Electronic ID and other digital services
As an increasingly large part of our information and private dialogue has moved online, we need to be able to identify ourselves digitally to access confidential information. Think of it as the online version of showing your passport to prove your identity.
Why you need a digital ID
With an electronic ID (eID), you can log in and use services with high security demands, like online banking or your health journals.
Your eID can be used to pay online, sign contracts, send and receive messages from your doctor, submit taxes as well as sending applications and receiving messages from public agencies.
You also use it to log in to customer service pages, for example for insurance, mobile phone providers or certain forms here at oslo.kommune.no. In short, eID is used in lots of places to access or give personal information digitally.
You need a National identity number first
There are two different types of identity numbers: D number (temporary) and national identity number (permanent). It is only the National identity number that gives you access to order BankID, which is the most common eID.
Go to skatteetaten to read about Norwegian identification numbers
Choose an eID
There are four types of eID. Below is a short summary.
Go to eid.difi.no to read about them in detail.
BankID
BankID (including BankID on mobile) is the most commonly used eID as it is part of the service offer in all Norwegian banks. It has the highest level of security (level 4) and will give you access to all secure services that require an eID. You can order bankID when you get access to your online bank. It is up to the bank to decide if you can get a bankID with a D number.
Also see Open your first Norwegian bank account
Buypass or Commfides
Commfides or Buypass are alternatives to BankID and is ordered through their websites. You can get buypass with a D number.
MinID
Provides access to online public services at a substantial level of security (level 3). You can order a MinID by ordering a PIN code letter. You can order a minID with a D number.
What is ID-porten?
When you come across references to ID-porten, they usually refer to the log-in window that pops up when you attempt to access any secure online service. This is where you're able to choose which eID you want to use to log in.
Digital mailboxes
All public agencies can communicate digitally with citizens through their digital mailboxes rather than via standard paper mail. In order to use a digital mailbox, you first need an eID.
Go to norge.no to learn about digital communication and digital mailboxes
Digipost or eBoks
You can choose a digital mailbox from two private providers. These are essentially secure inboxes that allow you to send and receive messages and documents with public and private service providers who require or handle confidential information; such as insurance companies, The Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV), the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (Lånekassen) and companies who conduct credit checks.
You will also receive annual statements and a lot of other information that would have been sent to you on paper instead. You can also sign documents electronically.
Go to eid.difi.no for questions and answers about digital mailboxes
Other digital public services
A lot of communication will go through your digital mailbox if you choose to sign up for one. But the information will often be available in the sender’s log in service as well. The most important public services you need to know about are listed below.
Altinn
Altinn is the platform for all the formal documents and dialogue concerning your taxes and the personal information registered in The Norwegian Population Register (Folkeregisteret) and other official registers. You will probably use Altinn primarily to access your tax information and, if you run a business, use Altinn for financial reporting.
Go to altinn.no to learn more about the platform
HelseNorge
HelseNorge is the portal for all your medical information. This is considered particularly sensitive, which is why you need an eID with the highest security level in order to log in to HelseNorge (which means you can’t use MinID).
In the portal, you can send and receive messages, prescriptions and other documents regarding your personal health. This is also where you register with a general practitioner (fastlege).
Go to helsenorge.no (English frontpage)
Go to norge.no for information about digital health services
My tax (Min skatt) at Skatteetaten
Log in to see all the information about your taxes.
Go to the log in page at skatteetaten.no
Oslo Municipality (Oslo kommune)
When you log in to personal pages, you can access information about municipal services as well as your communication with the municipality.
Read about receiving digital post from Oslo municipality (in Norwegian)
Good to know: nettvett
Nettvett is a rather new Norwegian word meaning something along the lines of internet sense, or smartness. You can compare it to being “street smart”.
Nettvett.no is an official website about information security and safe use of internet and social media.
Keyword examples: online banking and online shopping (nettbank og netthandel), identity theft (identitetstyveri), fraud (svindel), sexual blackmail online (seksuell utpressing på nett).
Go to nettvett.no (in Norwegian)
Getting by until you have an eID
Your eID is the last, but one of the most important formalities in your relocation process. A lot of the bureaucratic processes and lines of communication is built on this system.
Read the article Prepare for the first few months for advice on how to get by in the transition period.