UK national - late 40s, in J since 22, only paid 4 years into UK NI...

[RetireJapan]

Not sure the exact rules, but don't you need some minimum criteria to be eligible for Class 2?

I didn't think it's as simple as being a UK citizen meaning you automatically get to contribute to Class 2...

It's very fuzzy. I wasn't able to get Class 2, am paying Class 3 instead. Some people get rejected for Class 2, then make a fuss and get subsequently accepted. The rules keep changing.

I pretty much think it's random now

[SARS]

The rules are here: https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-i ... tributions

Basically you have to have lived in UK immediately before and either lived in UK for 3 years in a row or paid 3+ years of contributions.

[Gareth]

The rules are here: https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-i ... tributions

Basically you have to have lived in UK immediately before and either lived in UK for 3 years in a row or paid 3+ years of contributions.

I met the criteria but was still rejected from both class 2 and class 3. I kicked up a fuss and got accepted for class 2.

[Bushiman]

The rules are here: https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-i ... tributions

Basically you have to have lived in UK immediately before and either lived in UK for 3 years in a row or paid 3+ years of contributions.

I met the criteria but was still rejected from both class 2 and class 3. I kicked up a fuss and got accepted for class 2.

Exactly the same!

[tense-eye-man]

unbelievably it has taken until now for the relevant information to come through, they did contact me about six months ago but there was an error (they thought I'd lived in England in 2015, but it was actually 2005...go figure) so I wrote back with the correct information and finally the other week received a letter saying I can pay class 2 at approx 150GBP per year, so that's what I'll do.

So I'm mainly posting this update to let other people trying similar know how long this can take......patience.....

And thanks for the advice everyone who commented, much appreciated!!!

[adamu]

unbelievably it has taken until now for the relevant information to come through, they did contact me about six months ago but there was an error (they thought I'd lived in England in 2015, but it was actually 2005...go figure) so I wrote back with the correct information and finally the other week received a letter saying I can pay class 2 at approx 150GBP per year, so that's what I'll do.

So I'm mainly posting this update to let other people trying similar know how long this can take......patience.....

And thanks for the advice everyone who commented, much appreciated!!!

Great news. If you decide to pay via bank transfer, check out the making payments section here, because the official site can be a bit confusing:

https://retirewiki.jp/wiki/United_Kingd ... g_Payments