Fødselsnummer, D-nummer and folkeregister registration — Norway

Researched from official sources · May 19, 2026

Norway operates a two-tier personal-identifier system administered by Skatteetaten under folkeregisterloven.

The fødselsnummer is assigned to residents and citizens; the D-nummer is assigned to foreign persons who do not meet residency criteria — short-stay workers, asylum-seekers, foreign board members, property owners, and seafarers tax-resident abroad. Individuals cannot self-apply. Numbers are assigned by the National Population Register after a UDI residence-permit notification, after a move-to-Norway report and in-person ID-control, or after an authorised enterprise requests a D-nummer on the person's behalf. EU/EEA nationals register first with the police, then report a move to Skatteetaten if the stay exceeds six months.

Estimated time

From the in-person identity check at a Skatteetaten (Norwegian Tax Administration) ID office or a Servicesenter for utenlandske arbeidstakere (Service Centre for Foreign Workers, abbreviated SUA) to the postal arrival of the national identity number, processing falls within Skatteetaten's published case-processing-time range for the move-to-Norway matter. For residence-permit-holders whose number is requested through the authorised enterprise / authority route (the D-nummer pathway), issuance is reported by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) as typically within two weeks of the residence-card appointment with the police. Consult skatteetaten.no/en/contact/case-processing-time for current figures.

Cost

No fee published by Skatteetaten for fødselsnummer assignment, D-nummer requisition through an authorised enterprise or authority, or the in-person ID-control appointment at a Skatteetaten ID office or SUA. Residence-permit application fees to UDI are separate and governed by utlendingsforskriften; bank-account opening fees and BankID enrolment fees are charged by the issuing bank and vary.

What You Need

Tap to check off items as you gather them

Additional Items

  • Pre-arrival sequencing for third-country employed newcomers — Step 1, the employer assembles the residence-permit-application support documentation (employment contract, salary terms meeting the relevant collective-agreement minima or industry norms, accommodation evidence) and the applicant submits the residence-permit application to UDI from the country of nationality. Step 2, UDI grants the residence permit; permits of six months or longer trigger automatic fødselsnummer notification on arrival, while permits shorter than six months trigger D-nummer issuance via UDI's authorised-requestor route. Step 3, on arrival the applicant attends a police appointment for residence-card collection; UDI guidance indicates that the D-nummer typically issues approximately two weeks after the residence-card appointment, subject to case complexity. Step 4, the applicant attends a Skatteetaten ID-control at a Skatteetaten ID office or a SUA office to activate the number and apply for the skattekort.
  • Pre-arrival sequencing for EU/EEA workers — Step 1, online registration with the police under the EU/EEA scheme via the UDI application portal before or after arrival. Step 2, an in-person appointment at a SUA office or a local police district to obtain the registreringsbevis (employer support documentation such as employment contract and payslips presented at the appointment). Step 3, ID-control at the SUA office or a Skatteetaten ID office — if the stay is six months or longer, the assigned number is a fødselsnummer; if the stay is between three and six months, the assigned number is a D-nummer. Step 4, application for the skattekort at the same appointment via Form RF-1209 once the fødselsnummer or D-nummer is allocated.
  • Edge case — confidential addresses (kode 6 / kode 7) for persons granted protection-of-address status. Coordination with the police or child welfare services is required before National Population Register registration. The statutory basis sits in folkeregisterloven and the Police Act; affected applicants should not attempt a standard move-to-Norway report without prior co-ordination with the protection authority.
  • Edge case — foreign owners of residential property in Norway. A D-nummer is required to be registered as owner with Kartverket (the Norwegian Mapping Authority) and to pay eiendomsskatt (municipal property tax, where the kommune has adopted it). The conveyance lawyer or Kartverket typically initiates the D-nummer requisition through the authorised-requestor route.
  • Edge case — board members and signatories of Norwegian companies. A D-nummer is required for entry in the Brønnøysund Register Centre role registry and for submitting filings (the VAT return, annual accounts, the a-melding) where the individual is the responsible reporter. Form RF-1450 is used and the company acts as the requestor.
  • Eight-day address-change reporting duty (folkeregisterloven § 6-1) — verbatim Norwegian text of the first paragraph: "Den som endrer bosted innen en norsk kommune eller mellom norske kommuner, skal innen åtte dager etter flyttingen melde dette til skattekontoret." Plain English: a person who changes residence within a Norwegian municipality or between Norwegian municipalities must report this to the tax office within eight days of the move. The report is submitted via skatteetaten.no/en/person/national-registry/moving once a number and electronic ID (BankID, MinID, Buypass, or Commfides) are in place; otherwise by post or via an in-person visit.
  • Downstream procedures unlocked by the fødselsnummer or D-nummer — skattekort (tax-deduction card, mandatory for lawful employment); norwegian bank account opening; BankID enrolment via the bank; Helfo fastlege list registration (rights vary by number type and right-of-residence status); NAV employment registration via the employer's a-melding; the Min Side self-service portal at Skatteetaten; the Altinn portal for tax filings and public-authority correspondence.
  • Asylum-seeker route — UDI requests the D-nummer on the asylum-seeker's behalf at registration of the application for protection. Skatteetaten provides a dedicated page for Ukraine arrivals under the temporary collective-protection scheme at skatteetaten.no/en/person/foreign/ukraine — applicants should consult that page for the specific document and timeline expectations.
  • Folkeregisterforskriften (FOR-2017-07-14-1201) — the regulation issued under folkeregisterloven supplies procedural detail on documentation, allocation rules for fødselsnummer and D-nummer, and the conditions under which the central registration authority may change an existing number. Citation: Forskrift om folkeregistrering, FOR-2017-07-14-1201, lovdata.no.
  • Folkeregisterloven entered into force on 1 October 2017 for most chapters, with later portions effective from 5 October 2020. Responsible department is Finansdepartementet (the Ministry of Finance). The full Norwegian text is at lovdata.no/lov/2016-12-09-88.

