In a proposal presented on Friday, the justice ministry said the new identity cards would help tackle illegal immigration.

“The residency card system will increase security surrounding residency permit documentation, thereby contributing to the prevention of illegal immigration and illegal residency,” said Justice Minister Grete Faremo (Labour Party) in a statement.

The move follows pressure from the European Union to ensure that immigrants from outside the European Economic Area, of which Norway is a member, are provided with residency cards that include fingerprint details.

Faremo said the cards would benefit immigrants with legitimate residency permits, enabling them to display fully reliable ID to prospective employers and banks.