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Do I need a Norwegian ID number to get a SIM card or a mobile plan?

Prepaid cards, monthly plans, ID rules and where to register.

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Short answer

A prepaid SIM card does not require a Norwegian ID number, since a passport is enough to register, but monthly plans usually involve a credit check. Operators need a Norwegian bank account for that check, according to the City of Oslo. Mycall accepts a passport, needs no BankID and does no credit check.

5G coverage and mobile in Norway a smartphone with a signal icon and a small SIM card, a Wi-Fi symbol above a fjord outline

Why

  1. The Norwegian Communications Authority (Nkom) says an ID document such as a passport, a national ID card or a driving licence is enough when you take out a subscription.
  2. Telia says that if you have no BankID or Norwegian personal number, you can buy a starter pack in one of its Telia shops.
  3. The City of Oslo says mobile providers check your credit history before they give you a monthly plan, and you need a Norwegian bank account for that check.

Details

Narvesen and 7-Eleven sell prepaid SIM cards, according to the City of Oslo. A Telia starter pack must be registered to the person who will use it before it works, either online with BankID or in a Telia shop. For a monthly plan, Ice says it needs your Norwegian national identity number (fødselsnummer) to run a credit check.

Tip

Without BankID, buy the SIM card where you can register it on the spot with your ID, for example in a Telia shop, rather than at a kiosk.

What may differ

With BankID from a Norwegian bank, you can register a Telia prepaid card online instead of in a shop.

People also ask

  • Can I get a SIM card without a personal number?
  • Can I get a mobile plan with a D number?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check with the operator before you buy a SIM card.

5G coverage and mobile in Norway

  • How much mobile data do I need for a trip to Norway?

    How much mobile data you need in Norway depends mostly on video, since one hour of Netflix in HD can use up to 3 GB.

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  • Does BankID work without a Norwegian SIM card?

    Yes, the BankID app works without a Norwegian SIM card and can be activated with a phone number from many countries, as long as your Norwegian bank has that number.

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  • How fast is the internet in Norway?

    Fixed internet in Norway averaged a download speed of 167 Mbit/s in 2025, according to Nkom's Nettfart measurements, and over 96 percent of households can get gigabit broadband.

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  • Is there Wi-Fi on trains, buses and ferries in Norway?

    Vy offers free Wi-Fi on its regional trains and most local trains, Vy Express has free Wi-Fi on most buses, and Hurtigruten has free Wi-Fi on all its ships.

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