---
title: National Insurance Number Application in the United Kingdom
country: "united-kingdom"
service: "national-insurance-number"
category: identification
difficulty: moderate
estimated_time: "30-60 minutes online + up to 4 weeks processing"
cost_range: GBP 0
last_verified: 2026-05-11
canonical: https://publicservices.guide/united-kingdom/national-insurance-number/
status: current
confidence: low
tags:
  - "first-week"
  - work
  - mandatory
  - hmrc
  - identification
sources:
  - https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number
  - https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number
  - https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number/how-to-apply
  - https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number/how-to-apply
  - https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number/how-to-apply
  - https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance
  - https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance/your-national-insurance-number
  - https://www.gov.uk/personal-tax-account
  - https://www.gov.uk/lost-national-insurance-number
  - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs
  - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions
  - https://www.gov.uk/biometric-residence-permits
  - https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance/national-insurance-classes
---

# National Insurance Number Application in the United Kingdom

**Country:** 🇬🇧 United Kingdom  
**Last verified:** 2026-05-11  
**Estimated time:** 30-60 minutes online + up to 4 weeks processing  
**Cost:** GBP 0

## Required documents

- **Passport**
  - Where to get: Issued by your country of nationality
  - Required: Original — passport from any country is accepted
  - _Note:_ Per gov.uk, a passport from any country is acceptable identity for the online application.
- **National identity card (alternative to passport)**
  - Where to get: Issued by your home country (EU member state, Norway, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland only)
  - Required: Original — only national ID cards from EU countries or from Norway, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland are accepted
  - _Note:_ If your national ID card is from outside this list, use a passport instead. If you have neither, you can still apply but may need to attend an appointment in person.
- **Photo of yourself holding your passport**
  - Where to get: You take this during the online application
  - Required: Digital photo, taken with a smartphone, tablet, or digital camera
  - _Note:_ The application service walks you through how to compose this photo. It is the distinctive identity-verification step of the online flow — a selfie of you holding your passport up to the camera.
- **Photos of your other identity documents**
  - Where to get: You take these during the online application
  - Required: Digital photos of each identity document you upload
  - _Note:_ If you cannot take or upload these photos, your application will take longer and you may need to attend an appointment or post photocopies.

## Costs

- **National Insurance number application:** 0 GBP — No fee is published on the gov.uk application pages. The application is administered by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) at no cost to the applicant.

## Steps

### 1. Confirm You Are Eligible and Do Not Already Have a NINO

- Check that you live in the UK, have the right to work in the UK, and are working, looking for work, or have a job offer — these are the three eligibility criteria gov.uk lists for the application.
- If you have a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), look on the back of the card — your National Insurance number may be printed there already.
- If you have an eVisa, sign in to your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account and check whether a NINO is already attached to your record.
- If you find an existing number, do not apply again — your NINO is for life and never changes.

> **Tip:** Your National Insurance number is the identifier that ties together your tax record at HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and your benefits record at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Apply only if you do not already have one.

### 2. Gather Your Identity Documents

- Have your passport ready — gov.uk accepts a passport from any country.
- Or, if you do not have a passport, have a national identity card from an EU country or from Norway, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland (no other national ID cards are accepted in the online flow).
- If you have neither, you can still apply but should expect to be routed to an in-person appointment.

> **Tip:** The online service does not list any other identity documents beyond a passport (any country) or an EU/EEA national ID card. Do not assume a driving licence or other photo ID will be accepted — it will not, in the online flow.

### 3. Start the Online Application

- Go to gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number and select Apply — the link goes to the HMRC service at apply-national-insurance-number.service.gov.uk/work.
- The service is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg) — choose your language at the start.
- Have a working email address ready; you will receive your application reference number at this email after you submit.

> **Tip:** If you cannot apply online for any reason, the application helpline is 0800 141 2079 (English, Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm) or 0800 141 2349 (Welsh, Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm). Both lines use the UK 0800 freephone prefix.

_Links:_
- [gov.uk — Apply for a National Insurance number](https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number)
- [gov.uk — How to apply](https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number/how-to-apply)

### 4. Take and Upload Identity-Verification Photos

- When the service prompts you, take a photo of yourself holding your passport up to the camera — this is the distinctive identity-verification micro-step of the online flow.
- Then take separate photos of your identity documents themselves (passport, and any other ID the service asks for).
- Use a smartphone, tablet, or digital camera. The service walks you through how to compose each photo and what it must look like.
- Upload the photos through the service when prompted.

> **Tip:** The selfie-holding-passport photo is the moment that tells you the application is genuinely identity-verifying you. If the service rejects your photos repeatedly, do not abandon the application — it will reroute you to an in-person appointment or a postal photocopy path. Either route still completes the same application.

