Latest news with #BankID
Local Norway
04-06-2025
- Business
- Local Norway
'Without BankID you are nobody': Foreigners in Norway lament bureaucratic headaches
Getting a Bank ID When asked to list their worst bureaucratic headaches in Norway the single most widespread gripe among our international readership and online groups was the complex and drawn-out process of obtaining a BankID, Norway's digital identity system. Without it, daily life grinds to a halt. 'You are effectively locked out of Norwegian society,' one reader said. 'No mobile phone number, no online shopping, no Vipps. There are some places where that is the only payment option, which is very frustrating." One respondent, Abby Noble, described it as a 'chicken and egg' conundrum. To get a BankID, you need a bank account. But to open a bank account, you need a registered address — which you often can't get without a bank account. "Why is a bank account necessary for having access to your health page in Norway?" complained Sebastian Rojas, from Chile. READ ALSO: What are the rules for getting a BankID at Norway's banks? The frustrations of having a D-number Many people, such as newly arrived asylum seekers or EU citizens planning to work in Norway for less than six months, or other foreign workers on job seeker permits, are only eligible for a D-number, which can make it hard to open a bank account or access a wide range of other services. Megan Thorsen said that after she was given a D-number on the back of her job-seeker visa, she struggled to set up something as basic as an internet connection. Others found that banks simply had no process for D-number holders, even when they had job offers in hand. 'I went to four banks,' one reader recalled. 'Eventually my Norwegian friend called his banker, who was shocked they couldn't help. They just hadn't seen the issue before.' But even getting a D-number seemed to take some time. 'Without a D-number, you are nobody. And nobody tells you what you're supposed to do next," one respondent moaned. Advertisement READ ALSO: How to switch from a D-number to a fødselsnummer in Norway Trouble opening bank accounts It wasn't only people on D-visas who had trouble opening bank accounts. One Polish respondent said the most frustrating thing about living and working in Norway was simply "waiting". "Over two months to open a bank account!" he exclaimed. "I think the response time to get all the papers ready is sometimes too much," Sebastian Rojas said. "To get my National ID number and the bank account took me at least three months. Without those two things in Norway you are very restricted to what you can actually do." Banks require physical documents, which are sent by post, and Norwegian post won't deliver unless your name is on the letter box. 'It was a nightmare,' said Abby Noble. 'I was only able to solve it thanks to kind Airbnb owners and friends I made at Norskkurs.' READ ALSO: What you need to know about opening a bank account in Norway UDI processing times Advertisement The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) also came in for heavy criticism — particularly for long waits for family reunification and citizenship applications. 'Family visas are taking 12 to 15 months,' said Frida Cota, who had to endure a long-distance relationship while waiting. "Citizenship applications are now taking 30 months if they are not automatically processed. And nobody knows or will tell what the criteria is for automatic processing." Carla Colombon, from Mexico, was unable to work for over 18 months while waiting to get all the necessary paperwork done. 'Such a waste of time and skills and super expensive for my partner and me to live on only one income." She said it has also been "incredibly frustrating" not to be able to travel freely when living in Norway on a temporary visa. Advertisement Problems getting appointments/phone contact "Have you tried calling any institutions? Waiting times of 30 min and more," complained one anonymous respondent, who described Norway as "close to a failed state". "And there is no feedback, as in normal countries (you don't get an option to evaluate how the phone call went)". "When you have to register in the country, the next appointment with the police is like half a year away somewhere in Finnmark," the commenter added. Contradictory answers/poor information Several respondents complained of getting contradictory information from different government officials, or on different government websites. "The information is not coherent," complained Elva Popsen from Greece. "When you register at UDI as a job seeker, nobody tells you that you should go to NAV [the unemployment service]. Also at the tax office, nobody tells you that you should try NAV first if you don't have a job yet." "Any interaction with government institutions leads to contradictory answers," agreed an anonymous respondent, pointing to a "discrepancy between what is indicated on the website and what was provided by direct communication". Lack of understanding among ordinary Norwegians "The challenges immigrants face are not relatable to most locals," Amber Renee explained. "They've never had to get a personal number, never had to deal with UDI, and never had to understand or care about any of these processes." "This seems to carry over to the native Norwegians who design the processes or are working in service positions for the bureaucracy. They still do not relate or understand the full picture and do not really care because it doesn't affect them." Would you add any other obvious bureaucratic hurdles? Share your own experience in the comments section below.
