UK NI Number for a Croatian National (self-employed)

A friend of mine is a Croatian national.

She set herself up as a self-employed caterer and cleaner in the UK this summer.

She collected a number of invoices and proof of address and went to a Jobcentre Plus to obtain an National Insurance Number.

She was refused (now twice), as "she did not provide sufficient evidence of her right to work" - what is that supposed to mean?
Croatian nationals can be self-employed without any restrictions.

When she called Jobcentre Plus they said she may need to show evidence of HMRC registration as self-employed.

But HMRC won't register without a NINO.

And NINO cannot be obtained without HMRC registration.

Catch 22?

How can this be resolved?

Jobcentre Plus customer service is non-existence, the interview does not allow for any clarification,
they just collect documents and say "we'll get back to you" but they just refuse.

Can anyone help/advise?

Mel

According to this page she can apply for a yellow registration certifcate which costs £55 and is proof of her right to work as a self employed person.

Thanks, yes I know she CAN do it, but this is not an obligation.

And it seems like applying to one government body to certify her right to work to show to another government
body that she can do it. What for?

She has the right to be self-employed by virtue of being a Croatian citizen, full stop.

And anyway, in order to apply for a yellow registration certificate, one should provide NINO/HMRC details!!!

It's the first time I post a question on ImmigrationBoards and nobody offers help - are Croatian nationals such a mystery?

I'm sending a PM out to every member to answer your question immediately whether they are working, spending time with their families or not. They should be answering your question.

Sorry for your wait.

Diamond sense of humour, I had a good laugh

My point was that all other queries seemed easy, so I am wondering if the Croatians' situation is so peculiar,
or this is the wrong forum perhaps?

There is nothing peculiar about an unlawful action.

You friend should seek legal advise as they are clearly wrong to refuse National insurance.

Thanks! Do you know if a refusal can be easily appealed? The whole Jobcentre Plus system seems extremely non-transparent

Hi there,
I am desperately seeking help for the same problem.
My Mom is Croatian and works here as a self-employed language tutor. She has tried to register for an NI number tiwice, but got refused. Now she is being charged for an NHS hospital treatment due to not having an NI number. But it her Treaty right to live here and therefore access NHS care.
Can anyone help? How can she get an NI number and register with HMRC?
Thanks,
Fiona

t123456789 wrote:According to this page she can apply for a yellow registration certifcate which costs £55 and is proof of her right to work as a self employed person.

It is £65, not £55 and all the information required is on https://www.gov.uk/croatian-national/ye ... ertificate

I am Croatian in the same situation. Yellow certificate asks for bank account which I can't open without National insurance number and HMRC set up. Anyone on how to go about this. Help please, I am trying hard but it seems this is a circle where you can't do anything. Under European Statute all European citizens are allowed to be self employed. What to do? If anyone found out please contact me or post here.

milatdani wrote:I am Croatian in the same situation. Yellow certificate asks for bank account which I can't open without National insurance number and HMRC set up. Anyone on how to go about this. Help please, I am trying hard but it seems this is a circle where you can't do anything. Under European Statute all European citizens are allowed to be self employed. What to do? If anyone found out please contact me or post here.

Some banks offer an easy (or easier) to open no-frills type of bank account;
they are suitable for migrants as the identity requirements aren't so rigorous (or are, at least, more flexible).

For example, my daughter (who had no NINO & was not a taxpayer) opened a Halifax EasyCash account;
in the interest of fairness no doubt there are others from other high-street banks.

That may work for you too.

Hello everyone.

after 4 years the this problem still living. I would like to know how these people resolved it.

I came and I am working in UK now since 2 weeks long. I went to an appointment in order to obtain my NIN in Southampton office. They refused my petition saying me that as croatian I am not allow to work in UK and the only way to do that is becoming a self-employeed.

They explained me all the certificates for croatian people in here. The blue one, the purple one and the YELLOW one. In my current job they didn't know about this restriction and me either. Now is the time to pay my salary but of course we want to do everithing in rule.

I'm super confused because:

- To get a NIN I need the Yellow certificated
- To get the Yellow certificated is mandatory show a self employeed's certificated
- For to be a self employeed I need to show mi NIN

Could you tell me how did you solve this case? Please don't say: calling to Sharlok Holmes.

Well, I don't know what to do, please help.

About banks account. I oppened it very quick in Nation Wide Bank. I showed my passport and a letter of my employer. My employer porvide residence to me so the letter kills 2 purposes.

Miroslav actually its easy to get yellow certificate for self employed . If your company is on sponsor list you could even get purple certificate.

PM me I can explain you more.