How to Get a National Insurance Number in the UK
Every adult in the UK who needs to work or claim benefits must hold a National Insurance number; HMRC issues the nine-character identifier within up to 16 working days of successful identity verification [1]. The application is free and, for most applicants, the entire process is completed online without the need for an in-person appointment [2].
For many people raised in the UK, the number arrives automatically in the post before their 16th birthday, requiring no action at all. For adults arriving from abroad, students beginning part-time work, and anyone who has lost or never received their NINO, the process runs through GOV.UK and involves a brief identity check. Employers also have obligations when a new starter arrives without a number, and those obligations are distinct from the right-to-work check that must be completed separately.
This guide covers every route to a National Insurance number: automatic allocation, the online application, the process for applicants who cannot verify their identity digitally, how to retrieve a lost number, and what employers and employees should do while the number is in transit.
Key takeaways
- UK-raised children whose parents claimed Child Benefit receive their NINO automatically at age 15 years and 9 months.
- Adults and new arrivals apply online at gov.uk; identity is verified digitally where possible or through an in-person appointment.
- The application is free. After identity verification, the number arrives within up to 16 working days.
- A lost NINO can be retrieved through the Personal Tax Account, a P60, a previous payslip, or directly from HMRC.
- An employee can start work and be paid before their NINO arrives; the employer updates the payroll record once the number is issued.
Who needs to apply for a National Insurance number?
Not everyone in the UK needs to make an active application. The system is designed so that most British-born individuals receive their NINO without having to do anything. An application is required when the automatic allocation did not happen, or when the number has been lost.
UK-raised children: the automatic route at 15 years and 9 months
HMRC uses Child Benefit records to identify young people approaching their 16th birthday [3]. When a child reaches 15 years and 9 months, the Child Reference Number held on the HMRC Child Benefit record is converted into a full nine-character National Insurance number and posted to the home address on file [4].
This automatic route works correctly under two conditions: Child Benefit was claimed for the child, and HMRC holds a current home address. If Child Benefit was never claimed, or if the family moved and did not update HMRC, the letter does not arrive and the young person must apply manually once they need the number.
Adults and new arrivals in the UK
Anyone who was not allocated a number automatically, whether because Child Benefit was not claimed, because they grew up outside the UK, or for any other reason, must apply through the official online service [5].
Eligibility to apply is restricted to people who:
- live in the UK [6];
- have the right to work in the UK; or
- have the right to claim benefits or other public funds.
The application is not a right-to-work check and does not grant permission to work. It is an administrative record-keeping service. Right-to-work checks remain the employer's separate responsibility, conducted using documents from the Home Office approved list.
EU and EEA nationals arriving after 31 December 2020
EU and EEA nationals who arrived in the UK after 31 December 2020 must hold either settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme before applying for a National Insurance number [7]. The NINO application is made through the same online service as for any other adult applicant, but eligibility depends on the immigration status already being in place. Applying without settled or pre-settled status will result in the application being rejected.
How to apply for a National Insurance number online
The official application is at apply-national-insurance-number.service.gov.uk [8]. The process has three stages.
Stage 1: confirm eligibility
The applicant confirms they live in the UK and hold the right to work or claim benefits. The service prompts for basic personal details: full name, date of birth, and address history.
Stage 2: prove identity
Identity verification is the central step. Most applicants can complete this digitally using GOV.UK One Login [9]. The digital route accepts a biometric passport or national identity card and asks the applicant to take a photo of the document and a short video or photo of their own face. HMRC uses the biometric chip data in the document to confirm the match.
Where digital verification is not possible, for example because the applicant does not hold a biometric document or cannot complete the facial scan, HMRC arranges an in-person appointment [10]. The appointment takes place at a participating venue, typically a Jobcentre Plus, and requires the applicant to bring original identity documents.
Stage 3: await the number
After successful identity verification, HMRC posts the National Insurance number to the applicant's address. The process takes up to 16 working days from the point at which identity is confirmed [11]. The applicant receives an email confirming submission and, if further identity evidence is needed, a separate email explains what to provide and how.
What to do when digital verification is not possible
Applicants who cannot verify their identity online and need to attend an appointment in person should be prepared to bring:
| Document type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Passport | UK or foreign biometric passport |
| National identity card | EU, EEA, or Swiss identity card |
| Biometric Residence Permit | Issued by the Home Office |
| Travel document | Convention travel document, certificate of travel |
Where none of these documents is available, the applicant should contact HMRC to discuss alternatives [12]. HMRC has flexibility to accept alternative evidence in cases where the standard document list cannot be met.
For applicants in Northern Ireland, the National Insurance number service is administered through nidirect rather than GOV.UK, though the eligibility rules and the nine-character format are identical [13].
How long does the process take?