Step-by-Step

  1. 1

    Identify the correct route for your situation

    Identifiser riktig rute

    1. (Applicant) Confirm citizenship class: Norwegian, Nordic (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, the Faroe Islands, Åland), EU/EEA / Swiss, or third-country
    2. Confirm planned duration in Norway: under three months, three to six months, or six months or longer
    3. Confirm whether the residence basis is employment, study, family reunification, self-sufficiency, asylum, residential-property ownership, board position, or maritime employment
    4. Map the combination to one of the four routes: route A (born in Norway — automatic), route B (move-to-Norway report with in-person ID-control), route C (D-nummer requisition through an authorised enterprise or authority), route D (EU/EEA registration scheme with the police, then move-to-Norway report)

    💡 Tip: The four routes are not interchangeable. Booking an appointment for the wrong route is the most common newcomer friction. Skatteetaten's contact page at skatteetaten.no/en/contact can confirm the route when the situation is ambiguous; the SUA front desk at any of the five SUA offices can also confirm the route for employed newcomers before the appointment is finalised.

    Skatteetaten — national identity numbers (skatteetaten.no ↗) Skatteetaten — D number (skatteetaten.no ↗)
  2. 2

    Prepare the identity and supporting documents

    Forberede legitimasjon og dokumentasjon

    1. (Applicant) Confirm the primary identity document — a valid passport, or for EU/EEA nationals a national identity card meeting current security standards (with machine-readable zone, photograph, full name, date of birth, gender, expiration date, and citizenship)
    2. Assemble supporting documents — residence permit (third-country); registreringsbevis after EU/EEA registration; employment contract or admission letter; rental contract or landlord confirmation; civil-status documents for accompanying family members
    3. For the D-nummer requisition route via Form RF-1450, prepare a certified copy of the identity document — in colour, dated within three months, covering both the front and back (or front and last page), with dated certification by a notary, lawyer, bank, accountant, auditor, Norwegian authority, or Nordic-country police / registration authority
    4. For foreign civil-status documents (marriage certificate, birth certificate, civil-registry extract for family members), prepare apostille certification (Hague Convention states) or consular legalisation (non-Hague states), plus an authorised translation into Norwegian or English

    💡 Tip: Foreign civil-status documents are the most common source of delay. Arrange the apostille or legalisation and the authorised translation before travel where possible; this typically requires weeks in the country of issue and is logistically harder to complete from Norway.

  3. 3

    Route C — D-nummer requisition by an authorised enterprise or authority

    Rute C — RF-1450 rekvisisjon

    Stay shorter than six months OR authorised requestor relationship in place (employer, NAV, bank, Brønnøysund Register Centre, Norwegian Mapping Authority, Helfo, UDI, Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

    1. (Authorised requestor) Complete Form RF-1450 (Rekvisisjon av D-nummer) — available at skatteetaten.no/en/forms/rf-1450-requisition-of-d-number
    2. Attach the certified copy of the applicant's identity document and any supporting documents required by the requestor's organisation
    3. Submit by post to Skatteetaten, Postboks 9200 Grønland, 0134 OSLO — Skatteetaten: "You cannot order a D number yourself as a private individual, employer or educational institution. Only selected businesses and organisations, such as NAV and banks, can order a D number using this form."
    4. (Skatteetaten) Reviews the requisition, allocates the D-nummer, and notifies the requestor
    5. (Applicant) Attends a Skatteetaten ID office or SUA in person for the ID-control that activates the D-nummer for downstream use

    💡 Tip: The D-nummer requisition can begin while the applicant is still abroad, but the ID-control activation happens in person after arrival. UDI guidance for residence-permit-holder D-nummer issuance reports approximately two weeks from the residence-card appointment with the police to D-nummer issuance — case complexity and documentation completeness extend that window.

