How to Apply for a National Insurance (NI) Number in 2026

A National Insurance number or NI number is an important requirement for people who wish to work legally in the United Kingdom. The process to apply for NI number UK is usually the same and digital. A person should responsibly apply for the NI number with the right procedure. Many new international students and workers delay the application for NI, thinking it’s not that important. But this can cause a delay in payment later on. In this article, you will learn about the application process and you will get answers to common questions for workers who are unaware of NI or have limited knowledge of their NI number.

Why You Need a National Insurance Number in the UK

A National Insurance number is a personal and unique reference that is used by the UK government for tracking the tax and social security contributions of a person. NI is also used by employers to report the earnings and deduct income tax. A National Insurance number is important to keep a record of the work history of a worker. National Insurance for students is also important is the work is paid, in part time and full time roles. Once a person gets the NI number, it remains the same throughout their life regardless of the change in job, age or status.

Who Needs to Apply for NI Number UK?

Anyone in the UK over the age of 16 who intends to work either full time or part time needs to apply for NI number. The rule includes citizens of the UK, permanent residents, and international people on visa. One of the mistakes that students do in the beginning of their education in the UK is that they assume that only the visa or the university enrolment number is required to start working in the UK.

While a person is able to start work before they get the NI number, they are required to complete the NI number application 2026 process. This should be among the first thing for students who arrive to UK for higher education and intend to work here.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Apply for NI Number UK Online (2026)

The application process for getting the NI is completely online. Following is the step by step process that one can follow when they want to apply for an NI number.

Step 1 – Before applying for the NI number, the student should check the eligibility criteria if they have the legal rights to work in the UK. Once the student is confident about the eligibility, the next step begins.

Step 2 – The student would be required to prepare the documents to apply for an NI number. They will need proof of identity and the right to work. This includes presenting a passport, biometric residency permits and digital immigration status.

Step 3 – After the documents have been collected, the students are required to submit the application online on the government website. With personal details and address information, a student can apply for NI number UK.

Step 4 – After the application is submitted, students are required to update their identity documents. With the digitalization of the process, the students are now not required to attend a personal interview.

Step 5 – After a few weeks of submission of the documents, the NI number is sent by post. Make sure that it will be received by post. The NI number is not sent by email.

Also Read: UK Student Visa Work Hours Rules and Restrictions 2026

Can You Work While Waiting to Apply for NI Number UK?

Most of the time, a student can start the work right after applying for the NI number. Employers can put the student on the temporary payroll with alternative details of reference. After getting the NI number, the student should share it with their employer immediately.

This step is important for national insurance for students. If the incorrect information is provided, this can later hinder the visa process. One should not delay the application process. One should provide the correct details and check the applications for any errors before submitting the application. The student should accurately complete the NI number application 2026 before submitting it.

Understanding the NI Number and UK Payroll System

For calculating the deductions, the NI number plays a very important role. Without the NI number, the emergency tax code is applied, which leads to higher taxes. Once the student gets the NI number, the payroll records are accurate, leading to the right deduction of tax. If your NI number application is submitted and there is no notification after several weeks, one can contact the related government department to check the status of the application.

Conclusion

If the application status is delayed for too long, it might cause an issue with taxes later. Although, after getting the NI number, the issues can be resolved and the student is eligible to check any discrepancy in taxes. The application process for an NI number is a simple process. One should not wait to apply for the NI number. Completing the process on time, keeping the records intact and staying informed can make sure that the student is working in the UK on legal terms.