National Insurance Number – All You Need To Know!

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New arrivals to the UK have a problem in regard to obtaining a National Insurance Number and many do not know how to proceed to obtain one and if they need to either.

A National Insurance Number – What is It?

The National Insurance number issued in the United Kingdom is allocated by officials from the Department for Works and Pensions. It is a unique number consisting of numbers and letters.
Its purpose is to identify individuals living and working in the UK and the Revenue and Customs Department and Works and Pensions Department use it in identifying workers.
You cannot use another person’s unique number, and everybody gets issued a number only once which lasts a lifetime.
Any UK resident over sixteen years is issued with one in order to maintain records of Taxes and National Insurance contributions.
Revenue and Customs ensure that the right taxes are paid annually too using this specific number. You will find your NI number on forms like benefits and tax letters and your payslip.

Do you need a national insurance number?

If you are a foreign national who wants to live and work in the United Kingdom, you must have a National Insurance number.
Everybody must apply to have an NI number in the UK. You cannot apply from an NI while you are still in another country either but must be present in the UK. Your application to study or work in the UK must be approved first before you have the permission to get an NI number.

Could you enter and work without a National Insurance Number?

You must be in the UK to apply for an NI number and after application, for a number, you can start work, but you need proof that you are allowed to work and still waiting for your number.

How to Get an NI Number?

In order to apply for your NI number, you have to phone the National Insurance number application line in the UK.
Contacting the National Insurance application line on 0800 141 2075 starts your NI application.

Halil İbrahim Koca

Immigration Adviser