Apply to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions for periods abroad (CF83)
Use our online service to apply to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions for periods abroad.
You can apply to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions for periods abroad to fill gaps in your National Insurance record.
Before you apply, you should check the rules on which National Insurance contributions you can pay if you live or work abroad (or have previously).
If you’re over, or within 6 months of reaching State Pension age, we cannot process your application. You must contact the International Pension Centre.
What you’ll need to apply
You’ll need the following to apply:
- full name
- date of birth
- National Insurance number — find your National Insurance number if you’ve lost it
- your address in the UK if applicable
- your address abroad if applicable
- the date that you left the UK
- details of your employment before you left the UK
- how long you lived or plan to live abroad if known
- details of your employment or self-employment abroad if applicable
- details of any government benefit you were receiving or claiming if applicable
If you’re applying online you’ll need a phone with a working camera and also one of the following types of photo ID:
- UK photocard driving licence
- UK passport
- non-UK passport with a biometric chip
- UK biometric residence permit (BRP)
- UK biometric residence card (also called a BRC)
- UK Frontier Worker permit
If you’re applying to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions for multiple periods, this information is required for each period.
If you’re a volunteer development worker, you will need to tell us about your earnings for National Insurance purposes. This should include all cash allowances paid by your employer. This should not include benefits in kind, or any cash allowances not paid by your employer.
Between November 2017 and April 2019, HMRC’s guidance was incorrect. If you did not apply or your application was refused because of the incorrect guidance, you may be able to pay at the original rates. You can provide details if you think you may have been affected.
Apply to pay
Get all of your information together before you start.
What happens next
If your application to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions for periods abroad is approved, we’ll write to you to tell you and confirm payment dates and amounts or we may ask for further information.
Find out when you can expect to receive a reply from HMRC.
You can contact HMRC National Insurance enquiries, if you have any further questions about paying National Insurance contributions and living abroad.