The timeline from application to receiving the National Insurance number depends on which verification route is used.
| Stage | Typical duration |
|---|---|
| Online application and digital identity check | Same day to a few days |
| In-person appointment (if digital is unavailable) | Several weeks to arrange |
| Posting of NINO letter after identity confirmed | Up to 16 working days |
The 16-working-day period runs from the date HMRC confirms identity, not from the date of the online application [14]. Applicants who applied for work before receiving their number should inform their employer and provide the number as soon as it arrives.
How to find a lost National Insurance number
Individuals who held a National Insurance number in the past but no longer know it have several retrieval options, all of which use information HMRC already holds [15].
Personal Tax Account
The fastest self-service route is the Personal Tax Account at gov.uk. After logging in, the account displays the NINO and allows the individual to download or print an official confirmation letter. New starters who cannot find their number can be directed here by their employer before the first pay run.
Previous payslips and P60s
Any payslip from a previous or current employment carries the National Insurance number in the employee details section. The P60, which every employer must issue to each employee still on the payroll on 5 April no later than 31 May, also carries the NINO prominently. For sole-trader payroll, the number appears on the individual's most recent Self Assessment correspondence. A P45 from a previous employer is another reliable source.
Requesting a written confirmation from HMRC
Where none of the above is available, HMRC can send a letter to the address it holds on file after the individual passes identity checks [16]. This can be requested by phone through the HMRC helpline or, for those who prefer a written route, through the online form at gov.uk/get-national-insurance-number-by-post [17].
Starting work before the National Insurance number arrives
An employee who does not yet hold a National Insurance number is still entitled to work and be paid through the payroll from their first day of employment [18]. This is a common situation for young people entering their first job, new arrivals who have applied but are within the 16-working-day processing window, and anyone whose automatic allocation did not occur.
The employer's obligation is:
- Complete the right-to-work check using appropriate identity documents. A NINO is not required for this check and cannot substitute for it [19].
- Obtain a completed starter checklist from the new employee. The NINO field is left blank.
- Submit the Full Payment Submission to HMRC on or before the first pay date, using the employee's name, date of birth, and address in place of the NINO.
- Once the employee receives their National Insurance number, record it in the payroll and include it in the next FPS submission.
HMRC matches the interim record retrospectively once the NINO is on file. Contributions already paid are credited to the individual's account at that point [20].
For employers running payroll for SMEs, modern payroll software handles this by flagging any employee record with a missing NINO and prompting for an update as soon as one becomes available. The Moonworkers instant payslip generator also accommodates one-off payslip runs for new starters while the NINO is in transit, reflecting the correct employer and employee NI contributions based on the applicable category letter.
The NI number in wider payroll context
The National Insurance number is the anchor point for several other deduction types that run through the payroll. Student loan deductions are matched to the individual via their NINO, with each of the five plans (Plan 1, 2, 4, 5, and PGL) applied at the correct rate once the employer receives a Start Notice from HMRC. The guide to student loan deductions via payroll explains how each plan's threshold interacts with the pay period. For workers engaged through off-payroll arrangements, the NINO remains with the individual under self-assessment rather than flowing through the engager's payroll; the IR35 and off-payroll working article explains where the boundary sits.
Conclusion
Getting a National Insurance number in the UK is a single process that feeds the entire employment record system: contributions, benefits, pensions, and statutory pay all trace back to it. For those raised in the UK, the number arrives without any action required. For adults arriving from abroad, the online application at GOV.UK and a brief identity check are the only steps. For employers, the obligation is simple: record the NINO when the employee has it, submit without it when they do not, and never treat the number as a right-to-work document. The two checks are separate, and each must be completed on its own terms.
Frequently asked questions
Can a person work in the UK without a National Insurance number?
Yes, temporarily [21]. An individual can begin employment and be included in the payroll before their National Insurance number has been issued. The employer submits the Full Payment Submission using the employee's name, date of birth, and address. Once the number is received, it is added to the payroll record and included in the next submission. Working indefinitely without ever obtaining a NINO is not permitted; the number must be supplied as soon as it is available.
How long does it take to get a National Insurance number in the UK?
The application itself takes minutes online [22]. After identity is verified, HMRC issues the number within up to 16 working days. Where digital identity verification is not available and an in-person appointment is required, the total timeline is longer because appointments may take several weeks to arrange. The 16-working-day clock starts only after identity has been successfully confirmed, not at the point of submitting the online form.
Is there a fee to apply for a National Insurance number?
No. The application is free of charge [23]. Any service that charges a fee to apply for a UK National Insurance number is not the official GOV.UK service. The correct address is apply-national-insurance-number.service.gov.uk. HMRC does not charge for allocating, replacing, or confirming a NINO.
Does an employee need a new National Insurance number if they change their name?
No [24]. A National Insurance number is allocated once and is not reissued when a person changes their name, marries, divorces, or changes gender. The existing number remains the correct reference in all payroll submissions. The employer should update the employee's name in the payroll system so that future Full Payment Submissions to HMRC reflect the current legal name, but the NINO itself does not change.
