A certificate of residence from the National Population Register shows where you are registered as living in Norway and for how long. Order it from Skatteetaten when the recipient needs an official residence certificate. If you only have a D number, you cannot obtain this certificate.
What does a certificate of residence from the National Population Register show?
A certificate of residence shows your registered place of residence, not every aspect of your life. Skatteetaten states that it includes your residential address and municipality, current name, date of birth and national identity number. It also shows the registered dates when you settled in Norway, in the municipality and at your current address.
This is useful when a school, foreign authority or other recipient asks for proof of your registered residence. But ask the recipient which document they actually require. Some may accept a screenshot from Min side, a notification confirming a registered move or other evidence. A certificate of residence is a specific official paper document.
The certificate confirms the details held by the National Population Register when it is issued. It is not itself a residence permit decision, proof of lawful residence throughout the whole period or evidence of where you physically slept every night. If the question concerns actual residence time or immigration status, check the recipient's requirements. SamfunnPrep's guide to the National Population Register explains how registration and moving relate to each other.
Who can order it?
You can obtain a certificate of residence if you are registered as resident in a Norwegian municipality. Skatteetaten expressly says that people who only have a D number, or who are not registered as resident in Norway, cannot order one. A D number alone does not mean that you qualify for this certificate.
From the age of 12, you can order a certificate for yourself. A person with parental responsibility can order one for a child under 18. For a spouse, adult child, parent or sibling, Skatteetaten may require proof of a legitimate need. Guardians and lawyers with a procedural mandate have separate rules.
Example: Amir has a D number because he has worked temporarily in Norway. He needs a “proof of address” for a service. Ordering a certificate of residence will not solve this. Before paying for a translation or other documents, he should ask the recipient whether they accept another document. If he is later registered as a resident, he can ask about a certificate of residence again.
Which certificate do you actually need?
These documents answer different questions. Use this table before ordering:
| What the recipient wants to know | Check first | Important difference |
|---|---|---|
| Registered address and residence time in Norway or the municipality | Certificate of residence | Shows residence information recorded in the National Population Register. |
| Tax residence to avoid double taxation | Tax residence certificate | Skatteetaten says this must be ordered separately. |
| That a notice of moving has been processed | Notification of registered move | Sent automatically after the move is registered. |
| Who actually lives in the home now | Ask the recipient | The certificate is based on register data; it is not a home inspection. |
If you have moved recently, check the address before ordering. How to report a move in Norway shows where to update your residential address. A certificate ordered too early may show the old registration. Ask the recipient whether they need your address now or documentation for an earlier period.
How do you order a certificate of residence?
Order it through Skatteetaten's “Bostedsattest” page. Log in to the ordering service and choose whether the certificate should cover you or your family. Skatteetaten says you can order it in Norwegian or in a multilingual version. The multilingual version is available in English, French, Norwegian, Spanish and German.
Follow this short checklist:
- Ask the recipient whether a certificate of residence is required and whether they need the family or multilingual version.
- Log in to Skatteetaten's Min side and check your registered residential address.
- Order the correct certificate through Skatteetaten's ordering page.
- Allow time for both processing and delivery by post. Skatteetaten sends it on paper, stamped and signed, to your registered address.
- Read the certificate when it arrives. If a detail is wrong, contact Skatteetaten about the register entry before using the certificate.
If you cannot log in electronically, Skatteetaten says you can contact them. Its official handbook also describes ordering by physical letter or by visiting a tax office. This does not mean that you receive the certificate over the counter; it is sent by post. Check Skatteetaten's current contact options and processing times.
What applies to family certificates and cohabitants?
A family certificate does not automatically include everyone living at the address. Skatteetaten says it can show your spouse and children for whom you have parental responsibility, if they live at the same address. Cohabitants must order separate certificates. A spouse's children from another relationship may not appear on yours. Adult children over 18 living at home must order their own certificates.
Example: Lea and Jonas live together without being married and have one child together. They apply for a benefit whose administrator asks for residence documentation for both adults. They order separate certificates and ask whether the child needs a separate document. They do not assume that one “family certificate” covers both adults.
This is especially important when the documents are for use abroad: A foreign recipient may have different requirements for which family members and dates must be shown. Describe the family briefly and ask whether individual or family certificates are appropriate.
Will the certificate be used outside Norway?
If the certificate will be used abroad, check the recipient's requirements for language, apostille and legalisation. Skatteetaten says you must send the certificate yourself to the County Governor for an apostille or to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for legalisation when necessary. According to Skatteetaten's guidance, certificates for use in the Nordic countries normally need neither an apostille nor legalisation.
Do not order a translation before asking whether the multilingual certificate meets the requirement. Also ask whether the recipient requires a recently issued certificate. There is no universal “validity period” that applies to every recipient; the recipient's document requirements determine how recent it must be.
SamfunnPrep collects practical tools for everyday life in Norway. Use them to keep track of the steps, but let Skatteetaten and the document recipient decide which certificate you actually need.
Sources checked on 2 October 2026: Skatteetaten's pages on residence certificates, its National Population Register handbook, tax residence certificates and notifications of registered moves.
