An inactive D number has not been deleted or invalidated. The Norwegian Tax Administration (Skatteetaten) changes its status to inactive five years after it was assigned. You can still use the number in many situations, but some services require active status. To get a new tax deduction card, you must reactivate your D number.
The five-year period starts from the date of assignment, not the last time you used the number. Filing a tax return or using the number at a doctor’s office last year does not mean its status is still active. Check the registered status instead of calculating it yourself.
Check the status before booking an appointment
Log in to Skatteetaten and see what information the National Population Register has about you. Check the D number’s status, your name, and your postal address. A rejected attempt to open a bank account or order a tax deduction card may be due to something other than the status. Ask the organization to explain exactly what it requires.
| What you see | What it means | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| The D number is still active | The five-year limit has not passed, or the number was recently reactivated. | Look for another reason for the problem; you cannot reactivate it in advance. |
| The D number is inactive | The number still exists, but some organizations require active status. | Ask whether the organization can request activation, or book an identity check yourself. |
| You are registered as a resident and have a national identity number | Your national identity number is your regular identity number. | Use the guide to D numbers and national identity numbers if the registers show different numbers. |
Example: Marta was assigned a D number in 2020. In 2026 she is going to work in Norway again, but is told that her number is inactive. She should not apply for a new D number. She checks the status, books an identity check, and has the same number reactivated.
Two ways to reactivate a D number
Skatteetaten describes two options once the status is inactive:
- An organization that can request D numbers asks Skatteetaten to reactivate it. This may be a bank, NAV, the police, or another organization on Skatteetaten’s list. In most cases, you must provide a certified copy of your identity document. The organization may still require an in-person identity check.
- You book an identity check with Skatteetaten yourself. Bring a valid passport or national identity card and follow the document list you receive when booking.
Ask the organization that requires active status which option it uses. If you need a tax deduction card as a foreign worker and your D number is five years old or older, Skatteetaten says you must attend an identity check. Do not wait for an employer or bank to do this automatically.
You cannot attend an identity check to “renew” a D number that has not yet become inactive. Once the number is reactivated, it becomes inactive again five years later. You may want to note the date, but check the register status before taking another step.
Tax deduction card: an important distinction
Skatteetaten says you need an active D number to get a new tax deduction card. If you already have a tax deduction card for the current year and your D number becomes inactive during that year, you can continue to use that card as usual. If you need a new tax deduction card next year, the number must be reactivated. Check how the tax deduction card works before starting work, and give your employer the correct information.
This concerns tax deduction cards and your status in the National Population Register. It does not by itself say whether you have the right to work or live in Norway. If you are a citizen of a country outside the EEA, check your residence permit separately. EEA citizens follow different residence rules. A D number is an identity number, not a residence permit.
When a bank or another service stops you
Ask for a specific explanation: “Do you require an active D number in the National Population Register, or am I missing another form of identification?” A service may have its own identification requirements. Reactivation only solves the problem if inactive status is the cause. Save written messages about what you were asked to do.
If the bank or employer wants to request activation on your behalf, ask which copies and identity details it needs. Do not send a passport copy in ordinary email unless the recipient has specified a secure channel. If you book an identity check yourself, check which tax offices offer the service and bring the documents listed in your booking.
After the check, log in and confirm that the status has actually changed before sending a new application to the bank or for a tax deduction card. If the service still refuses, show that the number is active and ask what other requirement is missing. Keep the date of the identity check and any confirmation, but share personal information only with an organization that needs it.
Active status also does not automatically provide BankID, a bank account, a tax deduction card, or the right to reside. These services have their own applications and conditions. For digital login, read the difference between MinID and BankID. This can help you avoid repeated identity checks for a problem that is actually about the bank’s customer checks or a specific login service.
Short checklist before your appointment:
- Confirm that the D number is actually inactive.
- Check your name and postal address in the National Population Register.
- Find a valid passport or national identity card.
- Bring the documents listed in your appointment confirmation.
- Clarify which tax deduction card or other service you need afterwards.
If you recently moved to Norway to live here, moving to Norway and registering in the National Population Register may be a different process from reactivating a D number. See your first week in Norway and follow Skatteetaten’s guidance for your situation. SamfunnPrep also has a practical checklist for your first weeks to help you keep track of registrations. Use Skatteetaten’s status view as the authoritative source for your D number.
Sources checked 2 October 2026: Skatteetaten on D numbers and inactive status, identity checks, and tax deduction cards for people with an inactive D number. Also check the organization requiring active status for rules about its specific service.
