Find your National Insurance number — free, in minutes.

Five free ways to find it

1. Paperwork you already have: any payslip, P60, or letter about tax, pensions or benefits — the number (format: two letters, six digits, one letter, e.g. QQ 12 34 56 C) is printed on most of them.
2. The free HMRC app — download it, sign in, and view, save or print your number straight away. You can even add it to your phone's wallet.
3. Your personal tax account at gov.uk — same thing in a browser.
4. Online request form — if you can't use the app or tax account, ask HMRC to post the number to the address they hold for you.
5. Form CA5403 or phone 0300 200 3500 — the traditional routes. Either way the confirmation comes by post; HMRC will never read your number out over the phone.

The NI number scam call

• Never pay a website to find or apply for an NI number — it's a free government service, and fee-charging sites at the top of search results add nothing but their fee (some also harvest your identity details). Start at gov.uk.
• Share your NI number sparingly — employers, HMRC, DWP, your pension provider and banks have legitimate reasons; random callers never do. With your NI number plus a few other details, fraudsters can attempt identity theft.
• Worried something was a scam? Run it through Sorted's scam checker in seconds.

Never had one? How to apply

• Most people who grew up in the UK get their NI number automatically just before their 16th birthday (if their parent claimed Child Benefit — one more reason claiming it matters even for higher earners).
• If yours never arrived, or you've moved to the UK and have the right to work, apply free at gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number. You may be asked to prove your identity online or at an appointment.
• You can usually start work before it arrives — you must prove your right to work, and tell your employer the number has been applied for.

National Insurance number — common questions