# Birth certificate: order the right document from Norway

Check who can get a Norwegian birth certificate, which details to choose and how it differs from the Altinn confirmation. Plan paper delivery and use abroad.

Canonical: https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/fodselsattest-bestille-skatteetaten
Language: en
Publisher: SamfunnPrep
Author: Hlib Suslov
Published: 2026-10-07T22:17:33.941+00:00
Modified: 2026-10-10T18:23:59.37584+00:00
AI use policy: https://samfunnprep.no/ai-policy.txt

## Key takeaways

- Generally, you must have been born in Norway A Norwegian national identity number alone does not justify a Norwegian birth certificate when you were born abroad.
- Paper with a stamp and signature The ordered certificate goes to your registered address, so allow for processing and postal delivery.
- Choose with or without parents Ask the recipient to clarify which details and language the document must contain.

Order a birth certificate, fødselsattest, from Skatteetaten when you need an official document about your birth. As a general rule, you must have been born in Norway. Choose the right details and language, and allow time for postal delivery. The Altinn confirmation for a newborn is a different document.

## Who can obtain a Norwegian birth certificate?

As a general rule, you can obtain a birth certificate from Norway if you were born here. If you were born abroad, Skatteetaten directs you to the authorities in your country of birth.

Skatteetaten, the Norwegian Tax Administration, maintains Folkeregisteret, Norway's population register. Having a Norwegian national identity number does not itself mean Norway issued your original birth documentation. This is particularly relevant if you moved here as an adult.

As of **7 October 2026**, Skatteetaten says adopted people born abroad can obtain a Norwegian birth certificate in most cases. Contact the agency if you need to clarify this exception. See [Skatteetaten's birth certificate page](https://www.skatteetaten.no/person/folkeregister/attester-og-opplysninger/folkeregisteret/oversikt-over-attester/fodselsattest/).

**Example:** You were born outside Norway but have lived here for several years. An authority asks for a birth certificate. Before ordering documents, ask whether it requires a certificate from your birth country or a particular Norwegian register extract. These are different documents.

SamfunnPrep's [guide to residence certificates](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/bostedsattest-folkeregisteret) explains proof of registered residence. That certificate does not automatically replace a birth certificate.

## Is the confirmation in Altinn a birth certificate?

Skatteetaten sends confirmation of the registered national identity number and name after parents report their child's name. This confirmation arrives in Altinn and is a different document type from an ordered birth certificate.

**Altinn** is a public portal for messages and services. Its confirmation contains several of the same personal details as a birth certificate. However, this does not mean every recipient accepts it as a certificate.

Ask the recipient what it requires before ordering anything. You could write:

> Do you need a paper birth certificate with a stamp and signature, or do you accept the Altinn confirmation? Must the parents' names be included?

Clarifying this can save unnecessary waiting. Ask for a written answer when the document requirement matters for an application.

For families with a newborn, registration also involves names, parental responsibility and possibly residence permission. SamfunnPrep's [newborn checklist](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/nyfodt-barn-i-norge-registrering) explains these initial tasks.

## Should the certificate show your parents?

Choose a certificate with parents if the recipient needs information about family relationships. A certificate without parents may be sufficient when only your own birth details are required.

Do not choose according to which document seems most comprehensive. Choose what the recipient actually needs. More details also mean sharing more information about your family.

| Version | Important information |
|---|---|
| Without parents | Your current name, date of birth, national identity number, place of birth and sex. |
| With parents | Birth details, name and any name changes, plus parents' names at the time of birth. |
| Multilingual | Birth details and parents' names at the time of birth in several languages. |

Skatteetaten's multilingual certificate is available in **English, French, Norwegian, Spanish, German and Italian**. Check that the languages satisfy the recipient's requirements. A multilingual certificate does not necessarily remove the need for a separate translation.

The [population register handbook on certificate issuance](https://www.skatteetaten.no/rettskilder/type/handboker/folkeregisterhandboken/gjeldende/kapittel10-utlevering-av-opplysninger-fra-registeret/ID-10-8.001/ID-10-8.003/) explains that parents' names are entered as they were at the time of birth. If a parent's name is missing from the register, the field may show «ikke meldt», not reported.

