Best No-Annual-Fee Credit Cards for International Students in Norway

The best no-annual-fee credit cards for international students in Norway can provide payment flexibility, travel insurance, cashback or shopping discounts without charging a fixed yearly card fee.

However, “no annual fee” does not mean that a credit card is completely free. Interest, currency conversion markups, cash withdrawal charges and late-payment fees can still make the card expensive.

The strongest options currently include Bank Norwegian, DNB Mastercard, re Black, Morrow Bank, TF Bank Mastercard and Resurs Gold.

Best No-Annual-Fee Cards in Norway: Quick Picks

1. Bank Norwegian: Best for simple cashback and travel rewards.
2. DNB Mastercard: Best for students already banking with DNB.
3. Re Black: Best for online shopping discounts.
4. Morrow Bank: Best for included insurance benefits.
5. TF Bank Mastercard: Best for fee-free international purchases.
6. Resurs Gold: Best for reward points and longer payment periods.

These are ordinary Norwegian credit cards, not guaranteed student products. Every issuer may reject an application after evaluating the applicant’s income, debt and repayment capacity.

Best No-Annual-Fee Credit Cards for International Students in Norway

1. Bank Norwegian Credit Card

Bank Norwegian is one of the strongest general-purpose credit cards without an annual fee.

Its current benefits include:

• Annual fee of NOK 0.
• Up to 45 interest-free days.
• Credit limits of up to NOK 150,000, depending on approval.
• Cashback or Norwegian CashPoints.
• Supplementary travel and cancellation insurance.
• No fee on ordinary card purchases.

The card’s representative example shows an effective interest rate of 24.4% when NOK 15,000 is repaid over 12 months. This demonstrates why students should pay the complete invoice rather than carry a balance.

Applicants must be adults, have no payment remarks and pass an individual assessment based on factors such as income and existing debt.

Best for: Students with documented income who want flexible cashback or airline rewards.

2. DNB Mastercard

DNB Mastercard is available without requiring membership in one of DNB’s premium customer programmes.

Published features include:

• No annual fee.
• No fee on ordinary purchases.
• Up to 45 interest-free days.
• Supplementary travel insurance.
• Discounts on fuel and electric-vehicle charging.
• Access to mobile payment services.

The included travel insurance generally becomes active when at least half of the trip’s transportation costs are paid using the card. It can cover the cardholder’s household or up to three travelling companions, subject to the insurance terms.

DNB also offers an Ung customer programme for younger customers, but approval for Mastercard still depends on a credit assessment.

Best for: International students who already receive salary and manage everyday banking through DNB.

3. Re Black

Re Black is a no-annual-fee Mastercard aimed at customers who shop online or travel regularly.

Current features include:

• Annual fee of NOK 0.
• Up to 45 interest-free days.
• Discounts of up to 20% at more than 200 participating online stores.
• Supplementary travel and cancellation insurance.
• No fee for electronic invoices or additional cards.
• Support for Apple Pay, Google Pay, Garmin Pay and Vipps.

Travel insurance applies when at least 50% of the trip’s transportation costs are paid using the card.

Applicants must:

• Be at least 18.
• Have fixed income.
• Pass an individual credit assessment.

Re currently lists a 2% foreign-currency markup and a representative effective interest rate of 29.89%.

Best for: Students with regular income who frequently shop through participating online retailers.

4. Morrow Bank Credit Card

Morrow Bank offers a Mastercard with no annual fee and several included insurance benefits.

Its published features include:

• Annual fee of NOK 0.
• Up to 50 interest-free days.
• No issuer fee on ordinary purchases.
• Travel and cancellation insurance.
• Purchase insurance.
• Identity-theft protection.
• Credit limit of up to NOK 100,000, depending on approval.

To apply, students must:

• Be at least 20.
• Be registered as residents in Norway.
• Have no active payment remarks.
• Sign the application using BankID.
• Pass a credit assessment.

Morrow Bank currently lists a nominal annual purchase interest rate of 24.9%.

