You’ve got your work visa or your EU passport sorted out. Now, if you’re looking to work in the UK, you must make sure you get a National Insurance (NI) number arranged when you get offered, and accept, a banking job.

Your local council can help you track down your closest Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) office in the UK. Typically, all you need to do is give your postcode and details about your banking job to your council and they can give you contact details for your closest DWP office. You can then go ahead and make an appointment with the DWP office to start your NI number application process.

You’ll need to take these items to your DWP appointment:

• your passport


• a letter from your new workplace or recruitment agency, confirming your employment and


• 2 or 3 forms of identification.

Once you’ve been to your DWP appointment, you normally have to wait for 6 to 8 weeks before you receive your NI number.

If you encounter any problems trying to get an appointment with DWP, try calling this phone number:

0845 601 0142.

Be warned, you may have to wait a while to be connected but it’s worth the wait.