# Norway's Digital Mailbox System: Essential Guide

Learn about Digipost, eBoks, and Altinn – Norway's official digital mailbox systems for government correspondence.

Canonical: https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/digital-postkasse-digipost-ebok
Language: en
Publisher: SamfunnPrep
Author: Hlib Suslov
Published: 2026-07-06T09:43:47.025+00:00
Modified: 2026-10-19T07:25:34.433372+00:00
AI use policy: https://samfunnprep.no/ai-policy.txt

## Key takeaways

- Activate now – legally binding after 2 days Digital letters are deemed received after 2 business days regardless of whether you open them. Activate your mailbox and set up alerts now.
- Choose Digipost or eBoks – both free Activate one with BankID or MinID, set up email alerts and check at least monthly.
- Altinn is for tax return and forms Altinn is the state portal for tax returns (April) and NAV forms – not a mailbox, but equally important.

**Digital mailbox** — Digipost or eBoks — is the channel where state, municipality and NAV send important letters to you electronically instead of on paper. Without a digital mailbox, letters may be missed or delayed. This guide shows how to set up Digipost or eBoks in 2026, what you receive there, and how to ensure critical decisions are not lost.

## What is digital mailbox?

The Norwegian state has introduced **digital-first strategy**: letters are sent electronically unless you actively opt for paper. Digital mail has the same legal validity as postal letters, but is delivered within seconds.

The regulation is in **eGovernment Regulation § 8** and **eCom Act**. The decision is considered **received when delivered to your digital mailbox** — not when you open it.

### Two providers

- **Digipost** (Posten Norge) — Norwegian owner, linked to Posten
- **eBoks** (Danish company) — international company, also used in Denmark and Sweden

Both approved by the Norwegian Digitalisation Agency (DigDir) and meet security requirements.

## What is sent to the digital mailbox?

### From the state

- **Tax return** and tax settlement from [Skatteetaten](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/kildeskatt-paye-utlendinger)
- **NAV decisions** — [unemployment, sickness, AAP](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/aap-2026), [disability pension](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/uforetrygd-2026)
- **Decisions from [Lånekassen](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/lanekassen-flyktninger-eos)**
- **UDI decisions** on residence permit
- **Police decisions** — [passport, ID card, criminal reports](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/anmelde-til-politiet-norge)
- **Court decisions** — [court rulings](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/rettsstat-og-domstolene-norge)
- **Husbanken** — housing subsidy

### From the municipality

- Kindergarten, school and after-school decisions
- Building permits
- Municipal fees (property tax, waste)
- Social assistance decisions — see [NAV social assistance](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/okonomisk-sosialhjelp-nav)

### From public services

- Datatilsynet, Consumer Council
- Norwegian Public Roads Administration
- HELFO (health services)

### From Altinn

Altinn is a separate system for **business** (tax, annual accounts). Can send notifications to Digipost/eBoks. See [freelancer and sole proprietor](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/frilanser-eller-enk).

## Setting up Digipost

### Step 1: Register at digipost.no

1. Go to digipost.no
2. Click «Create mailbox»
3. Log in with **BankID or MinID** — see [BankID and MinID](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/bankid-id-porten-minid)
4. Confirm email and phone
5. Accept terms (privacy statement)

### Step 2: Choose Digipost as primary mailbox

Choosing Digipost as **primary mailbox** means all public mail comes here:

1. Log in to **norge.no**
2. Under «My page» → «Digital mailbox»
3. Choose Digipost (or eBoks)
4. Confirm choice

Registered in **Contact and Reservation Register** — central register public agencies check.

### Step 3: Set up notifications

- **Email** — recommended for new mail alerts
- **SMS** — for critical decisions
- **Push notifications** — Digipost app for smartphone

**Recommended:** activate email and SMS for important senders like NAV, Skatteetaten, UDI, Lånekassen.

### Step 4: Download the app

- Digipost app (iOS/Android)
- eBoks app equivalent
- BankID login or Face ID/fingerprint

## Setting up eBoks

Process almost identical:

1. Go to **e-boks.com/norge**
2. Click «Create user»
3. Log in with BankID
4. Confirm email and phone
5. Choose eBoks as primary mailbox at **norge.no**

**eBoks advantage:** used in several Nordic countries, useful if you have ties to Denmark or Sweden.

**Digipost advantage:** easier link to Norwegian Posten services, larger Norwegian user base.

## Alternatives and reservation right

### Reserving against digital mail

You have right to **reserve against digital communication** under eGovernment Regulation § 8. You then still get paper letters.