## Can you order a certificate for a child or family member?

You can order for yourself and children under 18 according to Skatteetaten's rules. For other family members, you may need to document a justified need.

Skatteetaten also lists ordering for a person for whom you have been appointed guardian. A lawyer with the necessary authority to act in legal proceedings has a separate right of access. If you order for a child without sharing parental responsibility, you must document the need.

A **justified need** here means the certificate is necessary to fulfil legal rights or obligations. Simply saying the person is your spouse, parent or adult child is not enough.

Therefore explain what the document will be used for when the agency asks. Also ask for a secure way to provide evidence. You do not need to send your entire family's papers before knowing the requirement.

If the child will soon turn 18, check who should order. Do not assume parents have the same ordering access before and after adulthood.

## How do you order and receive the birth certificate?

Start on Skatteetaten's official page and follow the ordering link. The certificate is sent on paper with a stamp and signature to your address in the population register.

Make these checks in order:

1. Ask the recipient to confirm document type, parent details and language.
2. Check your registered details and address with Skatteetaten.
3. Choose the correct certificate and whom the order concerns.
4. Allow for both processing and postal delivery.
5. Check the certificate when it arrives.

Skatteetaten's page links to current processing times. Do not expect delivery on the day you order. If you have an application deadline, clarify with the recipient how to handle the certificate not yet arriving.

If you have problems ordering electronically, contact Skatteetaten and ask about the correct alternative. Let the agency explain how your identity and right to order will be checked.

## What if names or parent details seem wrong?

Ask Skatteetaten to clarify the register entry before using the document further. Do not correct the text on the certificate yourself.

Your parents' former names may be correct because the certificate uses their names at the time of birth. A name that is different today is therefore not automatically an error. Compare the particular field with the explanation for that certificate type.

If information is genuinely missing or seems incorrect, describe it precisely. State the document type and the field you want explained. Ask what the agency needs to investigate the registration.

## Will the birth certificate be used abroad?

Check requirements for language, the document's age and authentication with the recipient. You may need an apostille or legalisation in addition to the certificate.

An **apostille** is official authentication of a document's signature and stamp. It is not a translation or confirmation that the recipient accepts every detail. [Statsforvalteren, the County Governor, explains the apostille scheme](https://www.statsforvalteren.no/nn/rogaland/privatperson/apostille/).

Skatteetaten says certificates for use in Nordic countries do not need an apostille or legalisation. For other countries, clarify the correct procedure before sending the original. SamfunnPrep's [guide to apostilles and legalisation](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/apostille-legalisering-dokumenter-norge) explains the difference.

SamfunnPrep also collects [practical everyday tools](https://samfunnprep.no/en/verktoy). Your next step is to obtain the recipient's document requirements so you order the right birth certificate the first time.

## FAQ

### Can I obtain a Norwegian certificate if I was born abroad?

As a general rule, contact the authorities in your birth country. Skatteetaten says adopted people born abroad can get a Norwegian certificate in most cases.

### Is the newborn's Altinn confirmation the same document?

No, it confirms a registered national identity number and name. Ask the recipient whether it accepts this or needs an ordered birth certificate.

### Will I receive the birth certificate digitally?

Skatteetaten says the ordered certificate is sent on paper with a stamp and signature to your address in the population register.

### Why are my parents' former names on the certificate?

Parents' names are generally entered as they were at the time of birth. A later change does not automatically mean the certificate is wrong.

## Sources

- [Fødselsattest](https://www.skatteetaten.no/person/folkeregister/attester-og-opplysninger/folkeregisteret/oversikt-over-attester/fodselsattest/)
- [Folkeregisterhåndboken: første ledd – attestutstedelse](https://www.skatteetaten.no/rettskilder/type/handboker/folkeregisterhandboken/gjeldende/kapittel10-utlevering-av-opplysninger-fra-registeret/ID-10-8.001/ID-10-8.003/)
- [Apostille](https://www.statsforvalteren.no/nn/rogaland/privatperson/apostille/)

Citation: Hlib Suslov, "Birth certificate: order the right document from Norway", SamfunnPrep, 2026-10-07T22:17:33.941+00:00, https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/fodselsattest-bestille-skatteetaten