Change of https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-security-abroad-ni38

Change description : 2025-09-16 14:07:00: Guidance about converting Class 3 National Insurance contributions to Class 2 contributions when you worked abroad has been added. [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2025-08-07 22:51:34.565748369 +00:00..2025-09-16 13:07:33.434163791 +00:00

Guidance

Social Security abroad: NI38

Find out about paying National Insurance contributions to the UK and getting benefits when abroad.

From:
HM Revenue & Customs
Published
11 February 2013
Last updated
116 JulySeptember 2025 — See all updates

Documents

Guidance on Social Security abroad: NI38

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Details

Some people employed abroad have to pay UK National Insurance contributions. Others may choose to pay them to help qualify for benefits when they return to the UK or for State Pension or bereavement benefits, whether they return to the UK or stay abroad.

This guidance describes:

  • the classes of National Insurance contributions
  • how paying them affects your entitlement to Social Security benefits
  • arrangements for getting healthcare cover

Apply to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions for periods spent abroad (CF83).

Updates to this page

Published 11 February 2013
Last updated 116 JulySeptember 2025 + show all updates

  2. The 'How to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions if you're abroad' section has been updated with the latest information on how to make payments.

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Update history

2025-09-16 14:07
Guidance about converting Class 3 National Insurance contributions to Class 2 contributions when you worked abroad has been added.

2025-07-01 12:32
The ‘How to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions if you’re abroad’ section has been updated with the latest information on how to make payments.

2024-03-27 07:50
Added translation.

2024-01-31 13:55
The Social Security abroad (NI38) guidance has been updated.

2024-01-15 13:53
Information on applying to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions for periods spent abroad has been moved to a linked page.

2023-10-19 13:43
The deadline for paying voluntary National Insurance contributions for the tax years 6 April 2006 to 5 April 2018 has been extended to 5 April 2025, if you’re eligible.

2023-05-12 14:50
The deadline to pay your voluntary National Insurance contributions has been extended from 5 April 2023 to 31 July 2023. A link for more information about the extension has been added.

2023-01-12 13:59
‘France’ has been re-added to the list of EU countries in the section ‘EU and social security agreement countries’. This was omitted in error.

2022-11-25 16:10
The Social Security abroad (NI38) guidance has been updated and form CF83 is now available separately.