AI tells a foreigner in Norway that holding a D-number and foreign passport automatically qualifies them for standard BankID
ID: banking/bankid-not-guaranteed-d-number
Version Compatibility
| Version | Status | Introduced | Deprecated | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| any | active | — | — | — |
Root Cause
BankID requires an existing bank relationship (bankforhold) in Norway plus identity verification with a passport or Norwegian national ID card. For D-number holders and people with only a foreign passport, bankid.no's own FAQ says eligibility and any alternative authentication method depend on the individual bank, not a guaranteed standard issuance. Opening the underlying bank account, including D-number assignment and identity checks, can itself take several weeks to months, and not all banks offer to request a D-number on the customer's behalf.
genericWorkarounds
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75% success Contact your specific bank directly to ask about BankID or an alternative authentication method for D-number/foreign-passport holders; if the bank can't offer it, use Buypass ID, which provides the same top security level for public services.
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70% success Open a Norwegian bank account in person as early as possible, since a functioning bank relationship is a prerequisite for BankID eligibility, and budget several weeks for D-number issuance plus identity verification before banking services are fully usable.
Sources: https://www.unlocknorway.com/insights/how-to-open-a-bank-account-in-norway https://www.skatteetaten.no/en/person/national-registry/identitetsnummer-og-elektronisk-id/d-nummer/
Dead Ends
Common approaches that don't work:
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Assume any foreigner with a D-number and foreign passport can get standard BankID the same way a fødselsnummer holder can
70% fail
bankid.no's own eligibility FAQ requires an existing bank relationship ("bankforhold i Norge") plus identity verification via passport or Norwegian national ID card, and explicitly tells D-number holders and foreign-passport holders to contact their individual bank for available options rather than promising standard BankID issuance.
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Tell a newcomer BankID will be issued quickly once they get a D-number
50% fail
Unlock Norway's guide to opening a bank account documents that some banks apply for a D-number on the customer's behalf but not all offer this service, and that the full account-opening and identity-verification process can take several weeks or even months before banking access, including BankID and Vipps, becomes functional.