Some public and private companies require a Norwegian identification number to access their services. With an identification number, you can, for example, open a bank account, get a general practitioner (fastlege) (external website), rent a place to live and pay taxes.  

We have two kinds of identification numbers in Norway: national identity numbers and D numbers. The Norwegian Tax Administration is responsible for the scheme with identification numbers in Norway (external website).

You can receive a D number when you need an identification number in Norway, but do not meet the criteria for being assigned a national identity number.

On the Norwegian Tax Administration's website you can find an overview of which authorities or businesses can request D numbers (external website).

If you are an asylum seeker, you will receive a D number when you arrive in Norway. You receive a D number from UDI or the Norwegian Immigration Service (PU) when you register.

If you are an EU/EEA citizen and come to Norway to work for less than six months, you will receive a D number when you apply to the Norwegian Tax Administration for a tax deduction card (external website).

If you have been granted a residence permit in Norway, but do not meet the conditions for obtaining a national identity number, you can obtain a D number from the Norwegian Tax Administration. You will receive your D number in a letter from the Norwegian Tax Administration about two weeks after you meet with the police to order your residence card.

If you need a D number and, for example, have applied for family immigration and you are waiting for a response to your application, you must contact someone other than UDI.

UDI is only allowed to request a D number for

• an asylum seeker who registers an application for protection
• other persons with a valid residence permit

On the Norwegian Tax Administration's website, you can See an overview of which authorities or businesses can request D numbers (external website).

The D number consists of 11 numbers.

The first six numbers show the date of birth, with the first number increased by 4. For example, if you were born on 01.01.85, the first numbers of your D number will be 410185.

If there is no available D number linked to your date of birth, the registration date (day and month) is used. For example: If your D number was ordered on 15.01.20, the first numbers of your D number will be 550185.

It is the Norwegian Tax Administration who assigns national identity numbers and D numbers. (external website)

UDI cannot change the national identity number or D number. If you get an identification number that is based on the registration date, your date of birth is still correctly registered in our records and in the National Population Register. This means that you do not need to contact UDI to correct the date of birth in our records.

You can log in and see your date of birth information in the National Population Register (external website), and you can change it if something is wrong.

Then you may be entitled to get a national identity number. 

The Norwegian Tax Administration assigns national identity numbers and decides whether you meet the conditions for being registered as a resident in Norway. If you are assigned a national identity number, you should use your national identity number instead of your D number (external website). 

Suppose you have been granted a residence permit for six months or more, and you think that you should have been registered as a resident in Norway and received a national identity number instead of a D number. In that case, you can report a move to Norway (external website).

A DUF number is not the same as a D number. The DUF number is your registration number in UDI’s registration system.