I need a letter that shows my National Insurance number

How long it takes

Helpline numbers, as GOV.UK lists them

• GOV.UK gives the National Insurance number application helpline for England, Scotland and Wales as 0800 141 2079, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. The Welsh language line is 0800 141 2349, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, and the Northern Ireland line is 0800 587 0024, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm.

Why you might need it

GOV.UK says you will usually already have a National Insurance number if you have lived or worked in the UK, even if you do not know it. GOV.UK says that if you live in the UK you will normally get a letter with your National Insurance number shortly before your 16th birthday, sent to the address HMRC has for you.

GOV.UK says that if you moved to the UK from abroad you may already have a National Insurance number if you have worked or claimed benefits here, and that if not you may need to apply for one.

GOV.UK says you have a National Insurance number to make sure your National Insurance contributions and tax are recorded against your name only.

This page describes what GOV.UK says about getting a letter that shows your number. Whether a particular employer, bank, landlord or other organisation accepts a letter as showing it is for that organisation to say.

Got a letter from HMRC? Paste it into the checker for a plain-English identification.

Your options

1. Download a letter from the HMRC app or your personal tax account

   GOV.UK's National Insurance enquiries page says you can quickly get confirmation of your National Insurance number in your personal tax account or on the HMRC app. GOV.UK says you need to sign in to use your personal tax account, and can create sign in details if you do not already have them. You are told when you sign in if you need to prove your identity, which normally involves photo ID like a passport or driving licence.

2. Find the number on something you already have

   GOV.UK says you can also find your National Insurance number in the HMRC app if you live in the UK, in your personal tax account if you already have one, or in your Apple or Google Wallet if you have saved it there.

3. Ask for it by post

   GOV.UK's National Insurance enquiries page says that for a lost National Insurance number you can get it online, find out where else you can find it, or request it to be sent to you by post.

4. Apply, if you have never had a number

   GOV.UK says you can start work before you receive your National Insurance number if you can prove you have the right to work in the UK.

GOV.UK says to prevent identity fraud, do not share your National Insurance number with anyone who does not need it.

Looking for a number you already have

GOV.UK's page on the HMRC app says you can use the app to check your National Insurance number and save it to your Google or Apple wallet.

GOV.UK says a National Insurance number is made up of 2 letters, 6 numbers and a final letter.

• GOV.UK: Find your National Insurance numberWhere to look first, how to use the HMRC app or your personal tax account, and how to ask for your number.
• GOV.UK: Check how to find your National Insurance numberGOV.UK has a tool that asks a few questions about your situation to show you the best way to find your National Insurance number, or how to ask for it.
• GOV.UK: Download the HMRC appHow to get the app for iOS and Android and sign in to it.
• GOV.UK: Personal tax accountSign in or set up an account. The services GOV.UK lists include finding your National Insurance number.

If you have never had a number

When you do not need one

GOV.UK says you do not need a National Insurance number to start an application for benefits or a student loan, or to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. If you need one to get your benefit or student loan paid, GOV.UK says you will be contacted and told how to get one.

Young people

GOV.UK says that if you are a UK resident aged 19 or under you will normally be sent a National Insurance number in the 3 months before your 16th birthday, if you live in the UK and a parent or guardian has filled in a Child Benefit claim form for you.

GOV.UK says that if you are aged 16 to 19 and did not get a National Insurance number, you can check whether you already have one, because you may if a parent or guardian filled in a Child Benefit claim form for you. If they did not, you can apply online.

Biometric residence permit or eVisa

GOV.UK says that if you have a biometric residence permit (BRP) or an eVisa you might have a National Insurance number already: it is on the back of a BRP, or you can see it by logging in to your UK Visas and Immigration account to view your eVisa. If you do not have one you must apply if you plan to work, and you can only apply when you are in the UK.

How the online application works

1. GOV.UK says that to get a National Insurance number you need to apply online, and that you need to prove your identity when you apply.
2. GOV.UK says to get ready, if you have them, a passport from any country or a national identity card from an EU country or from Norway, Liechtenstein or Switzerland. You can still apply without them, but you may need to attend an appointment in person to prove your identity.
3. GOV.UK says that if you can, you will need to take and upload a photo of yourself holding your passport and photos of other identity documents, using a smartphone, tablet or digital camera. You can ask someone to take the photos for you.

• GOV.UK: Apply for a National Insurance numberWho can apply, how to apply online and what to do after you apply.

After you apply

GOV.UK says that after you apply you will get an email with your application reference number, and that the email tells you if you need to provide further proof of your identity.

The timescale and the reasons GOV.UK gives for calling the helpline are in the dates section above.

What the number is for, and who may ask for it

GOV.UK lists organisations that may need to know your number, among them HMRC, your employer, the Department for Work and Pensions if you claim state benefits, your local council if you claim Housing Benefit, the Student Loans Company if you apply for a student loan, and your pension provider if you have a personal or stakeholder pension.

Information, not advice: whether an organisation accepts a letter, a payslip or another document as showing your number is for that organisation to say.

If you already have a number

GOV.UK says that if you already have a National Insurance number you do not need to apply for a new one, even if your personal details change. GOV.UK says your National Insurance number remains the same for life.

If the letter or number has not arrived

GOV.UK says that if you cannot upload photos you can still apply online but your application will take longer. You may need to attend an appointment or post photocopies of your documents, and you get an email telling you what to do after you submit your application. The dates section above gives the timescales GOV.UK states and when it says to call.

If you want to ask an adviser

• Which document does the organisation asking for my National Insurance number accept as showing it?
• I think I may have had a number before: how do I check before I apply for a new one?
• My name or address has changed: which records should be updated so that a letter shows the right details?
• I am about to start a job: what does my employer need from me besides the number?