How to become a bank customer in Norway

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Newly arrived in Norway? Here you will find all the information you need to become a bank customer in DNB.

Book a meeting with us

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You can book a meeting in a branch and an adviser will help you with various tasks.

 

» Book a meeting

Become a customer in DNB

If you have a valid passport

Verify your identity at your nearest bank office 
If you have a valid passport, you must use it to verify your identity at your local DNB office once you have sent us your application to become a customer.

In addition, we need
  • your ‘card for asylum seeker’ or residence permit
  • your D number (temporary identification number)
Your banking services
For refugees and asylum seekers who have a passport, we offer a current account, online bank access and a bank card. If you have a passport, you will be able to carry out international transactions and shop online.


If you don’t have a valid passport

Verify your identity at your nearest bank office
Becoming a bank customer without a valid passport is only possible for asylum seekers and refugees.

First, send us an application to become a customer. Once you have done that, you can go to your local DNB office to verify your identity using
  • your ‘card for asylum seeker’ or residence permit 
  • your D number (temporary identification number)
  • other proof of identity, such as a driving licence, bank card with photo or national ID card, or other documentation that may prove your identity
Your banking services
For refugees and asylum seekers who do not have a passport, we offer a current account, online bank access and a bank card. Please note that without a passport, you will not be able to use the card online or carry out international transactions. In some cases, you may nevertheless be allowed to carry out international transactions.


If you have BankID

If you already have BankID from another Norwegian bank and are over the age of 18, you can quickly and easily move your customer relationship to DNB.

 

It is important for us to know our customers

As a bank in Norway, DNB has a duty to help prevent financial crime. To be able to do this, we need to know our customers, so that we can be sure that they are who they claim to be. We therefore need you to provide a valid proof of identity (ID) when you want to become a customer.

Refugees and asylum seekers without proof of identity (ID)

Having access to banking services is essential for being able to take part in society. Refugees and asylum seekers who don’t have a passport or other valid ID that is normally required, may still have the opportunity to become a DNB customer by submitting an application form.

Proving your identity

To become a customer of a bank in Norway you need to be able to prove that you are who you say you are. You do this by presenting valid proof of identity and/or documentation at your local DNB branch office. Please bring an interpreter if you’re not able to communicate in Norwegian or English.
 

If you have recently arrived in in Norway, you need a D number

We have two types of identification numbers in Norway: a national identity number and a temporary identification number, called the ‘D number’. The D number is used in connection with public and private services, such as paying taxes, getting a job, registering with a doctor (GP), renting or buying a home, or becoming a bank customer.



How to get a D number

  • If you are an EU/EEA national coming to Norway to work for less than six months, you will receive a D number when you apply for a tax deduction card from the Norwegian Tax Administration (external website).
  • If you have been granted a residence permit in Norway, you will receive your D number in a letter from the Norwegian Tax Administration about two weeks after your meeting with the police to order a residence card.
  • If you are an asylum seeker, you will receive a D number when you arrive in Norway. You will receive your D number from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) or the National Police Immigration Service (PU) when you register as an asylum seeker.
  • Refugees who come to a National Arrivals Centre will be given help with registering and obtaining a D number. Refugees who arrive in Norway without being received at a National Arrivals Centre must contact the local police in order to register and obtain a D number.

    The police need ID documents for sending to the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). Once the UDI has received the application from the police, the applicant will receive a confirmation by email. Sometimes additional checks must be made, in which case the local police may send the application to the National Police Immigration Service. As an applicant, you will be notified if more information is needed.

FAQ

What is a ‘card for asylum seeker’ and how do I get it?

You will receive a ‘card for asylum seeker’ when you apply for protection (asylum) in Norway. The card confirms that you are allowed to stay in Norway while your application is being processed.

Asylum-seeker cards are issued by the police. It’s therefore important that you contact the police when you arrive in Norway.

A ‘card for asylum seeker’ is one of the things we ask for in the bank when you apply to become a customer.

How do I get a residence card?

A residence card is proof that you have a residence permit in Norway. You’ll get a residence card once you’ve applied for asylum and your application for residency has been processed and approved.

The residence card is a plastic card the size of a bank card. In the bank, we’ll ask to see this card when you apply to become a customer.

How long does it take to become a DNB customer if you have recently arrived in Norway?

It may take up to 4–6 weeks to become a customer if you have recently arrived in Norway and need to verify your identity at your local DNB office. You start by filling out an application form for becoming a customer. We'll contact you by email within three business days of receiving your application, giving you information about what will happen next.

If you already have BankID from another Norwegian bank, you can become a DNB right away – quickly and easily.