Why Norway will only issue ID cards to EEA nationals to begin with
National ID cards were launched for Norwegian citizens in 2020, but plans to allow foreigners to carry them were first unveiled in March 2022.
The Norwegian National Police Directorate, responsible for issuing ID cards and passports, previously told The Local that it had planned to open a system for limited applications by the end of 2024.
That plan failed to materialise, but the police told The Local recently that more information would be available next month.
'The police are preparing issuance of a national ID card without travel rights to foreign citizens in line with regulations on changes to the passports and national ID cards regulation, announced on August 7th, 2024' Eirik Lyngdal, a senior communications advisor with the directorate, told The Local.
More information would be posted on the directorate's website in March, Lyngdal confirmed.
He added that initially, the cards would only be available to EU/EEA nationals with a right of residence and a national identification number (fødselsnummer).
These numbers are issued by the Norwegian Tax Administration to those expected to reside in Norway for longer than six months.
Lyngdal said that it was too soon to confirm when cards for non-EEA nationals could be launched.
'It is still too early to state when the national ID card without travel rights for non-EEA/EFTA citizens will be available. We are in the process of creating a more detailed plan. Once this has been clarified, information will be made available,' he said.
The police directorate is only initially offering the cards to EEA nationals to ensure that the service works well when offered to those from outside the EU/EEA.
'A controlled start-up will provide an experience that ensures a proven and good service when issuance of national ID cards is offered to foreign citizens who are not EEA/EFTA citizens,' Lyngdal said.
The ID cards will be optional when rolled out and cost 800 kroner. The cards contain the holder's name, personal identification number and photo.
ID cards offer holders an alternative form of ID to a driver's licence or passport. Financial institutions in Norway used to provide bank cards that could act as IDs, although this was phased out a few years ago.
Norwegian citizens can use the ID cards to travel within the EU/EEA area, although this won't be an option for foreign residents.
Norway's police directorate recently launched a survey, which can be taken in Norwegian and English, asking foreigners for their input on the cards. You can take part in the survey here.
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