Associated Press
11-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Swish Dominates Mobile Payments in Sweden
04/11/2025, Stockholm, Sweden // KISS PR Brand Story PressWire // Swish, a secure mobile payment platform, continues to dominate payment methods in Sweden, with over 8.5 million users across the country. As Sweden embraces a cashless future, Swish has become the go-to method not only for everyday transactions but also for specialized sectors, offering speed, safety, and convenience unmatched by other platforms. Developed in partnership with major Swedish banks and using BankID for verification, Swish has built a reputation for ultra-secure, instant transactions. Unlike many payment services, it doesn't charge transaction fees, making it an ideal solution for both casual users and online gaming players alike. Swish has carved out a major niche in the online gaming world. Top Swedish-licensed casinos such as LeoVegas, Betsson, Videoslots, Betsafe, and Momang Casino all accept Swish for fast deposits and withdrawals. For players, this means they can fund their accounts and cash out winnings within seconds—all with just a few taps on their smartphone. Security is another major draw. Transactions through Swish are protected by BankID, Sweden's national electronic identification system. It ensures every payment is verified and traceable, drastically reducing fraud and misuse. Swish's exclusivity to casinos holding a Swedish gaming license adds a layer of consumer protection. The operators must meet strict regulatory standards to ensure player safety and responsible gaming tools are always in place. While this limits players to Swedish-licensed casinos only, it also guarantees a level of oversight not always present with international operators. One advantage of Swish is its accommodation of micro-withdrawals. For example, Momang Casino allows minimum withdrawals as low as 1 SEK, perfect for casual or low-stakes players who want to maintain control over their spending. While Americans rely on apps like Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, and Apple Pay, these platforms often fall short in areas where Swish excels. US payment apps typically aren't integrated with online gaming platforms because of tighter federal regulations, and peer-to-peer transfers often lack the real-time speed and zero-fee structure that Swish offers. Swish's direct connection to bank accounts, real-time processing, and nationwide adoption through BankID make it a standout in mobile payments. In contrast, US systems are often fragmented, with differing support across banks and apps and limited functionality in regulated sectors. From paying a friend back for lunch to withdrawing game winnings in under a minute, Swish has changed how Swedes handle money. Its rise reflects a broader shift toward secure mobile payments in everyday life. For players navigating Sweden's online gaming scene, Foreningenstorasyster is a good resource. It offers detailed information about safe and licensed operators and helps users choose trusted sites. The platform promotes responsible gaming by featuring only casinos that meet Swedish regulations. Foreningenstorasyster offers reliable information on Swedish online gaming, including trusted payment methods like Swish. The platform promotes responsible gaming and only features operators that follow Swedish regulations. Media Contact Foreningenstorasyster Kungsholmsgatan 17B 112 27 Stockholm
Local Sweden
21-02-2025
- General
- Local Sweden
Tax, pensions and lots of cake: What changes in Sweden in March 2025?
From March 1st, guests at restaurants should be able to ask for information on which country the meat they are served comes from. This includes all chilled or frozen beef, pork – including wild boar – mutton, goat meat and poultry, including minced meat. It does not apply to other meats, such as horse, reindeer or elk meat, purchased meat products like pre-made meatballs or pre-marinated chicken breast, or meat used to make stock or sauces. The rules also apply to food served in school and hospital canteens. March 3rd: Tax declarations Depending on whether you have a digital postbox or not, you should receive your tax declaration at some point between March 3rd and March 7th. If you have a digital postbox (or sign up for one by March 2nd), you will receive your declaration digitally between March 3rd and 7th. The declaration page will then open on March 18th for you to make any changes (although you can log in and read your declaration on March 7th if you have e-ID such as BankID). If you do not have a digital postbox, you should receive your declaration between March 17th-April 15th. You will then need to approve your declaration by April 2nd if you want to receive any tax rebate you're due that month. However, this only applies if you approve digitally and make no changes or additions. Otherwise, you have until May 2nd to declare, after which you'll get your tax rebate at some point in June. March 4th and March 6th: Two important cake-related dates Like Christmas decorations, semla buns start appearing in Sweden's cafés earlier every year. But March 4th, Fettisdagen or "Shrove Tuesday", is the day when people in Sweden are traditionally supposed to stuff themselves with the cream-filled, almondy delicacies. To find out what it's all about, read . If you're still not sick of whipped cream after gorging yourself on semlor on Tuesday, then don't worry – March 6th is , or the unofficial day to eat marzipan cake, which is essentially another name for prinsesstårta. March 14th: Revoking residence permits An inquiry looking into extending the possibilities of rejecting and revoking residence permits due to a "flawed way of life" is due to present its conclusions by March 14th. This could include things like associating with criminal gangs or organisations, prostitution, drug abuse or membership of extremist organisations, but the exact details will be worked out by the inquiry. March 30th: Clocks go forward Daylight saving time starts in Sweden on March 30th, so the clocks will go forward at 2am on the 30th, meaning an hour less in bed. Many digital clocks (like the one on your phone) change automatically, but it's a good idea to make sure you're working to the same time as everyone else before your alarm goes off for work on Monday morning. March 31st: Asylum law inquiry