How do you get a tax card in Norway in 2026?

Finish identity work first. You usually need a D-nummer or fødselsnummer before Skatteetaten can attach a skattekort. If you have no number yet, book an ID check and bring completed RF-1209 to the appointment. Employers can also start the request for you, which is common when HR knows the foreign-worker path.

Skatteetaten states that most foreign workers receive a skattekort under kildeskatt på lønn. Leaving that scheme for ordinary tax is optional and often irreversible for the rest of the income year, so read the live guidance before you opt out. Cards are often ready within about five working days after a clean application.

Open or prepare a Norwegian bank account so net pay has somewhere to land, and plan BankID for later digital tax changes: Paperwork after moving.

Payroll often withholds at a high default rate until the card appears. Fix that before or during your first week on payroll, not after the third payslip surprises you. Keep employment contracts and passport spellings identical across UDI and Skatteetaten files: Apply for a residence permit.