Vipps in Norway: The Complete Expat Guide (2026)

Vipps in Norway: What It Is and How Expats Get Access

Vipps is not optional in Norway — it is how Norwegians pay for almost everything in daily life. From restaurant bill splitting to private rent deposits to charity donations to grocery delivery apps, Vipps is the default. Understanding how it works and how to access it as an expat is one of the most practically useful things you can do when you arrive.

What Vipps Actually Is

Vipps launched in 2015, created by DNB initially and later expanded to include most Norwegian banks. It works by linking your Norwegian bank account to your Norwegian phone number. Payments happen instantly, 24/7, between Vipps users — just by entering a phone number and an amount.

Unlike Wise or PayPal, Vipps is bank-integrated: money moves directly between real Norwegian bank accounts, not Vipps-held balances. There is no "Vipps wallet" — the money comes from and goes to your actual bank account immediately.

Key uses:

• Sending money to friends and family (splitting rent, dinner, gifts)
• Paying private sellers on Finn.no (Norway's classifieds site)
• Paying at physical markets, flea markets, small shops
• Recurring payments (many Norwegian landlords collect rent via Vipps or bank transfer)
• In-app purchases and checkout at major Norwegian e-commerce sites
• Donating to Norwegian charities

Requirements to Use Vipps

You need ALL of the following:

1. Norwegian phone number — the number that becomes your Vipps identity. Must be registered in your name (prepaid SIM works if registered to you).
2. D-number or personnummer — your Norwegian identification number from Skatteetaten
3. Norwegian bank account — at a participating Norwegian bank (DNB, SpareBank 1, Nordea, etc.)
4. Norwegian BankID — the digital identity system issued by your Norwegian bank

All four must be in place before Vipps can be activated. This means Vipps is typically accessible 4–8 weeks after arriving in Norway — after you have obtained your D-number and set up your bank account.

How to Activate Vipps

Once all prerequisites are in place:

Step 1: Download the Vipps app from the App Store or Google Play

Step 2: Enter your Norwegian phone number

Step 3: The app prompts you to verify your identity — use Norwegian BankID

Step 4: Link your Norwegian bank account (the app connects via your bank's BankID integration — your bank account details are automatically linked)

Step 5: Accept terms and complete setup — takes 5–10 minutes total

You are now ready to receive and send money. Your Vipps profile is your Norwegian phone number.

Sending and Receiving with Vipps

Sending money:

1. Open Vipps app
2. Tap Send
3. Enter recipient's Norwegian phone number (or select from contacts)
4. Enter amount
5. Add a message (optional)
6. Confirm with Face ID, fingerprint, or 4-digit PIN

Money leaves your Norwegian bank account and arrives in the recipient's bank account instantly — including evenings, weekends, and public holidays.

Requesting money:

1. Tap Request
2. Enter the phone number of person who owes you money
3. Enter amount and description
4. They receive a Vipps notification and can approve the payment

Vipps requests expire after a set time if not approved.

Vipps for Shopping and Merchants

Many Norwegian shops, restaurants, and online stores accept Vipps:

• Physical stores display a Vipps QR code — scan with the app to pay
• Online checkout: select Vipps as payment method, confirm in app
• Market stalls: vendors display their Vipps phone number or QR code

No physical card needed. No PIN entry at terminals. Payment confirmed by the push notification in your phone.

What to Use Before You Have Vipps

The 4–8 week gap between arriving and having Vipps access is a genuine inconvenience. Workarounds:

Norwegian bank transfer: If you have a Norwegian account, you can send money via Nettbank (online banking) using the recipient's 11-digit Norwegian account number. Slower than Vipps but functional.

Cash: Norway is largely cashless but cash is legally accepted everywhere.

Card payment: All Norwegian terminals accept Visa/Mastercard. Your Wise or Revolut card works.

Explain to landlords: If your landlord wants Vipps for the deposit and you do not have it yet, explain your timeline and offer bank transfer instead. Most landlords understand that new arrivals cannot activate Vipps immediately.

Vipps Bedrift (Business Vipps)

If you are freelancing or running a business in Norway, Vipps Bedrift lets customers pay you using your business number rather than personal phone number. It integrates with Norwegian accounting software (Tripletex, 24SevenOffice). Monthly fee: ~199 NOK + transaction fees.