How long does it take to receive your national insurance number?

I turned the postal application in last Thursday, so the office should have received it last Friday.

I'm beginning work next Wednesday and I would really really like it before starting.

How long did it take you to get yours (after sending the postal application or after the interview)?

I received mine after bringing over my Swiss unemployment benefit, so I filed directly at the Jobcentre. It took about 2.5 months to get mine

I had an interview on Monday and it came on Friday. 

I can't recall exactly how long, but I received mine within a month of sending the postal application. It might have been as quick as two weeks, actually. And it could have potentially been even faster if Royal Mail hadn't been striking at the time... 

I applied in person, and the number showed up in 2-3 weeks. The card took another 3 months.

They did give me a reference number, though, that I was able to give to my employer in the meantime.

You should get a letter with the number on it in about 2 weeks after they received the paperwork the card itself arrives 6-8 weeks after the letter.

Thanks for the info.

Hopefully it will be here soon!

Mine took about 6 weeks from the date of the appointment to get the card.

i apply for my NIN last week and i already felt the form and sent it back , so i only had my reference number , so im just wondering if im allowed to start work or no ? 

You don't need a National Insurance number to start work. 

So how does it work ? if you get your brp  don't you need a nin ?

allright but every time when i try to apply for work they asck me in form application for my insurance number
so did i have to call the job center and make appoiment for interview 

You need a National Insurance number so that your taxes are deducted properly, but you can start work without one.  The NI number has nothing to do with the biometric residence permit.

Your National Insurance number

To work in the UK you need a National Insurance number. You can start work without a National Insurance number but you must apply for one as soon as you start work.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/Taxes/BeginnersGuideToTax/NationalInsurance/IntroductiontoNationalInsurance/DG_190048

You should get it in about 10 days from applying.