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The National Insurance Number, commonly referred to as NINO, is the number used in the UK to ensure that National Insurance contributions and taxes are recorded against the rightful name only. Once UK nationals turn 16, they pay a mandatory National Insurance contribution if they are employed and earning £242 per week or self-employed and making a profit of £6,725 or more per year.
The National Insurance contributions qualify UK residents for the state pension, additional state pension, new state pension, new style job seeker’s allowance, contribution-based employment and support allowance, maternity allowance, and bereavement support. The benefits one gets are determined by the type of National insurance (National Insurance Class) they are under. National Insurance Classes are determined by employment status and total earnings.
Can I get a National Insurance Number as a Hong Kong National?
Hong Kong residents can apply for a National Insurance Number if they:
- Live in the UK
- Have a right to work in the UK
- Are working, looking for work, or have an offer to start work in the UK
To prove your right to work in the UK, you need to get a share code which is only valid for 90 days. To get a share code, there is an application process that requires you to share your biometric resident permit (a residence permit holding a migrant’s biographic details like name, date, and place of birth and biometric information like facial image and fingerprints, as well as your immigration status and entitlements while you stay in the UK.
You can also use your biometric residence card number, passport, or identity card to get a share code.
You can only apply for a National Insurance number if you are in the UK. It can take up to 4 weeks before you get a National Insurance Number.
Why do Hong Kongers need a National Insurance Number?
Any non-UK resident who is 16 years or older working, planning to work, or claim benefits in the UK must be issued with a National Insurance number. The Department of Works and Pensions manages the statistics to provide an indication of economically active foreign nationals entering the UK. The NINO will be used to prove to appropriate authorities that you pay your taxes and contribute to the UK economy.
National Insurance Numbers do not expire, so if you leave the UK and re-enter, you do not need to reapply for another NINO. They also do not indicate internal movements within the UK or record the length of time spent in employment during the year.