    Skatteetaten — Form RF-1450 (Requisition of D number) (skatteetaten.no ↗)
  4. 4

    Route D — EU/EEA registration scheme with the police

    Rute D — EØS-registrering hos politiet

    EU/EEA national (or Swiss national under the EU-Swiss free-movement agreement) staying in Norway longer than three months

    1. (Applicant) Submit the online EU/EEA registration application via the UDI application portal — UDI: "If you are an EU/EEA national who are going to work and live in Norway for more than three months, you have to register."
    2. Book an in-person appointment at a SUA office or a local police district; appointment booking at sua.no/en/book-appointment for SUA offices
    3. Attend the appointment with the primary identity document, evidence of the qualifying ground (employment contract and recent payslips for workers; admission letter for students; evidence of self-sufficiency or service-provision for self-employed), and any family-relationship documents
    4. (The police) Verifies the registration and issues the registreringsbevis
    5. UDI: "A registration certificate is a document that confirms that the police have registered you as an EU/EEA citizen living in Norway. The registration certificate does not serve as confirmation that you have the right to reside in Norway."

    💡 Tip: Right of residence under the EU/EEA scheme is documented separately by the employment contract, recent payslips, business-operation evidence (for self-employed), study certificates, or evidence of self-sufficiency, depending on the registration category. The registreringsbevis confirms registration with the police; it does not by itself confirm a continuing right of residence.

    UDI — EU/EEA employee registration (udi.no ↗) SUA — booking an appointment (sua.no ↗)
  5. 5

    Route B — report a move to Norway to Skatteetaten

    Rute B — flyttemelding til Skatteetaten

    Stay six months or longer (third-country residence-permit-holder OR EU/EEA after registration OR Norwegian citizen returning); not applicable to Nordic citizens

    1. (Applicant) For residence-permit-holders with permits of six months or longer, no separate move-report is needed — Skatteetaten: "When you receive a residence permit of at least six months, the immigration authorities will notify the National Population Register about this. You'll be automatically registered as a resident in Norway and receive a Norwegian national identity number." Confirm that the automatic notification has triggered before booking a separate appointment
    2. Where automatic notification does not apply (EU/EEA after registreringsbevis, Norwegian citizen returning, or other residual cases), submit the move-to-Norway report at skatteetaten.no/en/person/national-registry/moving/to-norway
    3. Book an appointment at a Skatteetaten ID office or a SUA office through skatteetaten.no/en/contact (for ID offices) or sua.no/en/book-appointment (for SUA)
    4. Attend the appointment with the primary identity document, the residence permit (third-country) or registreringsbevis (EU/EEA), documentation of intended residence duration (employment contract or admission letter), and housing documentation
    5. (Skatteetaten case administrator) Performs the in-person ID-control against the original identity document, reviews the supporting documents, and confirms the registered address — Skatteetaten: "you must visit one of the Tax Administration's ID offices and undergo an ID control. You must bring documentation stating that you have lawful residence in Norway, and that you intend to stay here for more than six months."

    💡 Tip: Folkeregisterloven § 4-1 anchors the six-month lawful-residence threshold: a person residing lawfully in a Norwegian municipality for at least six months is registered as resident in Norway. Verbatim Norwegian: "En person som oppholder seg lovlig i en norsk kommune i minst seks måneder, registreres som bosatt i Norge, med mindre annet følger av bestemmelsene i eller i medhold av dette kapittel."

    💬 Say:

    Jeg vil melde flytting til Norge.

    yay vil mel-leh flit-ting til nor-geh

    "I would like to report a move to Norway."

    📋 Use when: Opening the ID-control appointment at the Skatteetaten or SUA counter

    Skatteetaten — move to Norway (skatteetaten.no ↗) Skatteetaten — residence permit determines resident status (skatteetaten.no ↗)
  6. 6

    Case-handler review and number assignment

    Saksbehandling og tildeling

    1. (Skatteetaten case handler) Receives the case from the ID office or SUA
    2. Reviews the documents, verifies the qualifying basis (residence permit, EU/EEA registration, Nordic-channel resident status, or other), and issues the formal registration decision
    3. Issues the fødselsnummer or D-nummer in writing by post to the registered Norwegian address
    4. (Applicant) Confirms the registered address remains current; if the address changes before postal delivery of the number, notify Skatteetaten before the case is decided

    💡 Tip: The fødselsnummer or D-nummer is not issued at the counter and is not communicated by telephone or email. Skatteetaten publishes the case-processing-time range for the move-to-Norway matter at skatteetaten.no/en/contact/case-processing-time — applicants should anchor expectations there rather than to a static figure. Skatteetaten: "If you have submitted the required information, we can process the case quickly... If we do not have all the information we need, we must ask for more information and documentation. This prolongs the case processing time."

