask the right questions to determine if you can and also what advantages there are.
Hi,
Our son is starting work in London next week. He was born in Canada but his mother is British so we applied for and maintained his UK passport since infancy = UK citizenship by descent ? He also has a Canadian passport. He’s never resided in the UK before this. He has a fixed term of employment with a large UK corporation. Do you foresee any hurdles with process?
No. He will need an NI Number just like everyone else. Even if you are British and were born there, if you lived outside of the UK on your 16th birthday, there is a very good chance the UK government will not have issued one.
The National Insurance Number Helpline phone number given on this page does not work. Dialling it just gives a ‘unobtainable’ tone. This is extremely frustrating as I am trying to sort ourt a deceased person’s estate and have no record of their NI number, which is ‘required’ for online Probate applications.
Hello, i already have my national insurance number but I made it at the age of 17 years old. Now I’ve turned 18. Do I have to change it?
Nope – Just use the same one!
Hi, I’m working with someone who was born in Rhodesia (when under British rule) & who has lived there until they moved to Britain last year to be cared for by a parent (who was born in Britain). They have a British passport but no Nino & is housebound with a serious health condition. I am trying to help them to get an Nino to apply for a means tested & a non-means tested benefit. I have spoken with someone on the Nino application line & several DWP agencies, none of whom can advise if they’d be eligible for a Nino or how to proceed to get one! I’ve read the previous threads but still need some advice!!
Hi Jacqui, I can understand your need for advice! Would highly recommend using the service I recommend. No guarantees they can help you, but from what I understand they are your best bet because they understand all the ins and out. Hope it works out for you!
Hi
I’m a British Citizen in South Africa; have never lived in the UK but am planning to. I have a British passport and drivers licence.
I want to organise my NI number now, but because I’m overseas I won’t be able to go for the EOI interview.
Can it be done via Skype? Consulate? Or is there any other work-around?
No – all done when you get there. However the service I suggest will help to get the ball rolling before you leave home which can give some piece of mind but even they will not submit you application until you are in the country.
Hello,
I was born in England in 1965 to American parents, I have a job opportunity in the UK, and generally would like to live/work in UK.
I have US citizenship, but have never decline UK citizenship.
What do I need to do to get an NI #?
You can be British no worries – effectively you are. You can get it yourself but for the small fee involved I highly recommend you use the service I suggest.
Hello,
I am 68 years of age and have a British passport / Citizenship but have never lived in the UK. I intend moving to the UK shortly to retire. Can I apply for NI before arrival and with a British Passport and Citizenship will I still have to attend an EOI ?
Hi Rob, You will have to attend an EOI. You can start using a service to help you beforehand but even they will wait till you arrive before submitting documents. Cheers, Quinn
I left the UK in 1988 to emigrate to the States.
I need my national insurance number in order to receive my late husbands pension.
I cannot find it anywhere.
I did fill out the forms to retrieve it only to get a letter back saying they cannot find it! I have filled out additional forms hopefully that will help!
What will happen if the UK Government can’t find it?
Hopefully the additional info should help. If not I would consult a specialist.
What is the best way to find reliable assistance? My daughter has just started at university in the UK, and has a British passport but no NI number, as she was living abroad at the age of 16. I would rather pay a bit for her to avoid a lot of hassle and delays.
Hi Lisa, You might find this helpful – https://easyninumber.com/how-to-get-a-ni-number-online-assistance/