Choosing a mobile plan

Getting a Norwegian phone number and mobile plan can be an important step in settling into your new life in Oslo, but it can take some time.

Mobile phone providers will check your credit history before they give you a monthly subscription plan (mobilabonnement). You need to have a Norwegian bank account before they can perform this credit check. There are temporary solutions available.

Get a temporary, pre-paid SIM card

When you arrive in Oslo for the first time, you can get a Norwegian SIM card that has a phone number and provides data via a pre-paid subscription. Convenience stores like Narvesen or 7-eleven sell these SIM cards, or in other stores selling telecommunications equipment. You only need to identify yourself with your passport or equivalent ID.

Choosing a mobile phone subscription plan

When you have your Norwegian identification number, checking prices across different providers might be a good investment before selecting a subscription plan. Prices for call minutes, SMS, MMS, data use and international calls vary a lot between different providers.

The main phone network providers in Norway are Telia, Telenor, and ICE. There are some providers, like Mycall, which design plans specifically for internationals.

Go to The Consumer Council’s advice about mobile phone subscriptions (in Norwegian)

Do I have to get a Norwegian phone number?

If you have a phone from a country in the EU, check with your provider if you can use roaming, or “roam like home” in Norway, and for how long.

You can decide to use your previous SIM card and keep your previous phone number while living in Norway. However, if you want to use some services like Vipps for sending and receiving money in Norway, you will need a Norwegian phone number. Vipps is a Norwegian mobile payment application designed for smartphones, and is the number one payment method in the country.