    Skatteetaten — case processing time (skatteetaten.no ↗)
  7. 7

    Apply for the skattekort (tax-deduction card)

    Søk om skattekort

    1. (Applicant) Confirm that the fødselsnummer or D-nummer is assigned and that the folkeregister entry (where applicable) is complete
    2. For SUA appointments, the skattekort application is typically filed as part of the bundled service — bring Form RF-1209, the employment contract or written offer of employment, and the primary identity document
    3. For non-SUA cases, file Form RF-1209 via skatteetaten.no once the number is allocated; Min Side at Skatteetaten provides the digital path once electronic identification (BankID, MinID, Buypass, or Commfides) is in place
    4. (Skatteetaten) Issues the skattekort to the employer via the a-melding system; the applicant can also retrieve the skattekort via Min Side

    💡 Tip: Skatteetaten: "Everyone who works in Norway must have a tax deduction card and a Norwegian identification number (D number or national identity number)." The skattekort is the immediate next step after the number is assigned; SUA's bundled-service model compresses it into the same appointment sequence.

Local Tips from the Community

  • Identify the correct route before booking anything. The four routes are: (a) birth in Norway — hospital notifies the register automatically; (b) move to Norway and report it to Skatteetaten with in-person ID-control at a Skatteetaten ID office or a SUA office; (c) D-nummer requested on your behalf by an authorised enterprise or authority via Form RF-1450 (general business) or Form RF-1325 (maritime); (d) EU/EEA registration scheme with the police, then move-report to Skatteetaten if the stay exceeds six months. Booking an ID-control appointment for the wrong route is the most common newcomer friction.
  • If you are arriving as an employed newcomer and your employer (or another authorised requestor such as NAV, a Norwegian bank, the Brønnøysund Register Centre, or Helfo) can submit Form RF-1450 to Skatteetaten on your behalf before you arrive, the D-nummer requisition can begin in parallel with your travel. You still must appear in person at a SUA office or a Skatteetaten ID office after arrival for the ID-control that activates the number; pre-arrival D-nummer is not a fully self-contained pre-arrival flow.
  • The five SUA offices (Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim, Kirkenes) co-locate the police, Skatteetaten, UDI, and the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority. For most EU/EEA workers and many third-country residence-permit-holders, the SUA appointment compresses EU/EEA registration or residence-card collection, ID-control, fødselsnummer or D-nummer issuance, and the tax-deduction-card application into one appointment chain. SUA visits are by appointment only via sua.no/en/book-appointment.
  • Folkeregisterloven § 4-1 anchors the six-month lawful-residence threshold for fødselsnummer eligibility, and § 6-1 imposes an eight-day reporting duty for any address change within Norway. Failing to report an address change within eight days creates downstream friction with Helfo (fastlege list assignment), NAV, and many private institutions that read the folkeregister address as the authoritative record.
  • Both fødselsnummer and D-nummer are eleven digits. The first six digits encode date of birth as day-month-year (DDMMYY). A D-nummer is structurally identical to a fødselsnummer except that the first digit has four added to it — that single change makes the number-type instantly recognisable to Norwegian institutions and is set in folkeregisterloven § 2-2 second paragraph.
  • BankID, the dominant authentication credential for Norwegian online public and private services, is issued by Norwegian banks and requires the holder to already have a Norwegian bank account, a fødselsnummer or D-nummer, and an in-person ID-control at the bank. The chicken-and-egg pattern between bank account, BankID, and number-issuance is the reason the SUA bundled-service exists; without SUA, post-arrival sequencing typically runs ID-control at Skatteetaten → number-issuance by post → tax-deduction-card application → bank-account opening → BankID enrolment over two to six weeks.
  • Asylum-seekers do not request a D-nummer themselves. UDI requests the D-nummer on the asylum-seeker's behalf at registration of the application for protection. The D-nummer enables interaction with Skatteetaten, NAV, and basic banking; rights to fastlege, social benefits, and other public services depend on the right-of-residence status and the case decision, not on the D-nummer alone.

What Could Go Wrong

Book the appointment: Booking the wrong route or wrong office for the applicant's status

Recovery: Confirm the route before booking: third-country residence-permit-holder route → Skatteetaten ID office or SUA; EU/EEA national → SUA or local police district for EU/EEA registration first, then Skatteetaten ID-control; D-nummer via authorised enterprise → the enterprise files Form RF-1450 with a certified copy of the identity document, and the applicant attends a Skatteetaten ID office or SUA for the ID-control activation. The Skatteetaten contact page at skatteetaten.no/en/contact can confirm the correct route and the offices that handle the matter.

