BankID is used so widely in Norway that newcomers often describe it as the key to daily life. It is an electronic identity issued by banks, not an automatic benefit of receiving a residence permit or Norwegian identification number.
The practical sequence is usually: receive a national identity number or D number, compare bank requirements, open the account, complete the bank’s identity checks, and ask the bank to issue BankID.
Sources: Skatteetaten — identification numbers and electronic ID; BankID — how to get BankID; Norge.no — logging in to public services; Skatteetaten — get an electronic ID; Helsenorge — login requirements.
Start with the Norwegian identification number
Skatteetaten states that a Norwegian identification number is generally needed to open a bank account. That can be a national identity number or a D number, depending on how you are registered and why the number was assigned.
You do not choose the number for banking convenience. The D number comparison explains who requests it and what it does not prove.
Banks set their own customer checks
Banks must verify identity and understand the customer relationship. Their accepted documents, appointment process and treatment of D number customers can differ. Check the bank’s current list before applying, especially if your passport was issued outside the EEA or you do not yet have a Norwegian address.
BankID’s own guidance says to contact the bank and present a passport or national identity card. Being a bank customer is required, but an account and BankID are still separate products: ask explicitly whether and when the bank will issue BankID.
MinID may help while you wait
Norway has four electronic IDs used through ID porten: MinID, BankID, Buypass and Commfides. They do not all have the same security level.
MinID is free and available to eligible people with a national identity number or D number, a registered address, mobile number and email. It can open many public services, including parts of Skatteetaten, but not every service accepts it.
BankID, Buypass and Commfides operate at the higher assurance level. Adult access to personal health information on Helsenorge requires a high assurance option; MinID is not sufficient for those services.
Protect BankID as if it were your signature
BankID is both a login and a way to sign agreements. Never let a family member, employer, accountant or supposed bank employee use your BankID. Banks and police do not ask for BankID passwords or codes by telephone, message or email.
When a login request appears, read what you are approving. If a call or message creates urgency, end it and contact the organisation through its official website or published number.
If your identity number changes
When a person moves from a D number to a national identity number, Norge.no says a new electronic ID must be ordered. The old number can no longer be used for login. Tell the bank about the change and follow its process to connect the account and new BankID correctly.
Keep both the bank and the National Population Register updated with the right address and contact details. Administrative friction is often not a rejection; it is one system waiting for another system’s records to match.
For the wider order of arrival tasks, use the first 30 days checklist.