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Can tourists use Vipps in Norway?

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No, in most cases you can’t. To register for Vipps you need a Norwegian national ID number or D-number, BankID, a Norwegian phone number, an account in a Norwegian bank and a card issued by a Norwegian bank. The good news: you don’t need it. Most shop payments in Norway are made by card, and staffed shops must accept cash.

Updated 26 September 2026 · Checked against Vipps MobilePay terms (version 1.39, in force from 1 July 2026), Norges Bank and the Norwegian Consumer Authority · By Ksenia

Key facts

  • Who can register for Vipps? Age 15+, Norwegian national ID number or D-number, BankID, Norwegian phone number, an account in a Norwegian bank and a card from a Norwegian bank. Source: Vipps MobilePay terms for private users, v1.39, 1 July 2026.
  • Does Vipps charge for paying in shops? No fee for payments to businesses. Source: vipps.no, prices for private users, checked 26.09.2026.
  • How do people pay in Norwegian shops? Cards 59 %, mobile phone 37 %, cash 3 % (spring 2026 survey). Source: Norges Bank, Retail payment services 2025.
  • Must shops accept cash? Yes – staffed shops at a permanent location, for amounts up to NOK 20,000. Exceptions: vending machines, fully self-service shops, public transport, taxes and fines. Source: Forbrukertilsynet, page updated 3 February 2026.
  • Oslo buses and trams: buy tickets in the Ruter app, online, or at Narvesen, 7-Eleven and Mix kiosks. On board buses and boats: cash only, no notes above NOK 200. Source: ruter.no, checked 26.09.2026.
Paying with the Vipps app in a Norwegian café. Vipps requires a Norwegian ID number, BankID and a Norwegian bank account.

What is Vipps?

Vipps is Norway’s mobile payment app, run by Vipps MobilePay AS in Oslo. Norwegians use it to pay in shops and online and to send money to each other. Payments to businesses are free for the user.

Why can’t a tourist sign up?

The Vipps terms (section 2.3) list the requirements. You must:

  • be at least 15 years old;
  • have a Norwegian national ID number, or a D-number if your bank offers BankID with a D-number;
  • confirm your identity with BankID;
  • use a device with a Norwegian phone number;
  • have an account in a Norwegian bank and at least one personal debit or credit card issued by a Norwegian bank;
  • have a valid email address.

A foreign phone number or a foreign bank card is not enough.

How to pay in Norway without Vipps

  • Bank card. Card terminals are the most common way to pay in Norwegian shops: 59 % of payments in spring 2026 (Norges Bank). Before you travel, ask your bank about fees for payments abroad.
  • Phone wallet. If your bank supports Apple Pay or Google Pay, you can pay at card terminals with your phone. You use your own card, not Vipps.
  • Cash. Cash is only 3 % of shop payments, but you have a right to use it. Since 1 October 2024 staffed shops at a permanent location must accept cash for amounts up to NOK 20,000 (Forbrukertilsynet).

What if a place only shows a Vipps QR code?

Small sellers, such as market stalls, flea markets and farm shops, sometimes show only a Vipps QR code. Ask whether you can pay by card. If the seller has a staffed permanent shop, you may also pay in cash. Carry a small amount of cash for such cases.

Public transport and parking

  • Oslo (Ruter): buy tickets in the Ruter app, in the online shop, or at Narvesen, 7-Eleven and Mix kiosks. You can buy a single ticket on board buses and boats, but only for cash, and notes above NOK 200 are not accepted.
  • Parking: the payment methods are shown on the sign or the machine at each car park. Many operators use their own apps. Read more in our guide Parking in Norway.

Living or working in Norway?

If you move to Norway, you can get Vipps once you have a Norwegian bank account and BankID. With a D-number, it depends on whether your bank offers BankID for D-number holders – ask the bank. How to open an account: Bank account for foreigners.

Quick answers

Can I use Vipps with a foreign phone number? No. The terms require a device with a Norwegian phone number.

Can I add my foreign Visa or Mastercard to Vipps? No. You need a card issued by a Norwegian bank.

Do I need cash in Norway? Usually not – cards work almost everywhere. Carry a little cash for small sellers and for buying a ticket on board an Oslo bus or boat.

Does Vipps cost anything? Paying businesses is free. Sending more than NOK 5,000 to one person within 24 hours costs 1 % of the amount (vipps.no). See also: entry, bank accounts and moving to Norway. See also: Ruter tickets and zones. See also: free money-saving apps. Find addresses and contact details in our list of car parks in Oslo.

A smartphone with the Vipps app in front of traditional Norwegian wooden houses.

More on NorgeGuide

Sources (checked 26 September 2026)

Ksenia
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Ksenia

Post: I write about Norway — simply, clearly, and with respect for the details.

I’m 33 years old, and I’m one of the contributors to the Norway travel guide. I write for those who want to understand the country more deeply — not just what …

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2 comments

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  • E
    Eric
    Super nyttig guide! 📱 Betaling med VIPPS uten lokal bankkonto høres nesten for godt ut til å være sant, men dere forklarer det så enkelt.
    Er det noe man bør være forsiktig med når man bruker VIPPS som turist — for eksempel grenser eller avgifter? 💡
  • J
    Jakson
    Dette er virkelig en nyttig guide for alle som besøker Norge! Det er beroligende å vite at Vipps har en vennlig og hjelpsom kundeservice som snakker engelsk, slik at man raskt kan få løst problemer. Jeg synes det er flott at appen fungerer med internasjonale kort, selv uten norsk bankkonto, noe som gjør betaling og shopping veldig enkelt. Tipsene gjør det klart hvor praktisk Vipps er for turister, og gir trygghet for de som kanskje ikke er kjent med systemet fra før. Alt i alt virker dette som en enkel og smart løsning for daglige betalinger og små kjøp.
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