Children born abroad while their parents live in Norway do not automatically receive a Norwegian national identity number or residence permit. Before returning home, you must clarify the child's citizenship, passport and basis for entry. After arrival, check residence status and registration in the National Population Register.
Child born abroad: what is different?
The birth is registered where it takes place; Norway does not automatically receive a Norwegian birth notification. The Norwegian Tax Administration explains that a child born while the mother is temporarily staying abroad is normally first registered as resident in Norway when moving there. This differs from a child born at a Norwegian hospital. The information was checked on 2 October 2026.
| Question before returning | Why it matters | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| What citizenship does the child have? | It determines the passport, entry requirements and whether EEA rules may apply. | The child's country of citizenship and, if relevant, a Norwegian foreign service mission. |
| Which passport or travel document can the child get? | A birth certificate is normally not a passport. | The passport authority in the child's country of citizenship. |
| Does the child need a visa or residence permit before travelling? | The parents' cards are not automatically the child's documents. | The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI), based on the child's citizenship and family circumstances. |
| How will the child be registered as resident? | National identity numbers and population registration have separate rules. | The Norwegian Tax Administration after arrival. |
See the checklist for children born in Norway. It covers a different starting point: a birth notification from a Norwegian hospital. Do not automatically apply its deadlines and exemptions when the child was born abroad.
The child's citizenship determines the first route
Start with the parents' citizenship, but get it confirmed. If one parent is a Norwegian citizen when the child is born, the child generally becomes a Norwegian citizen at birth. The Tax Administration describes a special route to obtain a national identity number for the first Norwegian passport through the passport authority. Contact a Norwegian embassy or consulate before travelling to confirm the documentation and appointment requirements. Do not assume the child already has a national identity number just because the parent does.
If neither parent is Norwegian, the laws of the relevant countries determine which citizenship the child receives. Ask the relevant embassy or passport authority to confirm this and issue a passport. UDI handles residence under Norwegian rules; a foreign embassy does not decide the child's right to reside in Norway. Check both routes. A copy of the parents' residence cards does not give the child a permit of their own.
If the child is a citizen of an EU/EEA country, check with the police whether EEA registration is required. If the child is a third-country national but a family member of an EU/EEA citizen with a right of residence, the EEA residence card scheme may apply. If the parents are third-country nationals with ordinary Norwegian residence permits, family immigration is usually the relevant route. These are different schemes; UDI has separate guides for them.
If the child needs family immigration
Check the application process before travelling to Norway with the child. UDI says the general rule for family immigration is to submit the application from the child's home country or country of residence. Some children may apply from Norway, but only if specific requirements for lawful stay and place of application are met. In some cases, UDI may allow parents in Norway to apply on the child's behalf while the child is abroad. This is decided individually. Do not buy a return ticket on the assumption that the child can submit an application after arrival.
UDI's pages for applications for children include requirements to document identity and family relationship. A birth certificate is central; UDI may also require additional verification, such as a DNA test in some cases. If only one parent lives in Norway and the parents share parental responsibility, the other parent normally has to consent to the child living here. Check UDI's personalised checklist for the exact documents, translations and any fees.
There is no single income answer that applies to every family. The requirement may vary depending on the reference person's status and the type of application. For example, if the parents have a work permit, study permit or protection, select the right situation in UDI's family immigration guide. SamfunnPrep's guide to family immigration explains the terms, but UDI's checklist for the child determines what you must submit.
How should you plan the journey home with the child?
The travel plan must match the child's own documents. Check whether the child needs a passport, entry visa or granted residence permit before leaving the country of birth. UDI describes entry visas (D visas) for specific situations, but there is no general automatic solution for all newborns. The embassy and UDI can explain what applies based on the child's citizenship and application type. Also remember any transit countries and the airline's document requirements.
Example: Two parents from a country outside the EEA live in Norway with work permits. Their child is born while the mother is visiting family in her home country. They obtain a local birth certificate and apply for a passport for the child. Before booking the return trip, they use UDI's guide to family immigration for children and clarify where the application must be submitted and which entry document the child needs. The parents' residence cards are not enough for the child's journey.
Another example: A Norwegian citizen has a child abroad. The child's possible Norwegian citizenship is assessed before any residence application. The family contacts a Norwegian foreign service mission about a national identity number for the passport and a Norwegian passport. On returning, they follow the Tax Administration's rules for registration as a resident. These two examples cannot be treated as interchangeable.
After arrival: the National Population Register and parental responsibility
Check registration as a resident when the child is actually going to live in Norway. The Tax Administration says children born abroad are first registered as residents when they move to Norway. For Norwegian children born abroad, it describes an in-person visit to a tax office with the child and documents such as a passport and birth certificate. For foreign children, the process also depends on the residence basis and registration requirements. Use the Tax Administration's “Moving to Norway” guide or ask the tax office which documents apply to your child.
Parental responsibility is registered separately. The Tax Administration says parental responsibility for children born abroad may be recorded as “unknown” when one parent moves with the child alone or the parents are not married. This does not necessarily mean that no one has parental responsibility; it means the register needs the correct supporting documents. Document parental responsibility early if you will need to arrange a passport, name or other matters for the child.
After registration, you can check the child's details in the National Population Register. Make sure the name, date of birth and parentage match the passport and birth certificate. Different spellings can delay later applications. Ask the Tax Administration how discrepancies in the child's registration should be documented and corrected before a later application.
Checklist before booking your trip
- Obtain a birth certificate from the country of birth and document who has parental responsibility.
- Clarify the child's citizenship and obtain the child's own passport or travel document.
- Choose the correct UDI route: Norwegian child, EEA child, EEA family member or family immigration.
- Clarify where and when any residence application must be submitted.
- Check the child's entry and transit requirements before buying tickets.
- After arrival, clarify registration as a resident and the national identity number with the Tax Administration.
SamfunnPrep offers practical tools to help you keep track of important steps. Ask UDI and the Tax Administration which documents your family needs; if you are also preparing for tests for future residence, you can practise on SamfunnPrep.
