A: An employer is required to obtain a National Insurance card from a new employee on commencement of employment. Where the employer has not obtained such a card/he/she should obtain the national insurance number from the National Insurance Office within seven (7) days of the employee commencing work. If the number is not received within that period, the employer is still expected to submit contributions to the National Insurance Office on the new employee’s behalf in the specified time period or else a penalty for late payment may be incurred.