### 5. Submit Your Application and Save the Reference Number

- After you submit, gov.uk states you will get an email with your application reference number.
- The email will tell you if you need to provide further proof of your identity (for example, by attending an in-person appointment or posting photocopies).
- Save the reference number — it appears at the top of the confirmation email and you will need it if you call the helpline later.

> **Tip:** If the email asks for further proof, follow the route specified in the email exactly. The 4-week processing clock starts only after your identity proof is complete — not after the initial online submission.

### 6. Receive Your National Insurance Number

- Per gov.uk, it can take up to 4 weeks to get your National Insurance number after you have proved your identity.
- Your number arrives as an alphanumeric reference (format: 2 letters, 6 numbers, a final letter — gov.uk gives QQ123456B as the example).
- Save it somewhere durable — your Personal Tax Account at gov.uk/personal-tax-account, the HMRC app, or Apple or Google Wallet.
- If 4 weeks pass and you have not received your NINO, call the application helpline (0800 141 2079) with your application reference number ready.

> **Tip:** Your NINO remains the same for life. No renewal, no re-application — even if you change name, address, employer, or immigration status.

### 7. Link Your NINO to Your Personal Tax Account (Optional but Recommended)

- Sign in to your Personal Tax Account at gov.uk/personal-tax-account using a Government Gateway user ID, or create one.
- Per gov.uk, the Personal Tax Account lets you find your National Insurance number, check your Income Tax estimate and tax code, submit or manage a Self Assessment tax return, claim a tax refund, check your State Pension, and tell HMRC about a change of name or address.
- This becomes your central HMRC self-service hub — well worth setting up once your NINO arrives.

> **Tip:** The Personal Tax Account is run by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and is free to use. It is also where you can find your NINO again if you lose track of it later.

_Links:_
- [gov.uk — Personal Tax Account: sign in or set up](https://www.gov.uk/personal-tax-account)

## FAQ

### Do I need a NINO before I start my first job?

No. Per gov.uk, you can start work before you receive your National Insurance number if you can prove your right to work in the UK. Your employer can use a temporary process while you wait for your NINO to arrive. Apply as soon as you are in the UK and have the right to work — your employer will need the NINO eventually so that your tax and National Insurance contributions are recorded against your name.

### How long does the application take?

It can take up to 4 weeks to get your National Insurance number after you have proved your identity. The 4-week clock starts after identity proof completes — if your photos are accepted in the online flow, that begins immediately; if you are rerouted to an in-person appointment or postal photocopy verification, the 4 weeks start once that step is complete.

### Is there a fee?

No fee is published on the gov.uk application pages. HMRC administers the application at no cost to the applicant. The English-language application helpline (0800 141 2079) and the Welsh-language line (0800 141 2349) both use the UK 0800 freephone prefix.

### What if I already have a NINO from a previous BRP or eVisa?

Do not apply for a new one. Your National Insurance number is for life. If you have a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or eVisa, check the back of your BRP, or sign in to your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account to view your eVisa — your existing NINO may be there. All BRPs expired on 31 October 2024 and were replaced by eVisas, but the NINO printed on an expired BRP card remains your lifelong NINO and is still valid.

### What does a NINO look like?

Per gov.uk, a National Insurance number is made up of 2 letters, 6 numbers, and a final letter. The example given on gov.uk is QQ123456B. When your number arrives, it will follow that format.

### Will I receive a physical National Insurance card?

The current gov.uk pages do not mention any physical National Insurance card being issued. Your NINO arrives as an alphanumeric reference; you can save it in your Personal Tax Account, the HMRC app, or your Apple or Google Wallet. Older holders may remember a physical NI card from years past — that practice has been discontinued.

### Can I apply if I am outside the UK?

No. Per gov.uk, you can only apply when you are in the UK. The application requires UK physical presence. If you are still abroad, wait until you arrive in the UK and have your right-to-work documentation ready before starting the online application.

### HMRC or DWP — who issues the NINO?

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) issues the National Insurance number and runs the application service. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) uses the NINO to track benefit eligibility but does not issue NINOs. The two authorities have different remits — HMRC handles tax and National Insurance contributions, DWP handles welfare and pensions — but they share the NINO as a common identifier for each person.

### How do I find my NINO if I have lost the original notification?

Check your Personal Tax Account at gov.uk/personal-tax-account, the HMRC app, your most recent payslip or P60, or any letters about benefits you have received. If none of those work, contact HMRC for a confirmation letter — gov.uk states this can take up to 10 working days to arrive if you live in the UK or 21 working days if you live abroad. Do not apply for a new NINO — yours is for life.

### What is a Class 1, Class 2, or Class 4 contribution?

These are different categories of National Insurance contributions. Class 1 is deducted from your pay by your employer if you are under State Pension age and earning more than £242 a week from one job. Class 2 and Class 4 are paid by the self-employed (Class 2 if profits are at or above £7,105 a year; Class 4 if profits exceed £12,570). Class 3 is voluntary, used to fill gaps in your record.

