Identification for the Norwegian and social studies tests must be physical and valid. A residence card is on HK-dir’s list of accepted ID. Also check that the ID number matches the one you used when registering.
You therefore do not automatically need to order a new passport just to take a test. However, a photo of your passport or an app is not the same as physical identification. This check is useful when planning tests before an application in 2027.
Direktoratet for høyere utdanning og kompetanse (HK-dir), the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills, is responsible for the tests. The ID lists were checked on 20 October 2026. Check them again before your test day. See also SamfunnPrep’s guide to the test format for what happens after registration at the venue.
What identification does HK-dir accept?
HK-dir accepts several forms of physical identification. A passport is one option; residence cards, certain other cards and specific travel documents are also listed.
The checked pages for the Norwegian and social studies tests list the following:
| Document | What HK-dir specifies |
|---|---|
| Passport | Valid passport |
| Bank card | Norwegian bank card with a photo |
| Driving licence | Norwegian driving licence, original or duplicate |
| National ID card | Issued within the European Economic Area (EEA) |
| Travel documents | Refugee travel document and immigrant’s passport |
| Residence document | Residence card for foreign nationals |
| Asylum seeker card | Must include a signature and information about place of birth |
HK-dir’s Norwegian test day information and social studies test registration page contain the official lists. Read the wording for your chosen document. For example, an ordinary Norwegian bank card without a photo is not the document listed.
Can I use a residence card if my passport has expired?
A valid physical residence card is listed as accepted identification for these tests. You must also meet the requirement concerning the ID number used when registering.
If you registered using details from a passport that has now expired, contact the test centre before the day. Explain that you have a valid residence card. Ask them to check how your registration should be linked to the document you will present.
Do not assume the card automatically resolves differences in registered details. The test centre must be able to verify that you are the right candidate. Ask for specific instructions about what to bring and whether anything in your registration needs correcting.
Accepted ID for a test does not determine which documents you need for a residence application or travel. Check those requirements separately. This guide concerns admission to the test.
Is a digital driving licence or a photo of your passport enough?
No, HK-dir requires physical identification. It explicitly states that a digital driving licence is not valid identification for the test.
Do not plan to attend using a photo of the document on your phone, a scanned PDF or a printed copy. Such copies do not replace valid physical ID. Find the actual document well in advance.
This can be easy to forget if you normally use your phone for payments and logging in. Make checking ID a separate task. Take the document out of the drawer and inspect it, rather than simply ticking off that you own a card.
Check the photo, name and date. If the document is damaged or details are difficult to read, ask the test centre to clarify before you attend. Do not assume another service’s ID rules also apply at HK-dir.
What does the same ID number as at registration mean?
HK-dir says you must present the same ID number you registered with. If you are unsure about the number or document, the test centre should help with your specific registration.
Do not confuse your candidate number with the details on your identification. The candidate number is used in the test system. It does not replace the document you must show on arrival.
Find your registration confirmation and compare it with the document you intend to use. Report it if you received a new national identity number, a new passport or changed your name after registering. Explain what changed without trying to edit a test certificate or official PDF yourself.
You can send a short initial message:
I am registered for [test] on [date]. I intend to use [type of physical identification]. Since registering, I have [brief description of change]. Could you check my registration and explain how I can submit the necessary documents securely?
You do not need to attach your whole passport to an ordinary initial email. Ask the test centre which secure channel it will use to verify your identity.
What if my document is lost?
Contact the test centre immediately and check whether you have another valid document on the list. Do not wait until registration at the test venue.
Make a simple overview of the physical documents you actually have. Your passport may be missing while you still have a valid residence card. Tell the centre both which document is missing and which alternative you have.
If you have none of the accepted documents, request specific advice about the next step. Do not expect a payment receipt, invitation letter or friend to replace identification. Also clarify what changing your test date would mean for payment. HK-dir says registration is binding, so obtain the centre’s instructions before making a new booking.
After a change of document or identity number, you should also check your later result. The guide to test certificates and digital results explains how to get help if the link is missing.
An ID check before your test in 2027
Check the document before registering, when the invitation arrives and the evening before the test. Three short checks can uncover different problems.
- Before registering: Find a valid document on the official list and use the correct details.
- After a change: Report changes to your document, name or identity number.
- When the invitation arrives: Check the date, time, venue and practical instructions from the test centre.
- The evening before: Put your physical ID with the things you need to attend.
- At the test centre: Present your ID and complete registration before starting the test.
For example: Lina has booked the social studies test. She discovers that her passport expires before test day, but has a valid residence card. Her next task is to get the centre to check her registration. She should not simply turn up with a photo of her old passport.
SamfunnPrep helps you keep practice and practical tasks together. Use the tools overview when planning the time before your application, and let the test centre clarify the ID issue.
Ready to practise? Try SamfunnPrep for free.