How to reserve:

1. Log in at **norge.no**
2. Under «My page» → «Contact info»
3. Choose «Reserve against digital communication»

**Consequences:** all public mail comes on paper — may delay 2-4 days, and some services (like Altinn notifications) don't work.

### Altinn as alternative

**Altinn** (altinn.no) is a separate channel for **business and tax**:

- Login with BankID or Buypass
- Decisions from Skatteetaten, Brønnøysundregistrene
- Can forward notifications to Digipost/eBoks or email

## Security and privacy

### Technical security

- **End-to-end encryption** — only you can read letters
- **BankID login** — strong two-factor authentication
- **Automatic logout** on inactivity
- **Digital signing** — public sender can sign letter

### Privacy statement

Both Digipost and eBoks under **GDPR**:

- Data stored in EU/EEA
- Datatilsynet oversight
- Right to [access, correction and deletion](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/datatilsynet-gdpr-innsyn-sletting)

### Letter retention

- **Digipost:** letters stored until you delete, min 10 years for fee cases
- **eBoks:** varies by sender and letter type (usually 5–10 years)
- **Download:** important letters as PDF for own computer

## Common questions

### Can I have both Digipost and eBoks?

Yes — but only one can be **primary mailbox** for public mail at a time. Switch via norge.no.

### What if I lose BankID access?

You must get new BankID first. See [BankID and MinID](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/bankid-id-porten-minid). Without BankID cannot log in to Digipost/eBoks.

### Are letters legally valid as paper letters?

Yes — full legal validity under eGovernment Regulation § 8. Appeal deadlines run from delivery in mailbox, not from opening.

### What if I don't check mailbox for a month?

Letters considered received even if unread. Appeal deadlines may expire. Activate email/SMS notifications!

### Can family members access my mailbox?

No — mailbox is personal. In illness or travel: use **power of attorney**.

### What happens on death?

Survivors can apply for **heir access** via norge.no or Posten Norge.

## Practical advice

### 1. Check mailbox at least weekly

Most decisions have **3-week appeal deadline**. Ignoring the mailbox can cost rights.

### 2. Turn on all notifications

Email + SMS + push — better too many than losing a NAV decision.

### 3. Download important letters as PDF

Especially UDI, Skatteetaten, NAV decisions. Save copies on own computer.

### 4. Update email and phone

Changed email or phone number? Update in norge.no and Digipost/eBoks immediately.

### 5. Use power of attorney in illness

If you cannot check yourself, give a relative **power of attorney** via norge.no.

## Summary

Digital mailbox (Digipost or eBoks) is the official channel for electronic mail from state, municipality and NAV in Norway. Decisions have full legal validity, and appeal deadlines run from delivery — not opening. Set up mailbox once at norge.no with BankID, activate email and SMS notifications, and check inbox at least weekly. Alternatively you can reserve against digital mail and get paper letters, but you lose speed and access to some services. Both Digipost and eBoks are GDPR-compliant, store data in EU/EEA, and monitored by Datatilsynet.

## FAQ

### What is the difference between Digipost, eBoks and Altinn?

Digipost and eBoks are two digital mailboxes that receive public post from NAV, Skatteetaten, UDI etc. – choose one. Altinn is not a mailbox, but the state portal for tax returns and public forms.

### What happens if I do not activate a digital mailbox?

The authorities automatically assign you one. Important: Letters are deemed legally received after 2 business days – regardless of whether you open them. Without alerts, you can miss NAV deadlines, UDI appeal deadlines and tax return deadlines.

### How often should I check my digital mailbox?

At least once a month. Set up email/SMS alerts. NAV decisions: 6-week appeal period. UDI decisions: 3-week appeal period. Tax return (April): 3-week deadline.

### Can I opt out of digital mail and receive paper mail instead?

Yes. Go to norge.no with BankID → My profile → Activate exemption. NB: Skatteetaten still sends digitally. Altinn is not affected by the exemption.

### Can immigrants with a D-number use digital mailbox?

Yes, Digipost supports D-numbers with MinID. But some agencies only send to personal number holders. Activate immediately after assignment of personal number.

### What does it mean that the letter is legally binding from day 1?

Under eForvaltningsforskriften § 8, a digital letter is deemed received 2 business days after sending – regardless of whether you open it. The appeal period begins to run from then, not from when you actually read the letter.

## Sources

- [Digipost — sikker digital postkasse](https://www.digipost.no)
- [eBoks Norge](https://www.e-boks.com/no)
- [Altinn — digitale tjenester for næringslivet](https://www.altinn.no)

Citation: Hlib Suslov, "Norway's Digital Mailbox System: Essential Guide", SamfunnPrep, 2026-07-06T09:43:47.025+00:00, https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/digital-postkasse-digipost-ebok