National Insurance number (NI number)

The NI number makes sure that the NI contributions and tax you pay are properly recorded against your name. It also acts as a reference number when communicating with the Government Department for Work and Pensions and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

You may have automatically been issued with a National Insurance Number (NiNo) as part of your immigration application. This currently applies to most individuals and dependants who have been granted permission in any skilled worker category or as a refugee, including those granted settled status through a protection route. In such cases, the NINo will appear on your eVisa profile and there is no need for you to make a separate application to the Department for Work and Pensions to obtain one. 

If you do not have one you will need to apply. You can only do this once you have arrived in the UK.

Further information on how to apply is available at:

Further information on applying for your National Insurance Number

You can start work before your NI number arrives, but you must let your School/Department admin know that you have applied for one and give it to them once you have received it.