Attend the in-person ID-control: Identity documents incomplete, address unverifiable, or supporting documentation missing

Recovery: The administrator forwards the case to a Skatteetaten case handler, who contacts the applicant by post with a request for the missing documentation. Foreign civil-status documents may need apostille certification for Hague Convention states or consular legalisation for non-Hague states, plus an authorised translation into Norwegian or English. Arrange these as soon as the case-handler request is received to avoid extending the processing time.

Wait for the number by post: The applicant has moved between the ID-control appointment and the case decision

Recovery: Update the folkeregister address with Skatteetaten before the case is decided. Once the fødselsnummer or D-nummer has been issued and posted to the old address, redirecting it requires additional steps. The eight-day address-reporting duty in folkeregisterloven § 6-1 applies once the registration is complete; before the number is issued, contact Skatteetaten directly to update the registered address.

Activate downstream services: Bank account application is rejected because BankID is not yet available and the applicant cannot establish identity to the bank's satisfaction

Recovery: Norwegian banks typically require an in-person identity check and proof of address before opening a current account. Bring the fødselsnummer or D-nummer, the original passport or national identity card, and recent housing documentation (rental contract, deed, or landlord confirmation). For employed newcomers, an employment contract and a recent payslip strengthen the application. Some banks operate a dedicated newcomer route through SUA; ask the SUA Skatteetaten counter for current bank-partner referrals at the appointment.

Costs

Item Amount Payment Notes
Fødselsnummer assignment after move-to-Norway report kr0 N/A No fee published by Skatteetaten for the fødselsnummer itself. The applicant pays separately for any residence-permit application to UDI (third-country route) or any other prerequisite. Operator-verify against the Skatteetaten contact page before assuming a categorical no-fee status, as Skatteetaten does not always state the absence of a fee explicitly.
D-nummer requisition via Form RF-1450 (Optional) kr0 N/A (filed by authorised enterprise or authority) No fee published by Skatteetaten for the D-nummer issuance itself when requisitioned through the authorised-enterprise route. Banks, employers, NAV, and other authorised requestors may charge their own administrative fees for handling the requisition on the applicant's behalf — these are not paid to Skatteetaten.
D-nummer for maritime employment via Form RF-1325 (Optional) kr0 N/A (filed by maritime employer or Sentralskattekontoret for utenlandssaker) No fee published by Skatteetaten for the D-nummer issuance via the maritime route. The Norwegian shipping employer files the application on the seafarer's behalf.
ID-control appointment at Skatteetaten ID office or SUA kr0 N/A Skatteetaten ID-control appointments are free of charge. SUA appointments are similarly free; the SUA model bundles services from the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority, the police, the Tax Administration, and UDI under a single appointment without a separate appointment fee.
Residence permit application to UDI (third-country route) (Optional) kr0 Paid to UDI per the published utlendingsforskriften fee schedule Residence-permit application fees are governed by utlendingsforskriften and are payable to UDI separately from any Skatteetaten matter. Fees vary by permit type (skilled worker, student, family-reunification, protection) and may change. Consult udi.no for the current fee schedule before applying.
Certified copy of identity document (Optional) kr0 Paid to the certifying party (notary, lawyer, bank, accountant, auditor, Norwegian authority, or Nordic-country police / registration authority) Certifying-party fees vary. Norwegian authorities and Nordic registration authorities may offer the certification without separate charge for some categories; private notaries and lawyers charge per-page or per-document rates. The certified copy must be in colour, dated within three months of submission, cover both the front and back (or front and last page) of the document, and be sent as an original — photocopies of certified copies are rejected.
Fødselsnummer assignment after move-to-Norway report kr0
Payment:
N/A
Notes:
No fee published by Skatteetaten for the fødselsnummer itself. The applicant pays separately for any residence-permit application to UDI (third-country route) or any other prerequisite. Operator-verify against the Skatteetaten contact page before assuming a categorical no-fee status, as Skatteetaten does not always state the absence of a fee explicitly.
D-nummer requisition via Form RF-1450 (Optional) kr0
Payment:
N/A (filed by authorised enterprise or authority)
Notes:
No fee published by Skatteetaten for the D-nummer issuance itself when requisitioned through the authorised-enterprise route. Banks, employers, NAV, and other authorised requestors may charge their own administrative fees for handling the requisition on the applicant's behalf — these are not paid to Skatteetaten.
D-nummer for maritime employment via Form RF-1325 (Optional) kr0
Payment:
N/A (filed by maritime employer or Sentralskattekontoret for utenlandssaker)
Notes:
No fee published by Skatteetaten for the D-nummer issuance via the maritime route. The Norwegian shipping employer files the application on the seafarer's behalf.
ID-control appointment at Skatteetaten ID office or SUA kr0
Payment:
N/A
Notes:
Skatteetaten ID-control appointments are free of charge. SUA appointments are similarly free; the SUA model bundles services from the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority, the police, the Tax Administration, and UDI under a single appointment without a separate appointment fee.
Residence permit application to UDI (third-country route) (Optional) kr0
Payment:
Paid to UDI per the published utlendingsforskriften fee schedule
Notes:
Residence-permit application fees are governed by utlendingsforskriften and are payable to UDI separately from any Skatteetaten matter. Fees vary by permit type (skilled worker, student, family-reunification, protection) and may change. Consult udi.no for the current fee schedule before applying.
Certified copy of identity document (Optional) kr0
Payment:
Paid to the certifying party (notary, lawyer, bank, accountant, auditor, Norwegian authority, or Nordic-country police / registration authority)
Notes:
Certifying-party fees vary. Norwegian authorities and Nordic registration authorities may offer the certification without separate charge for some categories; private notaries and lawyers charge per-page or per-document rates. The certified copy must be in colour, dated within three months of submission, cover both the front and back (or front and last page) of the document, and be sent as an original — photocopies of certified copies are rejected.
Total: kr0

