How to Get a National Insurance Number in the UK

A National Insurance number is your personal reference for tax and National Insurance contributions, and it stays the same for life. You can apply online if you live in the UK, have the right to work, and are working, looking for work or have a job offer. GOV.UK says it can take up to 4 weeks to arrive after you have proved your identity. You can start work before it comes if you can prove your right to work. The number itself is not permission to work.

What a National Insurance number is and what it looks like

The number is made up of 2 letters, 6 numbers and a final letter. GOV.UK uses QQ123456B as its example. It remains the same for life, even if your name, address or job changes. People who grow up in the UK usually get a letter with their number shortly before their 16th birthday. People who arrive from abroad normally have to apply.

The number makes sure your tax and contributions are recorded against your name only. Those contributions help you qualify for the State Pension and certain benefits.

Who can apply, and who should not

GOV.UK says you can apply if all three of these are true:

you live in the UK
you have the right to work in the UK
you are working, looking for work or have a job offer

Do not apply if you already have a number. If you have a biometric residence permit (BRP) or an eVisa, you might already have one. GOV.UK says it may be on the back of your BRP or visible when you view your eVisa in your UKVI account. You may also have one if you worked or claimed benefits in the UK before.

If you do not have the right to work, a National Insurance number will not give it to you. Check your visa conditions first using our eVisa and share code guide.

The number is not a work permit

Two separate things often get mixed up:

Proving your right to work. You do this for your employer before you start, usually with a share code from the “Prove your right to work” service or with accepted documents. This is what makes your job legal.
Your National Insurance number. This records the tax and contributions you pay. Your employer needs it for payroll, but not having it yet does not stop you starting.

GOV.UK is clear: you can start work before you receive your number if you can prove you have the right to work in the UK.

How to apply online, step by step

Check you do not already have a number. Look at your BRP, your UKVI account, old payslips or a P60.
Get your identity document ready. GOV.UK asks for a passport from any country if you have one, or another accepted identity document. If you have none of these you can still apply, but you may need to prove your identity another way.
Use the official GOV.UK service. The application is made online.
Upload your photos. You will usually be asked for a photo of yourself holding your passport and photos of other identity documents. A smartphone, tablet or digital camera is enough, and someone else can take the photos for you.
Keep the confirmation email. It contains your application reference number and tells you whether you need to provide further proof of identity.
Wait for your number. It can take up to 4 weeks after you have proved your identity. If you cannot upload photos, you may need to attend an appointment or post photocopies of your documents, which takes longer.

How to find a lost number

GOV.UK lists several places to look:

the HMRC app, if you live in the UK
your personal tax account
your Apple or Google Wallet, if you saved it there
payslips, a P60, or letters about tax, pensions or benefits

You can also download a letter showing your number from the HMRC app or your personal tax account. Note: HMRC cannot give you your number over the phone or on webchat.

How much National Insurance you pay in 2026/27

These rates are from GOV.UK for the tax year running from 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027.

Who	Earnings or profits	Rate
Employee (Class 1)	£242 to £967 a week (£1,048 to £4,189 a month)	8%
Employee (Class 1)	Over £967 a week (£4,189 a month)	2%
Self-employed (Class 4)	Profits over £12,570 up to £50,270	6%
Self-employed (Class 4)	Profits over £50,270	2%
Self-employed (Class 2, voluntary)	Optional contribution	£3.65 a week

If you earn from £129 to £242 a week from one job, you usually do not pay National Insurance but may still qualify for certain benefits and the State Pension. The same applies if you are self-employed with profits of £7,105 or more a year but not above £12,570. Employees stop paying Class 1 when they reach State Pension age. The self-employed stop paying Class 4 from the 6 April after they reach it.

To see what these rates mean for your monthly pay, use our salary calculator, which is set up for the 2026/27 tax year.

Key points at a glance

Question	What GOV.UK says
How long until it arrives?	Up to 4 weeks after you prove your identity
Can I work before it arrives?	Yes, if you can prove your right to work
Does it change if my name changes?	No, it stays the same for life
How do I apply?	Online
Can HMRC tell me my number by phone?	No, not by phone or webchat

Once you have your number: three things to do straight away

Give it to your employer. If you started work before it arrived, send it to payroll as soon as you get it so contributions go on the right record.
Check your next payslip. Make sure the number matches your HMRC letter. If your tax code ends in W1, M1 or X, GOV.UK says you are on an emergency tax code, which is usually temporary. Our working in the UK guide explains what to do.
Store it safely. Keep it in the HMRC app or your phone wallet rather than sending photos of the letter in chats.

If you are self-employed, Class 4 contributions are worked out on your yearly profits, and your number links them to your record. If your situation is complicated, for example a job plus freelance work, a qualified accountant can help.

Common mistakes

Applying twice. If you had a number before, find it instead of applying again.
Delaying a job start while you wait. If you can prove your right to work, you do not need to wait. Tell your employer you have applied.
Using details that do not match your passport. Write your name exactly as it appears on your travel document, or checks may be slowed down.
Giving the number to anyone who asks. GOV.UK says not to share it with anyone who does not need it, to prevent identity fraud. Organisations that may need it include HMRC, your employer, the DWP if you claim benefits, your pension provider and authorised financial firms.
Not checking payslips. Make sure the number appears once it arrives and the deduction matches the published rates.

Frequently asked questions

Is applying for a National Insurance number free?

The official GOV.UK service does not mention any fee. Avoid websites that offer to “speed up” the application for money, and apply through GOV.UK directly.

How long does it take to get a National Insurance number?

Up to 4 weeks after you have proved your identity. It can take longer if you cannot upload photos of your identity documents online.

Can I work without a National Insurance number?

Yes, you can start before it arrives if you can prove your right to work. Your employer will need it later to record your tax and contributions correctly.

Where is my number if I have a BRP or eVisa?

GOV.UK says it may be on the back of your BRP, or you can see it by signing in to your UKVI account to view your eVisa. Check before making a new application.

Do I need a new number if I marry and change my name?

No. Your number stays the same for life even when your personal details change.

Is the process different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?

The service covers the whole UK. There are separate application helplines for England, Scotland and Wales, for Welsh speakers, and for Northern Ireland, with numbers listed on GOV.UK.

Sources

Your next step

Work out your take-home pay in the salary calculator, then read working in the UK to understand your contract and payslip. If your tax affairs are complex, search the accountants directory.

Reviewed 17 October 2026.

National Insurance: where to start