National ID cards for third-country nationals are available from 1 September 2026. The card can be used as proof of identity in Norway, but not for travel. You must have a Norwegian national identity number and a valid residence card.
What is the new ID card?
It is a Norwegian national ID card that is not valid for travel. It shows your identity and your Norwegian national identity number. It can make it easier to prove your identity when using services in Norway, such as at a bank or pharmacy. However, each organisation decides which documents it accepts.
The card is not a travel document. You cannot use it to enter or leave Norway, and you cannot use it as proof of identity abroad. Take a valid passport or another approved travel document with you when you travel.
The national ID card is also different from a residence card. The ID card confirms your identity, but does not prove that you are legally resident or have particular rights in Norway. The residence card confirms that you have a residence permit or a right of residence in Norway.
| Document | What does it show? | Can it be used for travel? |
|---|---|---|
| ID card not valid for travel | Identity and national identity number | No |
| Residence card | Residence permit or right of residence | Not on its own |
| Passport or travel document | Identity and entitlement to travel under the applicable rules | Usually yes |
Read more about what a residence card is used for.
Who can apply?
You must be a citizen of a country outside the EU, EEA and EFTA. Politiet, the Norwegian police, calls this a third-country national. You must also meet the requirements for a national identity number, a residence card and identity documents.
You must have an eleven-digit Norwegian national identity number. A D-number is not enough. Check which type of number you have before booking an appointment.
You must also have a valid Norwegian residence card. If you have a temporary residence permit or a right of residence under utlendingsloven § 114 (the Immigration Act), your ID card will generally have the same expiry date as your residence card. Check the expiry date before paying and applying. A card that expires soon may be less useful to you.
Which documents do you need?
As a general rule, you must bring a valid passport from your home country, a Norwegian refugee travel document or an immigrant's passport. The passport must not be expired or damaged, and its electronic chip must be readable. The photo must still look like you.
Some third-country nationals cannot obtain a passport from their home country and do not have a Norwegian refugee travel document or an immigrant's passport either. Politiet states that these people can still apply. In these cases, verifying their identity may require a different assessment. Contact the police if you are unsure what to bring.
Your name must be exactly the same on your residence card, your passport or travel document, and in Folkeregisteret, the National Population Register. All letters and characters must match too. If the spelling differs, you must correct the details in Folkeregisteret before applying.
You can read more about the different documents in the guide to passports and national ID cards. Always check Politiet's own list before your appointment, as requirements may change.
Where can you apply?
From 1 September 2026, the service is available at Politiet's public service centre in Ski, in Øst politidistrikt. Politiet says that only this office will offer the service during the first few months. The plan is for more passport and ID offices across the country to offer it by the end of the year.
You must book an appointment on Politiet's website and attend in person. Do not go to a regular passport office without checking that it actually offers ID cards for third-country nationals. The service is being introduced gradually, and the list of offices may change.
At your appointment, the police will check your identity and documents. You pay the fee there. The card is usually sent by post. Clearly label your letterbox with your full first name and surname, otherwise the delivery may be returned. You can also arrange to collect the card from the office.
How much does the card cost?
Politiet's fees from 1 January 2026 are 840 kroner for people aged 10 and over, and 510 kroner for children under 10. You can pay by bank card, Visa or Mastercard, cash, Google Pay or Apple Pay. Politiet states that you cannot pay with Vipps or by invoice.
Check the fees page again when you book. Fees may change. You are paying for the application to be processed, and a refusal does not necessarily mean that the fee will be refunded. You should therefore make sure that all documents and names are correct before your appointment.
Rules for children
There is no minimum age for the ID card. For children under 13, the person or people with parental responsibility must give their consent. If two people share parental responsibility, both must attend in person to give consent. Consent can be given before or during the child's appointment.
Children aged 13 and over can apply without consent from their parents or guardians. The other requirements still apply. Among other things, the child must have a national identity number and a valid residence card. The police can provide further details about evidence of parental responsibility.
What can the card be used for?
The card gives you a standard form of identification in Norway, with your photo and national identity number. It can be useful when a service requires a physical ID document. It does not automatically give you BankID or access to all digital services. Banks and other issuers carry out their own checks. See how BankID and digital identity work.
The card does not give you a new residence permit, new rights to work or Norwegian citizenship either. It does not change the expiry date of your residence permit. If your residence card is renewed, you must check for yourself whether your ID card also needs to be renewed.
Checklist before you book
First, check that you have an eleven-digit national identity number and a valid residence card. Then check that your passport or travel document is valid, undamaged and readable. Compare your name with the entry in Folkeregisteret, character by character. Finally, find an office that offers the service and book the correct type of appointment.
Bring the following to your appointment:
- a valid residence card
- a valid passport, refugee travel document or immigrant's passport, if you have one
- any documents the police have specifically asked you to provide
- the child and the necessary consent, if the application is for a child under 13
- a payment method accepted by the police
Arrive in good time. If a document is missing or your name does not match, the police may not be able to process your application that day. Wait until any corrections in Folkeregisteret are complete before booking.
SamfunnPrep has practical tools for everyday life in Norway that can help you keep track of tasks involving public authorities. However, use Politiet's booking page as the definitive source for office locations and required documents.
Would you like to learn more of the words and understand the systems you encounter in Norway? Create a free SamfunnPrep account and practise at your own pace.
