Best Checking Accounts for International Students in Norway
The best checking accounts for international students in Norway offer low fees, a Norwegian account number, a debit card and reliable mobile banking. However, newly arrived students must also consider whether the bank accepts foreign passports, D numbers and applications without an existing BankID.
In Norway, a checking account is normally called a current account, payment account or brukskonto. It can be used to receive salary or scholarship payments, pay rent, set up direct debits and make everyday card purchases.
Best Checking Accounts for International Students in Norway
1. Nordea Student Account: Best Overall Value
Nordea offers a student banking package for customers aged 18 to 33 who are students, apprentices or completing national service.
Eligible students receive the Min dagligbank package without the standard monthly charge. It includes a current account, one student debit card and access to common digital banking services. Registered student customers also receive priority when contacting customer service.
The student debit card currently includes:
- No annual card fee
- Free purchases in Norway
- Free purchases abroad
- Free ATM withdrawals in Norway
- Free ATM withdrawals abroad
- Free cash withdrawals at Nordea ATMs
A 2% foreign-currency surcharge still applies to payments and withdrawals made in currencies other than Norwegian kroner. ATM operators may also impose their own fees.
New customers who already have a Norwegian BankID can open the standard Nordea package online. International students without BankID should contact Nordea directly to ask about manual identification and foreign-passport onboarding before relying on this option.
Best for: Students aged 18–33 who qualify for Nordea’s student package and want to minimize everyday banking and ATM fees.
2. SpareBank 1 Østlandet Studentkonto: Best Regional Student Account
SpareBank 1 Østlandet offers a dedicated Studentkonto for customers aged 18 through 33.
The account provides:
- No annual fee for the student debit card
- Free mobile banking
- Free SMS notifications
- Access to ordinary payment services
- Student conditions until studies end or the customer turns 34
The account is also available to apprentices and people completing military or civilian service. After the student benefit ends, it automatically converts back into a standard current account.
To register for Studentkonto, you must first be a SpareBank 1 Østlandet customer and have an ordinary current account. Its standard online customer process uses BankID, so newly arrived international students may need a different onboarding route.
SpareBank 1 consists of several regional banks, and their account fees, student packages and foreign-customer procedures are not identical. Apply to the regional bank operating where you study or live.
Best for: Students living in Eastern Norway who are eligible for the student package and want a free debit card.
3. DNB Current Account: Best for Newcomer Support
DNB is a practical first-bank option for international students because it publishes a dedicated process for people who are new to Norway and do not yet have BankID.
A student with a valid foreign passport generally needs:
- A Norwegian D number
- A residence permit or equivalent document
- An online customer application
- An in-person identity check at a DNB branch
DNB states that it can take up to four to six weeks to become a customer when branch identification is required. Applicants who already have BankID from another Norwegian bank can usually complete the process much faster.
Opening the customer relationship and creating accounts at DNB is free, and customers may create multiple accounts without an account-opening charge. A debit card must be ordered separately and may carry an annual fee based on the customer program and card selected.
DNB’s Ung customer program is intended for people aged 18–28. International students should ask whether they qualify for its current card conditions after their customer application is approved.
Best for: Newly arrived students who need a major Norwegian bank with a clearly published application process for customers without BankID.
4. SpareBank 1 SMN Current Account: Best for Foreign-Passport Applications
SpareBank 1 SMN serves Central Norway and provides a clear onboarding process for customers holding foreign passports.
Applicants begin by completing an electronic form. The bank then invites the applicant to a branch to sign the account agreements and present identification.
Accepted supporting documents may include:
- Current passport
- EU identity card
- Norwegian residence permit
- Registration certificate
- Employment contract
After the agreements have been signed, SpareBank 1 SMN states that the account is normally opened within one week. The debit card can be mailed or collected at a branch.
Under the bank’s standard price list, a Visa debit card costs:
- NOK 275 annually without an identification function
- NOK 325 annually with an identification function
- NOK 10 for an ATM withdrawal in Norway
- NOK 35 for a cash withdrawal abroad
Purchases in Norway and abroad do not carry a separate transaction fee, although currency-conversion costs may still apply. Student or young-customer conditions could differ from these standard prices.
Best for: Students in Trondheim and Central Norway who have a foreign passport and need branch-assisted account opening.
5. Sbanken Current Account: Best After Getting BankID
Sbanken offers a digital current account with no account-opening or monthly maintenance fee. Customers can create several current accounts in its app and use them for salary, bills or everyday spending.
Its debit card currently costs NOK 295 per year and includes:
- Free purchases in Norway and abroad
- No Sbanken fee for ATM withdrawals
- Mobile-wallet support
- A 1.99% foreign-currency surcharge
The ATM owner may charge an additional withdrawal fee.
The main disadvantage for newly arrived students is that becoming an Sbanken customer requires an existing Norwegian BankID. It is therefore more suitable as a second account after another Norwegian bank has completed your identification.
Best for: Students who already have BankID and prefer app-based banking with a low foreign-currency markup.
Documents Usually Required
International students should normally prepare:
- Valid passport
- Norwegian national identity number or D number
- Residence permit or residence card
- Norwegian residential and postal address
- University admission or enrollment certificate
- Foreign tax identification number
- Information about tax residence
- Norwegian mobile number and email address
- Evidence of scholarship, employment or financial support
Banks may ask additional questions about expected deposits, international transfers and the source of your money. D-number customers can also be required to provide their foreign TIN and home-country address.
What Should Students Compare?
Before opening an account, check:
- Monthly account fee
- Annual debit-card fee
- Student age limit
- BankID requirements
- Foreign-passport acceptance
- ATM withdrawal charges
- Foreign-currency markup
- International transfer fees
- Availability of nearby branches
- Fee applied when student eligibility ends
A free student card may save more money than a free account that charges for every ATM withdrawal.
Final Verdict
Nordea Student offers the strongest overall value for eligible students aged 18–33 because its account package and debit card are free and ordinary ATM withdrawals carry no Nordea fee.
For a newly arrived student without BankID, DNB or a suitable regional SpareBank 1 may be more practical because they publish branch-based foreign-customer procedures.
After obtaining BankID, Sbanken becomes a strong digital alternative, especially for students who value app-based banking and a relatively low foreign-currency surcharge.
Official Sources
- Nordea: Student banking benefits and eligibility.
- Nordea: Student debit-card fees and foreign-currency charges.
- SpareBank 1 Østlandet: Studentkonto features and age conditions.
- DNB: Account opening for people who are new to Norway.
- SpareBank 1 SMN: Application process for customers with a foreign passport.
- SpareBank 1 SMN: Current debit-card prices.
- Sbanken: Current-account and debit-card pricing.
