If you are going to be working in the UK you will need an NI Number as soon as possible in order to avoid being charged emergency tax.
There are two ways to apply online:
1. If you do it yourself, the UK government website has an “Apply” button. Unfortunately the wait can be stressful if you do apply to get an NI number yourself as there is up to a 16 week wait.
2. However, if you want to use a service to assist the process, online forms are provided to get the ball rolling.
Benefits of using a service to apply for you NI Number:
- ASSISTANCE – A consultant will ensure that all of your information is correct.
- ADVICE – Instruct on what to do next.
2023 Update >> Go direct to the official UK website to do it, these days it has become pretty easy to arrange these for yourself.
Good Afternoon. I’m from Hungary and I arrived in Redditch, 19 .04.13. I would like an N.I. number. I work at Blue Earth Industry from 30 of April. What do I need and what can I do? Thanks for answer. Best regards: Zsolt Kelemen
Hi Zsolt, You have come to the right place! Follow the DIY or simply get the assistance of a service! We HIGHLY recommend the use of a service to save yourself lots stress and frustration. Cheers, Quinn
Hello,
I am Arianna a girl from Italy. At the moment I am working in Canaria’s Island but I am going to work in Glastonbury. I will arrive the 19th of June in Uk and I will start to work the 20th. How can I do to have a NIN in time?
Unfortunatly I haven’t got an english number at the moment.
Kind Regards,
Arianna.
You will need to be in the country to apply so you will not have it if you start work immediately.
Hi
I am a South African citizen and holder of a British passport as my mother is British , i would like to come up to the UK in the next month or two for work but I need my national insurance number , is there anyway i could do it online and get it before i enter the UK so I can start work immediately? please get hold of me via email if possible.
Many thanks
Hi Arrin, You can get the ball rolling as I suggest strongly (to save heaps of challenges) by using a service while you are still overseas. You will not get it until you are there, but the point is you will get it as quickly as possible and with less chance of problems arising. Up to you.
Hi,
I have completed 30 hours work in the UK without a NI number. Now I am back in Ireland. I wasn`t told at the time I needed a NI number to get paid and now that I am back in Ireland I cannot obtain a NI number. Can you tell me how I can go about getting a relevant number to get paid from my previous employer..?
Regards,
Darragh.
Darragh, You can only get one when you are in the country but regardless an employer cannot withhold pay on the basis of not having one! You will get less but you can get that back if you work in the UK and get an NI in the future. Hope that helps!
Hello
I am anne a girl from France. At the moment I am planning to come to uk for work in the next week. but i NEED a NATIONAL NUMBER INSURANCE TO START MY JOB WITH SOON AS POSSIBLE. IS THERE ANYWAY Ican do it online AND GET IT AFTER ENTER IN UK AND START IMMEDIATLY THE JOB. PLEASE GET HOLD ON ME VIA MY EMAIL.
You can begin the application process online however the interview happens after you arrive, but this should NOT prevent you from working. Hope that helps!
Hi Quinn
I am just after moving over form Ireland and need a NIN how might I do this in a fast manner as I would like to get it done soon?
Martin
Hi Martin, Using the service I recommend will help ensure you do everything right (to avoid delays and stress) but in general the sooner you can arrange an interview the better. Cheers, Quinn
Hello, I am italian citizen. i would like to have a NIN and Bank account in UK. but i have no address in UK. i will start doing job after few months,Is it posible to get NIN and account without address and before start a job ???
Please write me procedure and your fees.
regards
singh
Hi Singh, Definitely recommend clicking the 1st Contact link above – they will be able to help you. Otherwise sounds like it will be a much bigger challenge.
Hi
My daughter is 18, has lived in Sydney since she was six and is going back to the UK to work in a few weeks time. She has a UK and Australian passport – what’s the easiest way to get her number as quickly as possible as she starts work on 21 March
Hi Paula, Definitely easiest to use these guys – http://4ui.us/Easy-NI-Number She will not get it until after she starts work but the key is she will not have to worry and if she want to check how it is going she can just call. Because they help people get NI Numbers all day everyday they know exactly what current backlogs are like etc.
Hi !
I’m a french citizen, and I’d like to know if the NINO still useful for someone who’d work for a short period (like between 2 weeks and 5 weeks), and may not come back to the UK until maybe next year (or after 2 years or maybe more or never).
Thanking you in advance and hoping that you get my question.
