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DIGITAL ID

How to get an electronic ID in Norway without a ‘personnummer’

It may feel like you can only order an electronic ID in Norway if you have a 'personnummer', but that isn’t the case, and there are plenty of options if you only have a D-number.

Published: 14 January 2022 16:21 CET
Updated: 18 June 2023 08:38 CEST
A laptop.
There are several ways in which you can get an electronic ID in Norway. Pictured is a laptop. Photo by Nakul on Unsplash

In Norway, all residents are required by authorities and government services to have some form of identification number.

These come in the form of either a “personnummer” or “fødselsnummer” (National Identity Number) or a D-number.

People are typically issued a D-number when they first move to Norway by the tax authority. However, if they intend to stay in the country longer than six months, they will need a National Identity Number. The tax authority also issues these.

The reason why these identification numbers are essential is that they are used to open bank accounts, access government online services from the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) and the Norwegian Tax Administration. 

To use these services, many will also need an electronic ID also. For example, electronic ID’s are used to sign in to government services or helsenorge, Norway’s digital health portal where residents can access medical history, prescriptions and check their Covid-19 certificate.

Many residents found that in some cases, they won’t be issued a certain types of electronic ID without a fødselsnummer. This can create issues because, without an electronic ID, they cannot access government services.

For example, many banks will not issue residents a BankID without a Norwegian Identity Number. This, most of the time is bank policy rather than a rule. This can leave many feeling locked out, but fortunately, there are alternatives.

READ MORE: Everything foreigners in Norway need to know about electronic IDs

MinID

You can order a MinID with just a D-number. Additionally, MindID is free. This is the most straightforward option for people who have just moved to Norway. This is because even if you don’t have an address in the national population register, you can order your MinID pincode letter to the nearest Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) office.

You can order the pincode letter required to set up a MinID here.

The main drawback with MinID is that it doesn’t come with the same security privileges as other options. For example, you can access NAV, but you cannot sign in to view your Covid-19 certificate.

Buypass ID 

Buypass ID comes as a smart card and reader with the highest security clearance, level four.

Having level four security electronic ID allows access to online prescriptions and your digital Covid-19 certificate.

The biggest drawback to Buypass ID is that new customers pay 899 kroner for its eID service.

All new Buypass users must also carry out an identification check.

You will have to undergo the ID check at your local post office. You will need to bring a valid passport, and a document issued by a public body containing a D-number can be used.

Commfides 

Commfides is a USB stick that grants the same security access as Buypass and BankID. You can order Commfides with a D-number but will need to upload a document containing the D-number, such as a tax return.

You will then need to do an in-person identity check when picking up your Commfides from the post office or their offices in Lysaker, Oslo.

Like Buypass, Commfides is a paid service. Commfides will set you back 1,180 kroner, and the ID will last for three years.

To log into public services with Commfides, you will need to download the Commfides plugin, select Commfides as your preferred electronic ID, insert the Commfides USB, enter the pin you were issued, and log in.  

Try bankID again

Firstly, you can try obtaining a bankID from different banks. Some banks will say that it isn’t possible to get bankID with just a D-number, but this is just their own policy rather than a rule.

Some banks may be more willing to issue a BankID to customers with a D-number. The issue with this is that it can be down to the luck of the draw at times, depending on who you get to speak to from which bank.

Additionally, opening accounts with banks or speaking to various customer service teams about whether or not you can have a bankID can be frustrating and time-consuming way to obtain an e-ID. However, it may be worth it as bankID is free, unlike the other options that come with the highest security clearance.

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DIGITAL ID

EXPLAINED: The issues with Norway’s electronic ID system

Electronic IDs in Norway are used for everything from logging into to your tax return, confirming online transactions, and more. While the system is quick and efficient – there are some issues.

Published: 16 May 2024 12:40 CEST
Updated: 17 May 2024 10:25 CEST
EXPLAINED: The issues with Norway’s electronic ID system

 Electronic IDs have been in use in Norway for around 20 years now, with the most prominent – BankID – being launched in 2004.

The Norwegian state launched its own digital ID, MinID, in 2008 to allow people to access public services online.

In the years since, electronic IDs have become a huge part of everyday life, whether its renewing prescriptions, filing tax returns, making online purchases, putting in offers on homes, or sending over some cash to a friend to split the cost of a dinner.

READ ALSO: Everything foreigners in Norway need to know about electronic IDs

However, for foreigners in Norway the world of electronic IDs is not always plain sailing. Public broadcaster NRK recently reported on a case where it took a Czech national three years to receive a BankID.

We have posted a survey at the end of the article to ask about your experiences with obtaining an electronic ID in Norway. If you want to reach out directly you can email us at [email protected]

While it is relatively straightforward for Norwegian nationals to get an electronic ID, the process can be confusing and frustrating for foreigners.

Lack of clarity over who can get BankID

It could be argued that BankID is the most useful and versatile digital ID, however the rules for obtaining one aren’t always clear.

One of the requirements for getting an electronic ID in Norway is to have a national identity number. However, there is a two-tiered system to national identity numbers.

Essentially foreigners who aren’t expected to stay in Norway for long are given what’s known as a “D-number”. Meanwhile, Norwegian citizens and those expected to live in Norway for a while are given what’s known as a “birth number” or fødselsnummer.

A large number of banks in Norway will not issue a BankID to a customer who does not have a birth number, which means some foreign residents have to go through the process of changing their D-number into a birth number.

Some banks do accept D-numbers, although some foreigners have experienced receiving two different answers from the same bank.

This all happens despite their being no regulations stating that banks cannot issue a BankID to customers with a D-number.

The electronic ID offered by the state has a lower security clearance

Electronic IDs have different security levels. MinID, issued by the Norwegian state, has a medium security clearance.

This means that while MinID is accessible for foreigners, what you can actually do with it is quite limited.

So, while, its government approved, and it allows you to do the bare essentials like use public services or sign into the country’s tax portal, you can’t use it to download the mobile pay service Vipps, for example.

It would probably be more useful for foreigners if the electronic ID had a higher security level.  

If you need to compromise, it won’t be great

Say, for example, you can’t get a BankID, there are ways you can get around it. Both Commfides and BuyPass ID come with the same security clearance as BankID.

They do, however, cost money to obtain. At the time or writing, it costs 989 kroner for a Buypass ID and a Commfides ID costs 1,180 kroner.

Costs aside, they don’t offer the same amount of applications, and come with other limitations such as needing to use a usb stick rather than an app.

Not having full access can actually leave you locked out of essential services, and having to rely on work arounds can be frustrating.

Have your say

Please take a few minutes to fill out our survey on using electronic IDs in Norway. We will try and include your experiences in future articles. If the survey doesn’t appear, you can use this link to submit your answers.

 

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