Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK
For members

DIGITAL ID

How do Norway’s new e-ID plans affect foreign residents?

The Norwegian Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development has presented a new national strategy for the secure digital ID system e-ID. Here's how it could affect foreigners living in Norway.

Published: 1 May 2023 10:07 CEST
Bank ID
People living in Norway can usually choose between different electronic IDs to log on to online public services. Pictured is a BankID token. Photo by: The Local Norway

Norway is a highly digitalised society, and most interactions with state entities (such as health services, the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration, and the Tax Administration) and banks can be carried out online.

However, to access the aforementioned services, users must first prove their identity via an electronic ID (e-ID).

Different electronic IDs can be used to log on to online public services, including MinID, BankID, BankID app, BankID on mobile, Buypass ID, or Commfides.

However, if you don’t have an e-ID, life in Norway can quickly become complicated.

New efforts aimed at those who can’t get BankID

Generally speaking, foreigners living in Norway shouldn’t – and usually don’t – have problems getting an e-ID.

“International citizens in Norway can, for the most part, use an e-ID with a high level of security – BankID is the most widely used – or an e-ID with a substantial security level – MinID – which is publicly issued,” State Secretary Gunn Karin Gjul at the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development told The Local.

No system is perfect, however, and some people always fall through the cracks, which means they encounter trouble getting an e-ID that meets their needs.

This is something that the ministry says it is trying to address in its new e-ID strategy.

“For those who cannot be issued a BankID, the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, together with the Norwegian Digitalisation Agency, will investigate whether there is a need for a new e-ID means.

“If a new e-ID means, or an existing e-ID means with expanded functionality, is proposed for further development, one of the most important aspects will be digital inclusion for groups of people that have issues acquiring or using an e-ID today. Another important measure in the strategy is investigating solutions for representing others digitally,” Gjul said.

No new e-ID for public services – for now

At the moment, no new e-ID for accessing public services is being launched, but Norwegian authorities want to ensure that everyone who needs an e-ID with a high level of security can get one in the future.

“Currently, there is no new public e-ID. One of the measures in the new strategy is to investigate how we can ensure that everyone who needs it can obtain an e-ID with a high level of security.

“In the further process, it may therefore be an alternative to regulate the current e-IDs in a different way, or that a new e-ID is created under public authority, or by the market actors in cooperation with relevant public authorities,” Gjul said.

Action plan

When it comes to the timeline for preparing the new e-ID strategy and its potential implementation, the first step is expected to be an action plan.

“The Ministry is now working on an action plan, which is scheduled to be published in the second or third quarter of 2023. The action plan will further detail measures that will be prioritised and the public and private actors involved.

“This will be done in collaboration with the relevant parties. We will also take into account the proposed amendments to the e-IDAS regulation and the e-ID Wallet (EUID Wallet),” Gjul said.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

NORWEGIAN HABITS

Five useful things to know before you move to Norway

Moving to a new country comes with plenty of unexpected lessons and surprises. Norway is no different, and here are six things you'll need to know before the move. 

Published: 7 May 2024 16:43 CEST
Five useful things to know before you move to Norway

Patience 

While you may presume Norway is an efficient society, and it can be once you get the ball rolling, plenty of patience will be required. 

This is because fixing the essentials can take quite a while. In recent years, long waiting times for residence permits have become common. 

Furthermore, once you are granted residence and given an identity number, setting up things like a bank account could take weeks or months rather than days. 

When it comes to getting a job, interview stages can take a while to get going, especially if periods like the summer holidays or Easter slow things down. 

A shortage of GPs and long patient lists make doctor appointments difficult. Meanwhile, if you decide to make a home in the country, you will likely need to live there for five to eight years before becoming eligible for citizenship. 

READ ALSO: What paperwork do you need to open a bank account in Norway

Norwegian flags 

Norwegians take great pride in their country, and as a result, their flag also features quite prominently. 

If you live in an apartment block, you can normally tell when it’s a neighbour’s birthday, as they will have the Norwegian flag on display. 

Norway’s flag is also featured prominently in other celebrations and festivities. The most famous of these is May 17th or Constitution Day. However, most stores will have year-round sections where it is possible to buy Norwegian flag decorations.

Week numbers 

This one can be frustrating to come to terms with, and for many, it won’t make much sense even after living in the country for a while. 

Norwegians use week numbers to refer to points in time, either in the past of the future. It’s common for you to hear phrases like “We will be closed in week 32, but reopen in week 33“ or “The project needs to be finished by week 42“. 

It’ll be typical for a local to rattle of week numbers and expect you to know exactly where in the calendar they are talking about. 

READ ALSO: Why Norwegians use week numbers instead of dates

Reserved locals can make it hard to make friends

One of the toughest aspects of moving somewhere new is establishing a new network of friends. 

Small talk isn’t really huge in Norway, and the locals are known for their reserved and private nature. 

It‘s unlikely that you’ll be striking up conversations on the bus or that you’ll progress beyond more than a polite greeting with most of your neighbours. 

This is done to respect privacy rather than to be rude or cold. 

However, this can make making friends difficult as plenty of locals don’t make too many more friends in adult life and are content with their circle.

Still, it’s entirely possible to form lifelong friendships with the locals, especially if you just give it time and have something like a shared sport or hobby to break the ice. 

READ ALSO: Settling in Norway: Five places to meet new people and make friends

Festival celebrations 

Norwegians love to celebrate, and that’s why you’ll soon be marking your calendar with events like sankthansaften or syttende mai. 

The best thing about these festivals or days is that they come with a whole host of specific traditions or foods. 

Sankthansaften see’s people gather round bonfires to celebrate the summer solstice, it’s also typical for children to collect wild flowers to put underneath their pillows so they can dream about their future partner. 

Santa Lucia is marked every year on December 13th, and some people make special buns and see children visit old people’s homes for light processions. 

Then they are the more individual family traditions that surround New Year’s, Easter, Christmas and May 17th. 

SHOW COMMENTS