How to Find Your National Insurance Number
Your National Insurance number is on lots of official paperwork. Here is where to look, and what to do if you cannot find it.
Where to find it
- Your payslip, P60 or P45.
- Letters from HMRC, the Department for Work and Pensions or your pension provider.
- Your personal tax account or the HMRC app on GOV.UK.
- Your original National Insurance card or the letter you got when you were 16.
What it looks like
Two letters, six numbers and a final letter, for example QQ 12 34 56 C. It stays the same for life.
If you have lost it
You can find it through your online HMRC account, or ask HMRC to send you a reminder letter. You do not need to pay anything.
If you have never had one
Most people receive one automatically before their 16th birthday. If you came to the UK to work, you can apply for a number through GOV.UK, which is free. Be wary of anyone who charges for it.
Learn more about how National Insurance works.
This guide is general information, not financial or legal advice. Rates checked 8 October 2026 against GOV.UK.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to get a National Insurance number?
Yes. Applying for one and finding a lost one are both free through GOV.UK.
Can my National Insurance number change?
No. It is yours for life.
Related
- What Is a P60 and When Do You Get One?
- What Is a P45 and What Do You Do With It?
- How National Insurance Works in the UK
Figures are for the 2026/27 tax year from official sources and are estimates for guidance only, not financial or legal advice. Printed from ukanswers.co.uk.