How to Get a National Insurance Number as an International Student (2026)
Apply online, prove your identity, and get your NI number in 2–4 weeks. What to do while you wait, what employers can and cannot demand, and how tax codes work in your first job.
A National Insurance (NI) number is your personal tax reference. You need one to be paid properly, but you do not need it to start work — a detail that many employers get wrong.
Who needs one
Anyone working in the UK, including students working part time. If you had a BRP, your NI number may be printed on the back — check before applying. eVisa holders are not issued one automatically.
How to apply
- Go to gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number.
- Prove your identity: most students use the UK Immigration: ID Check route (scan passport, take a selfie) or upload photos of your passport and share code.
- Answer questions about why you need it (working) and your UK address.
- Wait for the letter — it arrives by post, so use an address you will still have in four weeks.
You cannot apply before arrival. Apply in your first two weeks so it is ready before your first payday. Our 2-Week package includes sitting with you to complete the application on day two or three.
Working while you wait
Your employer can and should start you without an NI number. They will use a temporary reference on payroll and update it when your letter arrives. Give them your Right to Work share code (see eVisa guide) — that is the legal requirement, not the NI number.
Understanding your first payslip
At £800 a month you are under the personal allowance (£12,570 a year), so no income tax and, below £1,048 a month, no employee NI. If your payslip shows tax deducted, you are probably on an emergency code (1257L W1/M1 or BR). Send HMRC your P46/starter checklist details or use the HMRC app; the overpayment is refunded through payroll or at year end.
| Tax code | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 1257L | Standard — correct for most students | None |
| 1257L W1/M1 | Emergency, not cumulative | Ask employer to update once HMRC confirms |
| BR | 20% tax on everything | Usually wrong for a single job — contact HMRC |
| 0T | No allowance | Complete the starter checklist |
It shows your NI number, tax code and payslips reported by employers, and lets you claim refunds. Log the number in the Documents section of your Arrive UK dashboard so you never have to hunt for the letter.
Scams
Nobody legitimate will phone you saying your NI number "has been suspended" or "used in a crime". Hang up. HMRC does not call to threaten arrest. Report to Action Fraud.
After you leave the UK
If you paid tax you were not due to pay, you can claim it back with form P85 when you leave. Keep your payslips and P60s.
Related: Working on a Student visa · Part-time jobs in Oxford
Need help arriving in Oxford?
Airport pickup, accommodation, NHS and bank setup — with live tracking for your parents.
Related guides
