EU national going to study in the UK? Get your NI number

It’s a part-time job, why do you need an NI number anyway?

Your NI number is used by the UK government to ensure that you’re paying the right amount of tax and National Insurance contributions. If you want to work in the UK you need to have an NI number, regardless of the type of work you’ll be doing or for how long you work in the UK. Without an NI number you may not be able to secure employment, as not all employers are willing to hire someone who does not have one. If you do manage to get a job, you’ll end up paying more tax until you receive your NI number, which means less take-home pay for you – and nobody wants that. Therefore, you need to make sure that not only do you get an NI number, but that you get it quickly.

Getting your NI number

Getting your NI number is not the easiest or most stress-free process. Firstly, you have to be present in the UK in order to apply for it. The process also involves quite a bit of admin, lots of expensive phone calls and a fair amount of waiting. On top of this, you need to ensure that you provide all the right information and documentation. This is where a lot of applications often go wrong, as the kind of documents you need to provide will vary depending on your circumstances.

The Evidence of Identity interview: How to prove you are you

Having the right documentation is particularly important at the Evidence of Identity Interview, which is the last part of the application process. At the interview, you will be asked questions about who you are and why you want an NI number. This information, together with any official documents you bring with you, will help to prove your identity. The information or evidence you need to bring depends on why you need an NI number, which is why it’s often best to get help with your NI number application. As a newcomer to the UK, may have a little trouble getting some of these documents as you’re still trying to find your way around your new home.

Should you not bring the all the required documents, it could result in a delay in your application, or worse, a refusal. If the latter happens, you will then need to start the application process all over again.

How to get evidence of employment

Many applicants are also unware that they need to provide proof of why they need an NI number. You can’t apply for one just because you want to. The evidence you provide could be a letter of employment from your employer (should you have already secured a job), or proof that you are actively seeking employment. Should you not provide this information or lack sufficient proof, your application will be refused.

If you’re just finding your feet in the UK, the last thing you need to be worrying about is proving you are looking for employment. We can help you do just this, we’ll help you get all the documentation and evidence you need to prove to the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) that you need an NI number.

Don’t stress, we can assist with the entire application process

Fortunately, we’ve got loads of experience helping EU nationals get their NI numbers quickly and stress-free. With our NI number service, we make the calls, help you with the paperwork and provide assistance throughout the process. The benefit of letting us help you get your NI number is that we’ll make sure everything goes smoothly so that you don’t experience any delays.

As part of our NI number service, we will phone the DWP on your behalf soon after you arrive in the UK. We’ll get the DWP to mail us all the necessary documentation for your application, which we will pass on to you. Once you’ve completed the form, you will send it to us for checking to avoid any issues with your application form before submitting. We’ll make sure that you get your NI number as soon as possible, without any extra stress.

In addition to this, we also assist with arranging your Evidence of Identity interview with the DWP and ensure that you are fully prepared with the right documentation for your interview.

Thinking ahead: Life after graduation

If you decide that you’d like to stay in the UK after you’ve completed your studies, there are a number of visa options that will allow you to do so. Our team of relocation experts will be able to guide you with making the right decision. We can also help you extend your student visa or apply for another visa. Should your long-term goal be gaining British citizenship, expert guidance and advice here would be invaluable.

Our relocation team can help you get your NI number quickly and hassle-free. Get in touch with one of our relocation experts on +44 (0) 20 7759 7536 or 1stcontact@sableinternational.com.