Chances are you will not get it in time to be useful.
Hi,
I was employed by an organisation registered in the UK. I have neither worked in the UK nor studied in the UK. The organisation unfortunately forced us to contribute pensions to the UK Pensions Scheme. I am now attempting to move the pension to my country of origin but I am told I have to have a NINO. Have you encountered this situation before? How do I go about solving it?
Jackson
Hi Jackson, If you haven’t already tried, I would contact the company directly. Perhaps there is a way around the NINO but I do not know it. Worth also asking who you are transferring it too they may know a work around.
Hi Quinn !
I have 3 questions.
First question – I have a dual nationaliti or multiple citizenship born in Romania but my parents are Hungarians and i have Hun Pasport. how does this affect me if i am planing to work in the UK ?
Second question -I am planing to work in the UK and i am going to stay at a friend as a guest can i apply for NINO if my friend has a writenn document proving that i am staying at his palce or do i need to have my own residence ?
Third question – if i get my Insurence Number in Nothingam can i use it in London for work or I have to apply it in London in order to be able to wForisork there ?
Hi Robert,
Thank you for your questions. Everyone is different, but I would highly recommend these guys to you – http://4ui.us/Easy-NI-Number for this reason. For the first two questions, I would need more detail on each to properly answer…
For the 3rd question, the NI number is for all the the UK.
Sorry I can’t help you too much directly. Speaking to someone who deals with NI numbers daily under lots of different circumstances is highly preferable to ensure it gets done right the first time!
Hi Quinn
My daughter is moving to the UK in March from Australia. She is on an Irish passport. How long before she leaves should she contact a service company to get things underway?
Thank you
Hi Karen, Lucky her to have an Irish passport – awesome opportunity for any anyone. Early next year will be fine. For Aussies (and others who are still at home) I would recommend getting a bank account and NI sorted at the same time – check this link out – https://www.1stcontact-kickstart.co.uk/direct/index.php?GRef=WGW&MR=AU – have an office in Melbourne (and others around the world) and will sort her out with Kickstart which includes setting up a bank account they will also offer to help her with an NI Number – do that as well. They have lots of other services but these two are tremendous value – no brainer in my opinion. Cheers, Quinn
Hello Quinn
I hold dual nationality I was issued with a renewed British passport in 2014 as I held one which expired in 1992. I did not renew it at the time as it was not necessary.
I also hold a South African passport – have all the necessary dual nationality. I worked in the UK in my private capacity last year for 9 weeks and this year for 5 weeks and was paid directly by the person for whom I was working (in their private homes). I will be going back again next year to pursue this, probably working 8 weeks at a time. Can you please advise whether I need National Insurance and how do I go about it. I am not emigrating at all to the UK.
Hi Estelle, National insurance is the system the UK uses to pay things like the old age pension and unemployment benefit. If you have not been paying into it and you don’t have an NI number you can’t use it regardless of if you are British or any other Nationality. Technically you should have one to work legally… Hope that helps.
Hay. My name is Katarina. I am croatian citizen. I should start work in uk in march. I would like know which documents i need for opening bank account and for appling NIN?
Please answer. Thank you. Kind regards. Katarina Anusic.
Hi Katarina, It is different for everyone what will be best for you. Check out the service for NIN and you can also ask them about bank accounts! Cheers, Quinn
hi i am adelina from bulgaria. now i am in london i working in hotel ibis kensingten. before 1 months i go on interview for insurance number. but before one week send me letter without number. can you tell me why refused me. i working employed every 2 week the agency pay me everything its ok. please if you know tell me why refused me this dokument. thanks. regards Adelina.
Sorry do not know why – HIGHLY recommend using the service. In your case now that you have been refused I am not sure but please get some good advice.
I am a student from Africa, studying in the UK and I have applied for a job but am required to get a national insurance number as soon as possible …. I would like to use the service to avoid mistakes and use less time…. What should I do?
Easy! – https://www.1stcontact-kickstart.co.uk/nino/index.php?GRef=EasyNI Let me know any problems.
Hi, I am Anita from Poland. My question is how I can have proof of identity with UK address when I have not moved there yet? Can I show bank statement and social security papers, or tax papers with my Polish address? I don’t have utility bills as they are in name of my ex.
You will need these and when you arrive you will have them. You can get the ball rolling before that in terms of making sure you know what you need etc.
Hello,
I am just wondering generally how long if using a service does it take to get the interview organised?
