This article provides instructions on how to add, edit, or delete an Asylum Seeker reference number for guardians. It includes permission requirements and step-by-step guidance for managing them in user profiles.
From Autumn 2026, schools verifying Free School Meal eligibility through the DfE's Eligibility Checking Service (ECS) need a guardian's National Insurance number or Asylum Seeker Reference Number (also called a NASS number). If a guardian does not have an NI number, you can record their Asylum Seeker Reference Number against their guardian profile instead.
Permissions
To add, edit or delete an Asylum Seeker Reference Number, you need one of the following permissions:
- Guardians: Administer All Students or Administer My Students
If you don't have the permission, you'll need to ask your admin team to give you permission using these instructions.
Adding an Asylum Seeker Reference Number
- Go to the user's profile
- Click +Add in the Identity section
- On the pop-up, select Identification Document
- In the slide over, select that the Type is Asylum Seeker Reference Number.
- Add in the details, such as:
- Document Number, Name on document and Issuing country (Required);
- The Issue and Expiry dates (Optional)
- Click Add document.
💡 Parent/Guardians can also add their own Asylum Seeker Reference Number via the Parent Portal. See How do I add my Asylum Seeker Reference Number on the Parent Portal? for guidance to share with them.
Editing or deleting an Asylum Seeker Reference Number
- In the Identity section of the profile, click on the Asylum Seeker Reference Number.
- Select Edit to update the number, or Delete to remove it entirely.
Important note on guardian Asylum Seeker Reference Numbers
⚠️ A guardian can only have one active Asylum Seeker Reference Number at a time. If they have a new number, edit the existing record rather than adding a second one — or end-date the current record and add the new one.
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