If you want to employ EU citizens post-Brexit, you’ll have to get a National Insurance Number for every EU citizen you employ.
Similarly, if you’re an EU citizen who works in the UK, you may have to apply for a National Insurance Number – if you don’t have one already.
What Is a National Insurance Number For?
National Insurance is a tax UK workers pay on their earnings. You need to pay National Insurance contributions if you want to receive certain state benefits, including the state pension.
HMRC uses National Insurance numbers to keep track of contributions, and to ensure that everyone’s paying the right amount of tax based on their earnings.
Do EU Citizens Need a National Insurance Number?
EU citizens don’t need a National Insurance Number to live in the UK. But you do need one to work in the UK. You don’t need a National Insurance number to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.
If you’re an EU citizen living in the UK post-Brexit, you only need to think about getting a National Insurance Number if you plan on working.
You don’t need one straight away. You can start a role so long as you can prove you have the right to work in the UK. For a complete guide to proving your right to work in the UK, head to the government’s site.
But sooner or later, you’ll have to get a National Insurance Number.
Can EU Citizens Get a National Insurance Number?
Anyone who lives in the UK and has the right to work in the UK can apply for a National Insurance Number. But proving your identity is a major part of the application process. So if you’re an employer and you want to hire EU citizens post-Brexit, you cannot apply for National Insurance Numbers on your employees’ behalf.
You can hire EU citizens so long as they can prove their right to work in the UK. But it’s up to them to apply for their own National Insurance Numbers.
How to Get a National Insurance Number
To get a National Insurance Number, first you need to prove your identity. For this, you’ll need a passport from any country. If you’re from an EU country, or from Norway, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, you can use a national identity card instead of a passport.
You can submit digital photos of these documents as part of the application process. If you can’t do this, then you may be able to post photocopies instead.
Don’t worry if you don’t have any of these documents. You can still apply for a National Insurance Number, but you’ll have to attend an appointment in person to prove your identity.
Head here to apply for a National Insurance Number online.
Please note that, after you’ve proven your identity, it can take up to 16 weeks to get your National Insurance Number. As we said above, you can still start a job so long as you can prove your right to work in the UK. But given how long it can take to get a National Insurance Number, if pays to apply as early as possible.
Taking Care of Your Employees In a Post-Brexit World
We live in increasingly uncertain times, and the job market’s getting increasingly competitive.
If you want to attract and retain the talent your business needs to succeed in a post-Brexit world, then it pays to offer your employees total peace of mind and certainty. So consider getting private healthcare insurance for your staff – a reliable shortcut to a healthier, happier and more productive workforce.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss your options please contact our Tapoly team at info@tapoly.com, call our helpline on +44(0)2078 460 108 or try our chat on our website.