# Check religious membership: corrections and withdrawal

Incorrectly listed as a member of a religious or life stance community? Learn how to check the overview, request a correction or leave, and who can help.

Canonical: https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/medlemskap-trossamfunn-rette
Language: en
Publisher: SamfunnPrep
Author: Hlib Suslov
Published: 2026-10-07T19:15:26.417+00:00
Modified: 2026-10-07T19:15:26.481059+00:00
AI use policy: https://samfunnprep.no/ai-policy.txt

## Key takeaways

- Check what the annual overview actually shows Brønnøysundregistrene shows annually reported information for state grants, so the overview does not cover all memberships or every recent change.
- Contact the community for correction or withdrawal Ask for the basis and a correction if registration is incorrect, or send written withdrawal when you want to end a valid membership.
- Choose the authority according to the problem Statsforvalteren can follow up registration and withdrawal, while Datatilsynet deals with data protection, access and correction.

Check the information on Min side at Brønnøysundregistrene if you are unsure about registered membership. If you find an error, contact the religious or life stance community. Ask for the basis of the registration and a correction. The overview is not updated continuously.

## How do you check registered memberships?

Log in to **Min side at Brønnøysundregistrene**. Select “Tros- og livssynssamfunn. Vis registrerte medlemskap” (religious and life stance communities: show registered memberships). You will see the names, organisation numbers and contact details of the communities in which you are listed. An organisation number identifies an organisation. See [Datatilsynet's current guidance on incorrect membership](https://www.datatilsynet.no/aktuelt/aktuelle-nyheter-2026/feilaktige-oppforinger-av-medlemmer-i-trossamfunn/).

**Brønnøysundregistrene**, the Brønnøysund Register Centre, checks membership lists submitted by religious and life stance communities when they claim state grants. State grants are funding from the state. The lists are compared with Folkeregisteret, the National Population Register, and other membership lists, among other checks. The service is not a complete register of all private memberships.

If you cannot use the digital service, call **75 00 75 00** to request access to your information. It will be sent to your address registered in Folkeregisteret. It will not be read out over the phone. See [the ministry's information on access](https://www.regjeringen.no/no/tema/tro-og-livssyn/tros-og-livssynssamfunn/arlig-kontroll-av-medlemslister-til-tros-og-livssynssamfunn/id3140717/).

## What does the information you find mean?

The overview shows information reported annually, rather than every ongoing registration or withdrawal. You may therefore still be listed after recently leaving. Brønnøysundregistrene explains [what the membership overview covers](https://www.brreg.no/andre-tema/tros-og-livssynssamfunn/).

Communities report members as of **1 January** in the grant year. This follows from [trossamfunnsforskriften section 7 on Lovdata](https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2020-12-18-2825), the regulations on religious communities, on a service that publishes legal texts. An old entry alone therefore does not show that a withdrawal has been rejected.

Not finding a membership does not necessarily mean you have never been a member either. For example, the community may not have claimed a grant, or your membership may have been created after the year's count. Ask the community about your current status if this is unclear.

Read SamfunnPrep's guide to [grants for religious and life stance communities](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/tilskudd-tros-og-livssynssamfunn-norge) to understand the organisation's funding scheme. This article concerns your own information and choices.

## Should you request a correction or leave?

**Request a correction when the registration is incorrect. Leave when the membership is valid but you want to end it.** These are two different situations:

| Situation | What do you request? |
|---|---|
| You do not recognise the membership and believe the registration is incorrect | Access to the basis of registration and correction of the error. |
| You have a valid membership but want to end it | Written withdrawal sent to the community. |
| You have already left but remain in the annual overview | Confirmation of your withdrawal and clarification of the reported information. |

A community cannot simply register you without a valid basis. However, membership may also have been created by those who held parental responsibility when you were a child. Ask for an explanation before concluding what happened.