FAQ

General

Can I apply for a fødselsnummer or D-nummer myself?

No. Skatteetaten is explicit on both points: "You cannot apply for a national identity number. It is the National Population Register that will determine whether you meet the conditions for being issued a national identity number," and "You cannot apply for a D number. An enterprise or authority can request a D number when it needs you to have a Norwegian identification number." The applicant's role is to report a move to Norway (where the route applies), undergo the in-person ID-control, and provide the identity documents and certified copies that the authorised requestor needs to complete the requisition.

What is the difference between fødselsnummer and D-nummer in the digit structure?

Both are eleven digits. The first six digits encode date of birth as day-month-year. The last five are individual digits plus check digits. The structural difference set in folkeregisterloven § 2-2 second paragraph is that the D-nummer is built the same way as the fødselsnummer except that the first digit has four added to it — that single change makes a D-nummer instantly distinguishable from a fødselsnummer. Verbatim Norwegian: "D-nummer er bygget opp på samme måte, likevel slik at første siffer er tillagt fire."

I have a residence permit of more than six months. Do I need to report a move to Norway?

Usually not. Skatteetaten states: "When you receive a residence permit of at least six months, the immigration authorities will notify the National Population Register about this. You'll be automatically registered as a resident in Norway and receive a Norwegian national identity number." The applicant still needs to attend an in-person ID-control at a Skatteetaten ID office for the registration to complete. If automatic notification does not arrive within a reasonable window after the residence-card appointment, contact Skatteetaten via skatteetaten.no/en/contact.

I am an EU/EEA citizen staying for a year. What do I do?

Register under the EU/EEA scheme with the police first — UDI: "If you are an EU/EEA national who are going to work and live in Norway for more than three months, you have to register." Registration is initiated online and completed in person at a SUA office or a local police district; the police issue a registreringsbevis. After registration, report a move to Norway to Skatteetaten and attend the ID-control; for a stay of six months or longer, a fødselsnummer is assigned. The SUA bundled-service compresses the registration, ID-control, number-issuance, and tax-deduction-card application into a single appointment chain.

I am moving from a Nordic country. Do I still report a move to Norway?

No. Skatteetaten states: "If you move from a Nordic country (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, or Sweden, including the Faroe Islands and Åland), you do not report a move." Nordic citizens are tracked under the inter-Nordic registration agreement, and the fødselsnummer is issued upon registration when the Nordic resident takes up residence in Norway via the Nordic-channel route.

What is the SUA office and which cities have one?

SUA stands for Servicesenter for utenlandske arbeidstakere — Service Centre for Foreign Workers. The five SUA offices in Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim, and Kirkenes co-locate the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority, the police, Skatteetaten, and UDI under one roof. A single appointment can cover residence-card collection, EU/EEA registration, ID-control, fødselsnummer or D-nummer issuance, and the skattekort application. Visits are by appointment only at sua.no/en/book-appointment.

Can I get a D-nummer before I arrive in Norway?

The requisition can begin before arrival when an authorised requestor (employer, NAV, a bank, or another enterprise on the authorised-requestor list) submits Form RF-1450 to Skatteetaten on the applicant's behalf with the required certified-copy identity document. The applicant still needs to appear in person at a Skatteetaten ID office or a SUA office after arrival for the ID-control that activates the D-nummer for downstream use. Pre-arrival D-nummer is therefore not a fully self-contained pre-arrival flow.

What is the published case-processing time for a move-to-Norway report?

