Bank accounts and working
Bank accounts and part-time work
Some students may wish to open a Norwegian bank account and/or get a part-time job during their stay in Norway. To do either, there are some considerations you must take into account, including the length of your stay, your nationality and whether or not you have a national ID number. Read more below.
In order to open a bank account in Norway, you must have either of the two Norwegian ID numbers (National ID number or D number). If you have neither of these, you will not be able to open an account in Norway.
Students who have received a National Identity number (personnummer) can open a bank account and access all bank services, including creating a security deposit account for housing rental.
Students who have received a D number can open a bank account and access most basic bank services (managing accounts, using a card and online banking). However, some services, such as creating a security deposit account, are restricted.
Generally, EU/EEA citizens staying in Norway for less than six months will not be able to open a bank account in Norway, but they normally don't need to. Most EU/EEA citizens should be able to use the a debit/credit from their home country while in Norway.
For more information on how to open a Norwegian bank account with a D number or National Identity number and to check which services are available, please visit your local bank.
For more information about DNB Bank, see https://www.dnb.no/en/customer-loyalty-programme/become-customer/new-to-norway (external link)
For more information about Sparebank, see https://www.sparebank1.no/en/smn/personal/new-customer.html (external link)
Some international students choose to work while studying in Norway.
EU/EEA citizens have no restrictions on their ability to work, as long as it does not interfere with their studies.
Non-EU/EEA citizens can usually work up to 20 hours a week during the semester, and full time during the holidays (e.g. during the summer/winter break). If you are granted a study permit in Norway, the permit includes permission to work part-time. You are not allowed to be self-employed or run a business in Norway while on a study permit.
Everyone working in Norway is required to apply for a tax deduction card through the Tax Administration Office (Skatteetaten). If you don't already have an ID or D number (see above), the Tax Administration Office can request one for you when you apply for the tax deduction card.
More information about the tax deduction card can be found on this page.