It must always be possible to leave in writing under [Lov om tros- og livssynssamfunn (trossamfunnsloven) section 2](https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2020-04-24-31), the Religious and Life Stance Communities Act. Send the withdrawal to the community. Brønnøysundregistrene does not register membership or withdrawal on your behalf.

## How do you ask the community to investigate the error?

Write a short enquiry and request access to your own information. Access means finding out what they have stored about you and how it is used. Among other things, you can ask about its source, purpose and who it has been shared with. Access is generally free. See [Datatilsynet's guidance on access](https://www.datatilsynet.no/rettigheter-og-plikter/den-registrertes-rettigheter/rett-til-innsyn/).

You can adapt this suggested text if you do not recognise the membership:

> I am listed as a member of your community, but I am unaware of this membership. I request a copy of the information you hold about me and documentation of the basis for registration. If the registration is incorrect, I request that it be corrected. Please confirm in writing how you are handling the matter.

Attach or provide information explaining the case:

- the community's name and organisation number
- the date you checked the information
- what you believe is incorrect and what is correct
- relevant earlier enquiries or confirmations.

The community may need to check your identity before providing access. Ask which procedure it uses. You are requesting your own information, not a list of other members.

## When should you receive a reply, and can everything be deleted?

The community must normally reply **within one month of receiving your enquiry**. For numerous or complex requests, the deadline may be extended by two months. You must then receive notice and the reasons within the first month. This follows from [Article 12 of the General Data Protection Regulation, also called GDPR](https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2018-06-15-38/kapiii).

Incorrect personal data must be corrected without undue delay. Explain specifically what is wrong; the community may ask you to substantiate it. Also ask whether other recipients will be notified of the correction. See [Datatilsynet's explanation of rectification](https://www.datatilsynet.no/rettigheter-og-plikter/den-registrertes-rettigheter/rett-til-retting/).

You can request deletion when the conditions are met, for example if processing is unlawful. But deleting all historical documents is not automatic. Information may have to be retained because of a legal obligation or to handle legal claims. Ask for reasons if deletion is refused. See [Datatilsynet's rules on deletion and exceptions](https://www.datatilsynet.no/rettigheter-og-plikter/den-registrertes-rettigheter/rett-til-sletting/).

Keep your enquiry, the date and the reply. Written confirmation helps you distinguish what the community has done from what the annual overview still shows.

## When do you contact Statsforvalteren?

You can contact **Statsforvalteren**, the regional state authority, about incorrect enrolment or if the community fails to act on a written withdrawal. Statsforvalteren can ask the community to explain the matter and assess possible follow-up. See [Statsforvalteren's current guidance](https://www.statsforvalteren.no/troms-og-finnmark/nyheter/2026/09/er-du-medlem-i-trossamfunn-eller-livssynssamfunn/).

Choose the office according to **the community's address**, not just where you live. Statsforvalteren i Østfold, Buskerud, Oslo og Akershus is responsible when the community is located in one of those counties. Statsforvalteren i Agder is responsible for the remaining counties. The ministry's guidance shows this division of responsibilities.

Provide the community's name and organisation number. Describe the error and attach relevant correspondence with the community. Also explain if it continues to report you as a member after you have left. Do not send the withdrawal itself to Statsforvalteren as a substitute for contacting the community.

## How can Datatilsynet help?

**Datatilsynet**, the Norwegian Data Protection Authority, supervises data protection rules. If you have not received access, a correction or a reply after contacting the community, you can send the authority a tip or consider a formal complaint. A tip is used when assessing further follow-up; it does not provide individual follow-up in the same way as a complaint.

In a formal complaint, describe what has happened to your personal data and attach your enquiry and any replies. Use Datatilsynet's digital form with **ID-porten**, the login service for public services. If you cannot use the digital solution, you can complain by letter. Follow [Datatilsynet's complaints guidance](https://www.datatilsynet.no/om-datatilsynet/kontakt-oss/klage-til-datatilsynet/). A complaint does not mean the case is immediately decided or the community automatically receives a fine.