Skatteetaten publishes a case-processing-time range at skatteetaten.no/en/contact/case-processing-time. Times shift with case volume and with the completeness of the submitted documentation. Skatteetaten: "If you have submitted the required information, we can process the case quickly... If we do not have all the information we need, we must ask for more information and documentation. This prolongs the case processing time." Consult the published page rather than relying on a static figure.

How long does the D-nummer take once UDI has issued the residence permit?

UDI's published guidance indicates that the D-nummer is typically issued approximately two weeks after the residence-card appointment with the police, subject to case complexity. Variation is normal — applicants with complete documentation and a straightforward case category move more quickly than those with documentation gaps or atypical permit categories. Track the case through the UDI application portal where available.

Do I have a fastlege (regular GP) automatically when my number is assigned?

A fastlege is assigned by Helfo through the population-register link once a fødselsnummer is in place and the applicant is registered as resident in a Norwegian kommune. D-nummer holders are not entitled to a fastlege on the same basis as folkeregister-resident fødselsnummer holders — rights depend on the right-of-residence status and the EHIC or other reciprocal-coverage instrument that applies. The operational dependency runs through the folkeregister entry, not through the number type alone.

I changed address in Norway. Do I need to report the change?

Yes — within eight days. Folkeregisterloven § 6-1 first paragraph requires that a person who changes residence within a Norwegian municipality or between Norwegian municipalities report this to the tax office within eight days of the move. The report is filed via skatteetaten.no/en/person/national-registry/moving once electronic identification (BankID, MinID, Buypass, or Commfides) is in place; otherwise by post or in person. Late reporting creates downstream friction with Helfo, NAV, and many private institutions that read the folkeregister address as the authoritative record.

Does the fødselsnummer change for marriage, divorce, address change, or change of legal gender?

The fødselsnummer itself does not change for marriage, divorce, or an address change. The conditions under which an existing fødselsnummer may be changed are governed by folkeregisterloven § 2-2 fifth paragraph and the implementing forskrift (regulation), which addresses cases such as change of legal gender or correction of an erroneously assigned number. Applicants who require a number change should contact Skatteetaten directly via skatteetaten.no/en/contact and consult the dedicated guidance.

I lost my passport during the appointment. What now?

If the primary identity document fails the on-site verification, the case administrator forwards the case to a case handler and the applicant is contacted by post requesting replacement documentation. Replacement passports are obtained from the issuing country's authorities, typically through that country's embassy or consulate in Norway. Until valid identity is presented, the National Population Register cannot complete the registration. Plan for additional weeks of processing time in this scenario.

After This Process

  • → Apply for the skattekort (tax-deduction card) via Form RF-1209 — required before lawful employment can begin
  • → Open a Norwegian bank account — bring the fødselsnummer or D-nummer, original identity document, and housing documentation; the bank account is the prerequisite for BankID enrolment
  • → Enrol BankID through the bank — the dominant authentication credential for Norwegian online public and private services
  • → Register with Helfo and select a fastlege (for fødselsnummer holders with resident status) — assignment is automatic once the folkeregister entry is established
  • → Confirm that the employer's a-melding (monthly payroll report to Skatteetaten and NAV) cites the correct fødselsnummer or D-nummer for the first reporting period after start of employment

Sources

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12 sources cited last accessed 2026-05-19

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  1. T1
    Skatteetaten — National identity numbers 2026-05-19

    Skatteetaten states that all children born in Norway and all Norwegian children born abroad who will receive a Norwegian passport are issued a national identity number. A person intending to stay in Norway for at least six consecutive months must report a move to Norway. The applicant cannot apply for the national identity number — the National Population Register determines whether the conditions for assignment are met. Where a residence permit has been granted, the residence permit determines whether the applicant is registered as resident in Norway, and a separate move-report is usually not required.

    skatteetaten.no
  2. T1
    Skatteetaten — D number 2026-05-19

    Skatteetaten states: "You cannot apply for a D number. An enterprise or authority can request a D number when it needs you to have a Norwegian identification number." Authorised requestors include the Tax Administration, NAV, banks, the Norwegian Central Securities Depository, the Brønnøysund Register Centre, the Norwegian Mapping Authority, Helfo, UDI / the Police Immigration Unit / UNE, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Proof of identity must include the photograph, full name, date of birth, gender, expiration date, citizenship, and a machine-readable zone. Certified-copy specifications: certified by a notary, lawyer, bank, accountant, auditor, Norwegian authority, or Nordic registration authority / police; in colour; front and back; not older than three months; original certified copy by post.

    skatteetaten.no
  3. T1
    Skatteetaten — Move to Norway 2026-05-19

    Skatteetaten states the reporting threshold for moving to Norway as intending to stay for more than six months. Nordic-citizen carve-out: "If you move from a Nordic country (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, or Sweden, including the Faroe Islands and Åland), you do not report a move." Applicants must appear in person at a Skatteetaten ID office for an ID-control with documentation of lawful residence in Norway and the intent to stay longer than six months.

