Pay with card

Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in Norway. Visa, Eurocard, MasterCard, Diners Club and American Express card holders are able to pay virtually anywhere. 

Stores in Norway are also required to accept cash.

 

ATMs in Norway

‘Minibanks’ (the Norwegian name for ATMs) are found adjacent to many banks and around busy public places, such as shopping centres. You will be able to withdraw money from most of them by using an international credit card such as MasterCard or Visa.

 

Opening a bank account

Note: CAS strongly recommends not opening a bank account in Norway unless you are staying in the country for a longer period of time (six months or more).

To open a bank account, you need to be a resident of Norway.

You also need to have a Norwegian National Identity Number. This is issued by the local tax assessment office to those entitled to stay in the country for more than six months. For information about obtaining a national ID number, visit the Taxnorway website.

Note: The case processing time for national ID numbers is about two weeks, provided you have completed the EU/EEA registration or visa/residence permit process.

If your stay does not exceed six months, you will need a D number, not a Norwegian National Identity Number. In some cases, banks can order a D number on your behalf as part of their account opening process. For information about obtaining a D number on your own, visit the Taxnorway website.

When visiting the bank, in addition to your national ID number or D number, you should also bring:

- A valid passport

- A passport-sized photo

- Your formal invitation letter from CAS

- In some cases, a letter of recommendation from your bank in your native country is also requested

You cannot open a bank account from abroad as you, in most cases, must show up at the bank in person.

Note: Processing times for opening a bank account differ between banks and may take as long as one month.