If your name or date of birth differs across Norwegian records before you apply for permanent residence, investigate the discrepancy early. Compare your passport, UDI decisions, the Population Register and your test certificate. Which authority can correct the information depends on what is wrong and why.
Which information is incorrect before permanent residence?
First find the source of the discrepancy. A typo made when information was registered by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) is not the same as an approved name change. An incorrect date of birth may have a different correction process from a misspelled name. Collect your documents before contacting the authorities so you can explain exactly what does not match.
Make this simple overview:
| Document or register | Name | Date of birth | What are you checking? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passport from your home country or other ID document | Write it exactly as printed | Write the date | Is the document new or old? |
| Latest UDI decision | Write it exactly | Write the date | Is the error already in the decision? |
| Residence card | Write it exactly | Write the date | Is only the card incorrect? |
| Population Register | Write the registered form | Write the registered date | Does it match UDI’s information? |
| Test certificate | Write it exactly | Write the date or ID number | Can the test centre identify you? |
Use the guide to reading a UDI decision when comparing records. The information here was checked on 2 October 2026. Do not send your national identity number and passport copies in public groups or ordinary email when a secure channel is available.
Misspelled name or a name you have changed yourself?
Contact the right place based on the reason. UDI says that you can use its contact form or call if UDI has recorded identity information that differs from your passport or documents from your home country. This may include a name that was misspelled during registration. Explain the error and provide the documents UDI requests.
If you have changed your own name, for example through marriage, the main route is the Population Register at the Norwegian Tax Administration. UDI directs foreign citizens with residence permits there for a name change. The Tax Administration has a dedicated service and explains the documentation requirements for name changes abroad. See SamfunnPrep’s guide to changing your name for the general process. This article concerns making records consistent before applying for permanent residence.
A different spelling is not always an error by an authority. Passports from different countries may use different letters or transliteration. Keep both old and new passports, along with any decision approving a name change. Ask UDI or the Tax Administration how your particular discrepancy should be documented. Do not enter an “improved” spelling in your application without explaining that it differs from the registered information.
Incorrect date of birth: UDI or the Tax Administration?
For many people with a residence permit, UDI is the correct authority to assess a change to the date of birth. The Tax Administration says that UDI processes such applications from people with a residence permit, a case with UDI or the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE), or an expired permit. If UDI approves the change, it notifies the Tax Administration, which updates the Population Register. If you send your application to the wrong agency, your documents may be returned and you may lose time.
There are important exceptions. The Tax Administration handles changes to date of birth and place of birth for people born in a Norwegian municipality. It also handles several groups without an ordinary residence permit, including Nordic and EU/EEA citizens. Use the Tax Administration’s guidance for your status.
UDI describes a separate process when it assesses a change: complete the form about date of birth, place of birth or citizenship; book an appointment with the police if you do not already have a relevant appointment; and submit the form and documentation. The police forward the case to UDI. Explain why you believe the information should be changed; a new passport alone does not automatically change the register.
Important: The first six digits of a Norwegian national identity number do not always show a person’s actual date of birth. The Tax Administration describes situations where an identification number may differ from the registered date of birth. Check the actual information in the Population Register before drawing conclusions from the digits alone.
What if your residence card or test certificate is incorrect?
Correct the underlying information before ordering new proof. UDI says that you should order a new residence card when you are notified that the information on the card has changed. See how to order a new residence card. If the UDI decision and Population Register are correct but only the card is wrong, contact the police about the card.
A test certificate has its own verification process. The Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir) says that candidates should check their name, address and ID number on the candidate list, as well as their name and candidate number on the screen at the test venue. You must show the same ID number that you used when registering. If you find an error before or after the test, contact the test centre where you registered. Ask what documentation they need to match the result to you. An error on a test certificate does not in itself mean that you must take the test again.
Example: Farah’s old UDI decision says “Farah A. Saleh” and her new passport says “Farah Ahmed Saleh.” She finds out whether this is an abbreviation, a registration error or a formal name change. She gathers both passports and the decision, asks the right authority about the record and explains the discrepancy in her application. She does not submit a new application under another name without an explanation.
Checklist before submitting your application
- Compare your name and date of birth in your passport, UDI decision, residence card and the Population Register.
- Find the document where the discrepancy first appeared.
- Distinguish between a typo, a name change and a requested change to your date of birth.
- Contact UDI, the Tax Administration, the police or the test centre according to the responsibilities above.
- Keep receipts and supporting documents while the correction is being processed.
- Use the information currently registered, and explain the discrepancy in your application if it has not yet been corrected.
SamfunnPrep can help you with an overview of dates and your residence period, but it cannot correct public registers. If you also need to practise for the tests, you can try SamfunnPrep for free.
