Norwegian National ID Card for Foreigners (Nasjonalt ID-kort)

Foreign citizens who have a Norwegian national identity number (fødselsnummer) can apply to the police for a national ID card without travel rights (nasjonalt ID-kort uten reiserett). The card documents your Norwegian national identity number and can be used as identification in Norway, according to the police page for foreign citizens. It costs 840 kroner from age 10.

This guide covers who can apply, which documents EU/EEA and non-EU citizens need, what it costs, how the card reaches you, and how long it lasts. Everything below comes from the police (politiet.no), the regulation on passports and national ID cards on Lovdata, and BankID's own page.

What the card is, and what it is not

The card is a photo ID card for use inside Norway. The police give examples of when you are asked to prove who you are: at the bank, when collecting parcels, or when dealing with public authorities (politiet.no, about passports and ID cards).

It has three limits worth knowing before you apply:

• No travel use. A national ID card without travel rights cannot be used as identification abroad or when travelling into or out of Norway (politiet.no). For travel you still need your passport or your home country's ID card.
• Not a residence card. The police state that the ID card documents your identity, while a residence card documents that you have a residence permit in Norway (politiet.no, EU/EEA/EFTA page).
• No proof of legal stay. The regulation says the national ID card does not document legal residence or other rights (pass- og ID-kortforskriften § 2A-1, Lovdata).

Who can apply

The legal conditions are in chapter 2A of the regulation on passports and national ID cards. A foreign citizen has the right to the card on application if they:

• have a Norwegian national identity number,
• have a residence permit that has not expired, or a right of residence under the Immigration Act, and
• prove their identity under the regulation's rules.

The police add a practical point that catches many newcomers: you must have a Norwegian national identity number with 11 digits. If you only have a D number, you cannot apply (politiet.no). If you are not sure which number you have, see our guides to the D-number and to registering with Folkeregisteret.

EU/EEA/EFTA citizens

You need a valid electronic machine-readable passport or national ID card from your home country. These documents contain a chip and carry the chip symbol. The police will not accept a document that is damaged or expired, has a chip that does not work, or a photo you no longer look like (politiet.no, EU/EEA/EFTA citizens).

Citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA/EFTA

You need a valid Norwegian residence card, plus a valid passport from your home country, a Norwegian travel document for refugees, or a passport for foreigners. The police say that third-country citizens who cannot get a passport from their home country, and who have neither of the Norwegian documents, can still apply (politiet.no, third-country citizens). If you are still waiting for your permit, start with our residence permit guide.

Your name must match Folkeregisteret

The card shows your name exactly as it is registered in Folkeregisteret. For applications received before 19 October 2026, every letter had to match your passport or ID card. For applications received from 19 October 2026, differences in diacritical characters are accepted (politiet.no). If you are not an EU/EEA/EFTA citizen, the name on your Norwegian residence card must match too (politiet.no). If you want to change your name in Folkeregisteret, the police say to do it before you book.

Children

There is no minimum age. If the child is under 13, the parent or parents must consent, and two parents with joint parental responsibility must both appear in person to give consent. Children aged 13 or older can apply without consent (politiet.no).

Where to apply

You must book an appointment and appear in person at a passport and ID office that offers this service.

• EU/EEA/EFTA citizens: all police districts have at least one passport and ID office where you can apply (politiet.no).
• Non-EU citizens: the service is still being expanded. The police say that from 1 September 2026 it is available at Politiets publikumssenter i Ski (Øst police district), which would be the only location for the first few months, with more passport and ID offices across the country by the end of the year (politiet.no, third-country citizens). The main page says you can currently choose from a limited number of locations in the booking solution, so check it when you book (politiet.no).

Do not bring your own photo. The police take your photo at the appointment (politiet.no checklist).

What it costs

These are the police prices from 1 January 2026 (politiet.no, price and payment):

You pay at the passport and ID office during your appointment. The police accept bank card, credit card (Visa or MasterCard), cash, Google Pay or Apple Pay. You cannot pay with Vipps or by invoice. The regulation also states that the fee is not refunded if your application is refused (pass- og ID-kortforskriften § 7-2).

Getting the card

The police do not guarantee a fixed delivery time. Their normal expected delivery time for a national ID card is about 1 week plus national post from the time you apply (politiet.no, receiving the card).

• You get an SMS when the card has been produced and is sent to you.
• The card goes by ordinary post. Your mailbox must be clearly marked with your full first and last name, or the card is returned.
• You can collect it at the passport and ID office instead, but you must say so when you hand in the application. You cannot change this afterwards. To collect it, go to the office you agreed and bring your own passport or national ID card (politiet.no).
• If the card has not arrived within 10 working days of the SMS saying it was sent, report it to the police. You are then entitled to a new card without paying the fee.

How long it is valid

The regulation sets the validity from the date of issue (pass- og ID-kortforskriften § 6-1):

For foreign citizens with a temporary residence permit, or a right of residence under section 114 of the Immigration Act, the card is not valid beyond the expiry date of the residence card (§ 2A-3). The police advise checking your residence card's expiry date before you apply (politiet.no, third-country citizens).

The ID card and BankID

BankID's own page lists the Norwegian national ID card among the Norwegian documents you can show to get BankID, next to passports, passports for foreigners and travel documents. For foreign documents it lists a machine-readable passport or an EU/EEA ID card (bankid.no). The same page says you need a valid ID document to get BankID, and valid ID again to reactivate the BankID app or when you are asked to confirm your identity. Our BankID guide covers the rest of that process.

Common problems and fixes

• "I only have a D number." You cannot apply yet. The card requires an 11-digit national identity number.
• "My passport chip does not work." EU/EEA/EFTA applicants need a working electronic machine-readable document. Get a new passport or ID card from your home country first.
• "My name is spelled differently in Folkeregisteret." Check how your name is registered in Folkeregisteret and fix any difference before booking. From 19 October 2026, differences only in diacritical characters are accepted.
• "The card never arrived." Check that your mailbox shows your full name. If 10 working days pass after the SMS, report it to the police for a free replacement.
• "I lost the card." You must report a lost or stolen ID card to the police.

Your next step

Check that you have an 11-digit national identity number, then open the police page for your group (EU/EEA/EFTA citizens or third-country citizens) and book an appointment. Fees and locations change, so confirm both on politiet.no before you go.