## What applies to Den norske kirke and children?

**Den norske kirke, the Church of Norway, has its own membership service.** On the church's Min side, you can view your membership and leave. There are also paper forms to sign and send according to the instructions. See [Den norske kirke's membership information](https://www.kirken.no/innmelding).

From the age of **15**, you decide for yourself whether to join or leave. For children under 15, those with parental responsibility can register or withdraw the child. Children also have the right to participate in questions about their own religion and life stance under section 3 of trossamfunnsloven.

To request access from Brønnøysundregistrene concerning your own children under 15, call them. The letter is sent to the child's address registered in Folkeregisteret. From 15, the child requests access themselves. The church's own forms apply when registering or withdrawing children there.

The rules and services were checked as of **7 October 2026**. SamfunnPrep explains [freedom of religion in Norway](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/religionsfrihet-norge), and the [tools overview](https://samfunnprep.no/en/verktoy) brings together practical help for everyday life.

## FAQ

### Can Brønnøysundregistrene withdraw my membership?

No. Send your withdrawal to the religious or life stance community. It must always be possible to do so in writing. Brønnøysundregistrene does not handle joining or leaving for you.

### Does an empty overview mean I am not a member anywhere?

No. The service shows reported information connected to state grants, not all memberships. Den norske kirke has a separate service. Ask the relevant community if you are unsure.

### Do I have to leave if I never joined?

First ask for the basis of registration and a correction if it is incorrect. Membership may also have been created by those who held parental responsibility when you were a child.

### Why am I still listed after leaving?

The overview is updated annually, not continuously. Ask the community for dated confirmation of your withdrawal. An old entry alone does not mean your withdrawal was rejected.

### Can I demand deletion of all old documents?

Not always. You can request deletion when the conditions are met, but a legal obligation or the need to handle legal claims may justify retaining information.

## Sources

- [Tros- og livssynssamfunn](https://www.brreg.no/andre-tema/tros-og-livssynssamfunn/)
- [Tror du at du er feilaktig innmeldt i et trossamfunn eller livssynssamfunn?](https://www.statsforvalteren.no/troms-og-finnmark/nyheter/2026/09/er-du-medlem-i-trossamfunn-eller-livssynssamfunn/)
- [Feilaktige oppføringer av medlemmer i trossamfunn](https://www.datatilsynet.no/aktuelt/aktuelle-nyheter-2026/feilaktige-oppforinger-av-medlemmer-i-trossamfunn/)
- [Innmelding og utmelding](https://www.kirken.no/innmelding)
- [Lov om tros- og livssynssamfunn (trossamfunnsloven)](https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2020-04-24-31)
- [Forskrift om registrering av og tilskudd til tros- og livssynssamfunn (trossamfunnsforskriften)](https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2020-12-18-2825)
- [Rett til innsyn](https://www.datatilsynet.no/rettigheter-og-plikter/den-registrertes-rettigheter/rett-til-innsyn/)
- [Rett til retting](https://www.datatilsynet.no/rettigheter-og-plikter/den-registrertes-rettigheter/rett-til-retting/)
- [Rett til sletting](https://www.datatilsynet.no/rettigheter-og-plikter/den-registrertes-rettigheter/rett-til-sletting/)
- [Klage til Datatilsynet](https://www.datatilsynet.no/om-datatilsynet/kontakt-oss/klage-til-datatilsynet/)
- [Lov om behandling av personopplysninger (personopplysningsloven), GDPR kapittelIII](https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2018-06-15-38/kapiii)
- [Årlig kontroll av medlemslister til tros- og livssynssamfunn](https://www.regjeringen.no/no/tema/tro-og-livssyn/tros-og-livssynssamfunn/arlig-kontroll-av-medlemslister-til-tros-og-livssynssamfunn/id3140717/)

Citation: Hlib Suslov, "Check religious membership: corrections and withdrawal", SamfunnPrep, 2026-10-07T19:15:26.417+00:00, https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/medlemskap-trossamfunn-rette