## Local tips

- Your NINO is for life — once issued, it never changes, even if your name, address, or immigration status changes.
- You can start work before your NINO arrives, as long as you can prove your right to work. Your employer can use a temporary process while you wait.
- When the letter or email finally arrives, save the number somewhere you will not lose it (your Personal Tax Account, the HMRC app, or Apple/Google Wallet).

## Sources

- [GOV.UK / HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)](https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number) — accessed 2026-05-11 — _T1_ — Eligibility: live in the UK, have the right to work, and are working, looking for work, or have a job offer. You can start work before receiving the NINO if you can prove right to work. The NINO remains the same for life. You can only apply when you are in the UK. Processing: up to 4 weeks.
- [GOV.UK / HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)](https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number) — accessed 2026-05-11 — _T1_ — If you have a BRP or eVisa, you might have a National Insurance number already. You can find it on the back of your BRP, or by logging into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account to view your eVisa.
- [GOV.UK / HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)](https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number/how-to-apply) — accessed 2026-05-11 — _T1_ — Acceptable identity documents are a passport from any country, or a national identity card from an EU country or from Norway, Liechtenstein or Switzerland. You can still apply if you do not have any of these documents, but you may need to attend an appointment in person.
- [GOV.UK / HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)](https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number/how-to-apply) — accessed 2026-05-11 — _T1_ — Applicants must take and upload a photo of themselves holding their passport, plus photos of other identity documents, using a smartphone, tablet or digital camera. After you apply you will get an email with your application reference number; the email will tell you if you need to provide further proof of identity. It can take up to 4 weeks to get your NINO after you have proved your identity.
- [GOV.UK / HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)](https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number/how-to-apply) — accessed 2026-05-11 — _T1_ — The application helpline is 0800 141 2079 (English) or 0800 141 2349 (Welsh). No application fee is mentioned on the gov.uk how-to-apply page.
- [GOV.UK / HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)](https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance) — accessed 2026-05-11 — _T1_ — You pay National Insurance contributions to qualify for certain benefits and the State Pension. You need a National Insurance number to make sure your National Insurance contributions and tax are recorded against your name only.
- [GOV.UK / HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)](https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance/your-national-insurance-number) — accessed 2026-05-11 — _T1_ — A National Insurance number is made up of 2 letters, 6 numbers and a final letter. For example, QQ123456B. Recipients of the NINO listed include HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), your employer, and the Department for Work and Pensions.
- [GOV.UK / HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)](https://www.gov.uk/personal-tax-account) — accessed 2026-05-11 — _T1_ — Use your Personal Tax Account to check your records and manage your details with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Capabilities include find your National Insurance number, check your Income Tax estimate and tax code, submit, view or manage a Self Assessment tax return, claim a tax refund, check your State Pension, and tell HMRC about a change of name or address.
- [GOV.UK / HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)](https://www.gov.uk/lost-national-insurance-number) — accessed 2026-05-11 — _T1_ — If you have lost your National Insurance number, you can find it in your Personal Tax Account, in the HMRC app if you live in the UK, or in your Apple or Google Wallet if you have previously saved it there. You can also contact HMRC to get a letter confirming your National Insurance number. This can take up to 10 working days to arrive if you live in the UK or 21 working days if you live abroad.
- [GOV.UK / HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs) — accessed 2026-05-11 — _T1_ — HM Revenue and Customs is the UK's tax, payments and customs authority, collecting the money that pays for the UK's public services and helping families and individuals with targeted financial support. HMRC issues National Insurance numbers and operates the online application service.
- [GOV.UK / Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions) — accessed 2026-05-11 — _T1_ — The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for welfare, pensions and child maintenance policy. As the UK's biggest public service department, it administers the State Pension and a range of working age, disability and ill health benefits. DWP uses the National Insurance number to track benefit eligibility but does not issue National Insurance numbers.
- [GOV.UK / Home Office](https://www.gov.uk/biometric-residence-permits) — accessed 2026-05-11 — _T1_ — All Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) have now expired and have been replaced by eVisas. The deadline was 31 October 2024. A National Insurance number printed on the back of an expired BRP remains the holder's lifelong NINO even though the BRP card itself is no longer valid as immigration proof.
- [GOV.UK / HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)](https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance/national-insurance-classes) — accessed 2026-05-11 — _T1_ — Class 1 contributions are automatically deducted from your pay by your employer if you are under State Pension age and earning more than £242 a week from one job. Class 2 is paid by the self-employed if profits are at least £7,105 a year; Class 4 if profits exceed £12,570. Class 3 is voluntary, used to fill gaps.

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Canonical: https://publicservices.guide/united-kingdom/national-insurance-number/