    skatteetaten.no
  4. T1
    Skatteetaten — Residence permit determines whether you'll be automatically considered a resident 2026-05-19

    Skatteetaten states: "When you receive a residence permit of at least six months, the immigration authorities will notify the National Population Register about this. You'll be automatically registered as a resident in Norway and receive a Norwegian national identity number." Where the applicant has received a D-nummer and the stay extends to six consecutive months, the applicant must report a move to Norway. ID-control booking is via the Skatteetaten ID office network.

    skatteetaten.no
  5. T1
    Skatteetaten — Form RF-1450 (Requisition of D number) 2026-05-19

    Skatteetaten states: "Only selected businesses and organisations, such as NAV and banks, can order a D number using this form. You cannot order a D number yourself as a private individual, employer or educational institution." Postal submission to Skatteetaten, Postboks 9200 Grønland, 0134 OSLO. The form is the general-business route for the D-nummer requisition.

    skatteetaten.no
  6. T1
    Skatteetaten — Form RF-1325 (D-number for maritime employment) 2026-05-19

    Skatteetaten Form RF-1325 is used for allocating a D-nummer to seafarers tax-resident abroad. The Norwegian shipping employer or the Central Tax Office for Foreign Tax Affairs (Sentralskattekontoret for utenlandssaker) files the application on the seafarer's behalf. The D-nummer is required for inclusion in the a-melding and for processing Norwegian withholding tax on maritime wages.

    skatteetaten.no
  7. T1
    Skatteetaten — Case processing time 2026-05-19

    Skatteetaten publishes a case-processing-time range for the move-to-Norway folkeregister matter. Skatteetaten: "If you have submitted the required information, we can process the case quickly... If we do not have all the information we need, we must ask for more information and documentation. This prolongs the case processing time." Applicants should consult the published page for current figures rather than relying on a static reference value.

    skatteetaten.no
  8. T1
    Lovdata — Folkeregisterloven (lov 2016-12-09-88) 2026-05-19

    Folkeregisterloven is the Population Register Act. § 2-2 first paragraph: on first registration in the National Population Register, a person resident or born in Norway is assigned a fødselsnummer; for other persons a D-nummer may be assigned under regulations fixed in secondary legislation. § 2-2 second paragraph: the fødselsnummer is eleven digits — the first six encode date of birth (DDMMYY); the last five are individual digits and check digits; the D-nummer is built the same way except the first digit has four added to it. § 4-1: a person residing lawfully in a Norwegian municipality for at least six months is registered as resident in Norway. § 6-1 first paragraph: a person who changes residence within a Norwegian municipality or between Norwegian municipalities must report this to the tax office within eight days of the move. § 1-3 identifies Skattekontoret as the first-instance registration authority and Skattedirektoratet as the central registration authority and controller.

    lovdata.no
  9. T1
    UDI — D number definition 2026-05-19

    UDI states: "A D number is a temporary identification number that you receive from the Norwegian Tax Administration when you need an identification number in Norway, but do not meet the criteria to being assigned a national identity number." For asylum-seekers, UDI requests the D-nummer on the applicant's behalf at registration of the application for protection. For residence-permit-holders, the D-nummer is typically issued approximately two weeks after the residence-card appointment with the police, subject to case complexity. UDI is permitted to request a D-nummer for an asylum-seeker who registers an application for protection or for other persons with a valid residence permit.

    udi.no
  10. T1
    UDI — Registration certificate for EU/EEA nationals 2026-05-19

    UDI states: "A registration certificate is a document that confirms that the police have registered you as an EU/EEA citizen living in Norway. The registration certificate does not serve as confirmation that you have the right to reside in Norway." Right of residence is documented separately by employment contracts, payslips, study certificates, and other supporting documents under the EU/EEA registration scheme category.

    udi.no
  11. T1
    UDI — Employee who is an EU/EEA national 2026-05-19

    UDI states: "If you are an EU/EEA national who are going to work and live in Norway for more than three months, you have to register." Registration is initiated online and completed in person at a SUA office or a local police district. The registreringsbevis is issued by the police upon successful registration.

    udi.no
  12. T1
    SUA — Service Centre for Foreign Workers, appointment booking 2026-05-19

    The Service Centre for Foreign Workers (SUA) operates offices in Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim, and Kirkenes that co-locate services from the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority, the police, Skatteetaten, and UDI. SUA processes residence-permit applications, EU/EEA registration, D-nummer or fødselsnummer issuance, ID-control, and tax-deduction-card (skattekort) applications in a single appointment chain. Visits are by appointment only. Documents required at the SUA tax appointment include the passport, Form RF-1209 (Application for skattekort for foreign citizens), and the employment contract or written offer of employment.

    sua.no
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