How do I get a National Insurance Number?

What is the National Insurance number ?

Your National Insurance number is personal to you. It is your account number for all dealings with HMRC, Department for Work and Pensions and Department of Health and Social Services. It is not proof of identity. It looks something like this AB 12 34 56 C. If you are self-employed you will need your National Insurance number when you fill in your
notification of self-employment.

Why is it important ?

If you work for an employer tell your employer your National Insurance number as soon as you start work so that all contributions paid by or credited to you can be recorded on your own National Insurance account.

If your employer does not have the right National Insurance number for you this can affect your contribution record and delay payment of benefit. You should also show your National Insurance number on any letters or forms you send to any part of HMRC, Department for Work and Pensions or Department of Health and Social Services.

How do I get one?

To help you remember your National Insurance number we can give you a plastic National Insurance number card. The card is usually issued automatically just before a person’s 16th birthday or after they apply to be registered for National Insurance.

If you do not know or have lost your National Insurance number, there are several ways to find it. For example: P60 end of year statement of tax and National Insurance, wages slips and official correspondence. If you are still unable to locate your number you should contact your nearest Inland Revenue office or Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) office.

Coming From abroad?

If you have come to the UK from abroad and have never previously had a National Insurance number you should contact your nearest office of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

If you are an European Economic Area national working on a UK flagged vessel and need an NI Number but cannot easily come to an office in mainland UK, contact our Cardiff office and we will make special arrangements for you to be issued with a number.