due to report An inquiry is looking at everything that could be done to tighten Swedish asylum migration to the most restrictive level legally possible under EU law. In the directive given to her by the government, the judge who is leading the inquiry is tasked with examining how the law can be changed to stop asylum seekers getting permanent residency and also how permanent residency can be stripped away from those who have already been awarded it. She is also being asked to examine how residency permits can be recalled if the situation in the home countries of those granted asylum changes so that they are no longer at risk. She is being asked to look at how clear-cut cases, where the applicant clearly has no grounds for asylum, can be handled in a rapid way, without going through a full assessment process. She is also being asked to look at how resources such as translators might be restricted. Under EU rules, member states are only required to supply translators in situations where they are necessary for a fair legal process. The inquiry has until March 31st to submit its conclusions on which laws need to be changed to reach the EU legal minimum, and until October 2nd to submit conclusions on other tasks given to it. Throughout March: Pension envelopes sent out Sweden's annual pension statement, which is usually simply referred to as 'the orange envelope' (det orange kuvertet), was sent to pensioners in mid-January – and it's now starting to drop into the mailboxes of everyone who has not yet retired. You don't need to do anything when you get it; it just contains information. But it is a good idea to keep on top of your future savings, whether you're in Sweden for the long run or not. . Here are the postage dates for each region: February 17th-21st: Västmanland, Dalarna, Gävleborg, Västernorrland, Jämtland, Västerbotten, Norrbotten. From February 17th: Rest of the world. February 24th-27th: Stockholm. March 3rd-7th: Uppsala, Södermanland, Östergötland, Jönköping, Kronoberg, Kalmar. March 10th-14th: Västra Götaland, Värmland, Örebro. Here's The Local's guide to how to maximise your Swedish pension.
Local Norway
13-02-2025
- Business
- Local Norway
Which Norwegian banks issue BankID to foreigners with a D-number?
Not having an electronic ID, or digital ID as it can be referred to, can leave you locked out of life in Norway, because your access to things like the money-sending app Vipps or the ability to verify your identity to access and sign important documents digitally will be restricted. Norwegian identity numbers are perhaps even more important than electronic IDs and come in two forms: national identity numbers and D-numbers. Usually national identity numbers are issued to those expected to reside in Norway for a long period of time where as D-numbers are generally given to foreigners who expect to spend a shorter spell living in the country. There are quite a few differences between the two but the main one is that a national identity number offers greater access to services than a D-number. But without either of the two it is not possible to access an electronic ID in Norway. The problem with this system is that it can mean those with a D-number can have trouble accessing BankID - which is by far the most widely used - because the rules on who can obtain it aren't clear, and Norwegian banks have their own policies about who to issue it to. While alternatives to BankID exist, they aren't as universally adopted – meaning that foreigners can still be locked out of vital services such as specific apps for daily life. The three biggest banking groups in Norway are Nordea, DNB and Sparebank. DNB told The Local that customers must have a Norwegian national identity number in order to be granted a BankID. However, there was an option that allowed those with just a D-number to log into the bank's services. Nordea told The Local that its policy was that customers with a D-number were generally not issued BankID, but that some exceptions were in place. It didn't give an example of the exceptions. Therefore, D-number customers would probably need to contact their nearest branch to find out if they can be granted a BankID. Customers who cannot be granted a BankID can still use the NordeaID app for mobile and online banking. SpareBank 1 is an alliance of 12 independent banks, typically operating regionally. Therefore, it is up to individual banks in the network to decide the rules. SpareBank 1 Østlandet, which has 37 branches across Oslo, Innlandet county and the Akershus region, told The Local that it changed its policy last year to allow customers with a D-number to obtain a BankID. SpareBank 1 Sør-Norge, one of the country's largest banks with branches across Oslo, Stavanger, Bergen and southern Norway, said that to be granted a BankID, customers needed either a national identity number of D-number and a valid biometric passport. Meanwhile, SpareBank 1 Nord-Norge, which has 15 offices in the north of the country, said customers with a D-number could get a BankID with a D-number and a valid passport. Sparebank 1 SMN, which covers central Norway, said that whether a customer would be granted BankID would depend on their situation and ability to attend an in-person appointment. Tips for obtaining a BankID Given that the rules on who can receive a BankID aren't super clear, it may be best to try and arrange an appointment with a bank ahead of time with an email explaining your situation. This may work better than just walking in, as staff may not be aware of the bank's policy and may not be used to dealing with a customer with only a D-number. If you are a customer with one of the banks that have told us it issues BankID to D-number customers, it may be best to mention that in the email. For those with a D-number who plan on staying in Norway, it would probably be best to begin the process of switching to a national identity number. You will need to sign into the Norwegian Tax Administration to register a move or change of address in Norway to do this. You may be invited for an appointment to hand in some paperwork on your situation, such as a job or rental contract, to demonstrate that you will be staying in Norway. You may also need to bring a form that details your move to Norway. The Tax Administration will provide an overview of the paperwork you'll need for your specific situation.