Best for: Students aged 20 or older who have completed Norwegian population registration and want insurance benefits.

5. TF Bank Mastercard

TF Bank Mastercard is another Norwegian credit card with no annual fee.

Its main benefits include:

• Annual fee of NOK 0.
• Up to 43 interest-free days.
• No fee for ordinary purchases in Norway or abroad.
• Supplementary travel and cancellation insurance.
• Access to shopping and travel benefits.
• International Mastercard acceptance.

TF Bank notes that foreign purchases can still include a currency conversion markup even when no separate purchase fee is charged.

Applicants must meet the bank’s minimum conditions and pass a credit assessment. The provider does not guarantee approval based only on age or student status.

Best for: Students who travel or make frequent purchases from foreign online stores.

6. Resurs Gold

Resurs Gold combines a zero annual fee with a points programme.

Published benefits include:

• Annual fee of NOK 0.
• Credit limit of up to NOK 75,000.
• Up to 60 interest-free days.
• One reward point for each NOK spent.
• Access to a points store offering gift cards, products and travel.
• Supplementary family travel insurance when its payment conditions are met.
• A foreign-currency markup of 1.95%.

Applicants must:

• Be at least 20.
• Have fixed income.
• Be registered as residents in Norway.
• Have no payment remarks.
• Use BankID and pass a credit assessment.

Best for: Students aged 20 or older who prefer points and gift cards over direct cashback.

Credit Card Requirements for International Students

Norwegian credit card providers typically assess:

• Age and identity.
• Norwegian population registration.
• Regular and documented income.
• Existing loans and credit limits.
• Housing and living expenses.
• Payment remarks and collection cases.
• Overall ability to repay.

Norwegian identification is generally needed to open a local bank account. International students with study permits lasting more than nine months are normally registered as residents and receive a national identity number.

Norwegian lenders must assess creditworthiness and reject applications when repayment appears unlikely.

Does a Zero Annual Fee Mean the Card Is Free?

No. Check these costs before applying:

• Nominal and effective interest rate.
• Foreign-currency markup.
• ATM withdrawal charge.
• Interest starting immediately on cash withdrawals.
• Paper invoice fee.
• Balance-transfer charge.
• Late-payment and collection fees.

A card with no annual fee can still become expensive if the balance is not paid in full.

How to Choose the Best Card

Choose Bank Norwegian if you want straightforward cashback or CashPoints.

Choose DNB Mastercard if DNB is already your main Norwegian bank.

Choose Re Black if you regularly use its participating online stores.

Choose Morrow Bank if purchase and travel insurance are priorities.

Choose TF Bank Mastercard if you frequently make international purchases.

Choose Resurs Gold if you prefer points, gift cards and a longer interest-free period.

How to Use a No-Annual-Fee Card Safely

Follow these rules:

1. Pay the full invoice every month.
2. Request a modest initial credit limit.
3. Avoid withdrawing cash with the card.
4. Use electronic invoices when available.
5. Never spend extra simply to earn rewards.
6. Check the foreign-currency markup before travelling.
7. Avoid submitting several applications at once.
8. Review your registered unsecured debt before applying.

Norway’s Debt Register contains information about unsecured consumer credit, including credit card limits and balances, which lenders can use during an application assessment.

Final Verdict

Bank Norwegian is the best overall no-annual-fee option for eligible international students because it combines cashback, CashPoints and travel insurance.

DNB Mastercard is a practical choice for existing DNB customers, while Re Black is stronger for online discounts. Morrow Bank and Resurs Gold can suit students aged 20 or older who have fixed income and registered Norwegian residence.

Students without regular income should use a debit card rather than depending on credit for rent, food or other essential expenses.

Official Sources

• Bank Norwegian Credit Card
• DNB Mastercard
• DNB Mastercard Travel Insurance
• Re Black
• Morrow Bank Credit Card
• TF Bank Mastercard
• Resurs Gold Credit Card
• Norwegian Tax Administration – International Students
• Norwegian Debt Register