Is there any way to guarantee a date?
Are there any services in which you can pay to get an interview faster than others?
Thank you
Hi Jacinta, 6 weeks is typical and unfortunately no you can’t guarantee a date. You can however get a much better idea because they deal with them daily. If you can avoid the interview (not possible by doing it yourself) it is much better. The big one is getting something wrong in the process which can seriously delay things obviously.
I am a student, currently in a gap year , still not working either. I do have BRP as Tier 2 dependent. I need to get NI, it took me hours of waiting over the phone with formal way of application with no answer. Is it obligatory to attend interview? Or I can send documents by post
Many thanks
Sorry to hear your troubles. Pretty common to wait on the phone for hours unfortunately – I myself gave up several frustrating attempts because I was at work (you can only call during business hours). This is just one reason why I recommend a service! No waiting on the phone. But also as you can see from others who have commented – if you get some part of your application process wrong or move address and it gets lost in the post (which happens frequently when you have just arrived in the UK) it can be a nightmare. Trust you can sort yours out eventually.
Hey ,
My name is Maria and I live permanently in London roughly 3 years and I have a NINO. My sister will come in November and she will stay at my house. I know to get a NINO you need a proof of address so what can I do? Can I show my address or write a formal paper to them?
Please let me know,
Thanks,
Maria
Hi Maria, Thanks for the question. Typically she will need bills in her name that reflect the address or some other official document. Cheers, Quinn
I’m Egyptian, I have multiple entry visit visa for 6 months, can I apply for NI, if yes what’s the requirement.
Thanks
Hi Ashraf, NI is only for those that can work legally in the UK.
Hi
I am Christian, a Belgian citizen and holding my Belgian ID card. I know I am allowed to work in the UK with my Belgian citizenship and need NI number as well. I am however, due too busy to attend NI interview. I need a service I would pay, to help acquire NI number for me without me having to attend any job center interviews.
Hi Christian, For some who have submitted biometric information previously it is possible but I am afraid for Europeans it is not as will not have already gone through these steps.
Hello,
I have an appointment but I would like to know if there is a way to check any cancellation before that date, so I can change this and move it forward. And also do you know where is hold the interview? I could not understand the address the lady told me by phone.
Thank you,
Berta
I already apply to the National insurance number. But I am not received yet. My name is Laksana Shantharajh
Hi,
I have a limited company registered in the UK and work in the UK for the past few months. I have an irish passport. What is the quickest and best way to get a NINO? Thanks
Hi Andrew, Use the service I recommend.
Hi,
My name is Robert, I have made a booking for a national insurance appointment on behalf of someone. Unfortunatly they will not be in the country and the time of the booking and I cant seem to get an appointment for when she is here. Would you be able to help me with that? As in, if I use your services would you be able to get an appointment for a specific date or at least during a certain interval that i would present to you?
Thanks
Hi Robert, I recommend a service – but it is not us who do it. That said, I know a lot about them and they only book when people are in the country. To assist, they look at someones specific circumstances and they make make things a lot easier (without potential issues). They will also know when interviews can happen. Hope this helps.
Hi Quinn,
I think I might have not explained everything properly, my bad. So when I made the appointment the person on whose behalf I’ve done it, was in the country. The problem was that she will be unable to attend the appointment date and unfortunately due to some circumstances she will be in and out of the country for a while and I’m unable to book an appointment for when she is in the country. Now what my inquire is about, is whether you guys are able to book a certain date, or at least a certain interval for a national insurance number interview. Hope this clarifies the matter.
Thank you for all the help,
Robert
Hi
I am a Portuguese National. Will be arriving in UK maybe in 2 months.
How can I get the NI?
Hi Edwin, Use the service I recommend or wait till you get there. Cheers Quinn
hi Quinn , i have a visa visit and business long term , and i am coming to the UK every five weeks and staying four weeks to buy home appliances and with goods to shipping to overseas, i have an registration company from last two years, for time to time i am going out of London to rent an storage and collect them to put and loading the container to shipping , can i get the NIN to buy car and apply for vat number to refund the tax .
many thanks
Hi Ali, Sounds complex and like a good question for a tax professional. Definitely suggest having a chat with the service I suggest (or whoever you used to set up your business) as they are tax professionals and should be able to guide you appropriately. Given your situation I would also look for more than one opinion to make sure you are doing the right thing.