Best Starter Credit Cards for New International Students in Norway

Best Starter Credit Cards for New International Students in Norway 

Finding the best starter credit cards for new international students in Norway can be difficult. Norwegian banks do not usually offer guaranteed student credit cards, and newly arrived students may have limited local income, tax data or financial records.

For most newcomers, the sensible route is to open a Norwegian bank account, obtain BankID, receive regular income and then apply for a card with a modest credit limit. The most relevant options include SpareBank 1 Mastercard Ung, DNB Mastercard, Bank Norwegian and TF Bank Mastercard.

Last updated: July 2026

Best Starter Credit Cards in Norway: Quick Picks

1. SpareBank 1 Mastercard Ung: Best student-oriented option for applicants aged 18–34.
2. DNB Mastercard: Best simple card with no annual fee.
3. Bank Norwegian: Best for cashback and travel benefits.
4. TF Bank Mastercard: Best for international purchases and shopping discounts.

These are unsecured credit cards. None guarantees approval based solely on student status.

Can New International Students Get a Credit Card in Norway?

Yes, but many students will not qualify immediately after arriving.

Finance Norway explains that basic banking services—such as an account, debit card and online banking—are generally available to people living in Norway regardless of citizenship. Credit cards and BankID are additional services that banks may provide only after completing a risk-based assessment.

Card issuers commonly examine:

• Norwegian identity and residence information.
• Employment and documented income.
• Existing loans and credit limits.
• Monthly housing and living expenses.
• Active collection cases.
• Payment remarks.
• Overall repayment capacity.

Students relying entirely on savings, scholarships or family transfers may find it harder to demonstrate stable repayment income.

Best Starter Credit Cards for New International Students in Norway

1. SpareBank 1 Mastercard Ung — Best Overall Starter Card

SpareBank 1 Mastercard Ung is one of the clearest youth-oriented credit cards available in Norway.

Applicants must:

• Be between 18 and 34 years old.
• Have a Norwegian national identity number.
• Have no registered payment remarks.
• Pass the bank’s credit assessment.

The card is specifically presented to younger customers, including people getting their first credit card. It also offers a 20% discount on qualifying streaming subscriptions, limited to NOK 500 annually.

Travel insurance is included when at least 50% of the trip’s eligible transportation costs are paid with the card, subject to the insurance conditions.

Why it suits beginners: Its age range, first-card guidance and youth benefits make it more relevant than premium cards aimed at established earners.

Main limitation: A D number alone may not be enough because the published conditions require a Norwegian national identity number.

2. DNB Mastercard — Best Simple No-Annual-Fee Card

DNB Mastercard is a straightforward option for students who already use DNB as their main Norwegian bank.

Published features include:

• No annual fee.
• Fee-free ordinary purchases.
• Up to 45 interest-free days.
• Supplementary travel insurance.
• Discounts on qualifying fuel and charging purchases.

Travel insurance is activated when at least 50% of the trip’s transportation expenses are paid with the card. It can cover the cardholder’s household or up to three travelling companions under the policy conditions.

Why it suits beginners: It has no annual fee and does not require students to manage a complicated rewards system.

Main limitation: DNB does not advertise guaranteed student approval. The bank must still decide that the applicant can manage the requested credit.

3. Bank Norwegian — Best for Cashback and Travel

Bank Norwegian combines a zero annual fee with rewards and travel benefits.

Its current features include:

• No annual fee.
• Up to 45 interest-free days.
• Cashback or Norwegian CashPoints.
• Supplementary travel and cancellation insurance.
• The ability to reduce the offered credit limit before accepting it.

The card currently earns 0.5% cashback or CashPoints on eligible purchases. Applicants must be over 18, have no payment remarks and pass a credit assessment. The application process uses BankID to authorise access to income and debt information from Norwegian public records.

Bank Norwegian also states that applicants need stable and documented income and must not have outstanding collection cases.

Why it suits beginners: Students can choose a lower credit limit and receive rewards without paying an annual fee.

Main limitation: It is more realistic after the student has established Norwegian income and BankID.

4. TF Bank Mastercard — Best for International Purchases

TF Bank Mastercard can be useful for students who shop online or travel outside Norway.

Published features include:

• No annual fee.
• Up to 43 interest-free days.
• Fee-free card purchases worldwide.
• Travel and cancellation insurance.
• Identity-theft insurance.
• A benefits programme offering discounts of up to 30%.

Applicants must:

• Be at least 18.
• Have a permanent and registered address in Norway.
• Have no active collection cases.
• Have no payment remarks.
• Pass a credit assessment.

“Fee-free worldwide use” does not necessarily mean there is no currency conversion markup, so students should review the complete price list before using the card abroad.

Why it suits beginners: It has no annual fee and clearly publishes its basic residence and payment-history conditions.

Main limitation: Newly arrived exchange students who are not registered as residents will not meet its published requirements.

What New Students Need Before Applying

Norwegian National Identity Number

International students with a study permit lasting more than nine months are generally registered as residents and receive a Norwegian national identity number. Shorter-term students may receive different instructions or a D number.

A national identity number improves access to banking services but does not guarantee credit approval.

Norwegian Bank Account

Banks usually request:

• A valid passport or accepted identity document.
• Norwegian identification number.
• Residence documentation.
• University enrolment confirmation.
• Proof of address.
• Information about the source and expected use of funds.

Basic banking services may be available before credit, so students should first obtain an account and debit card.

BankID

Most online credit card applications and agreements require BankID. Banks apply stricter identification requirements to BankID and credit products than to basic bank accounts.

Stable Income

A part-time salary can improve approval chances when it is regular and documented. Re, for example, lists fixed income, minimum age of 18 and no payment remarks among its basic credit card requirements.

How Much Credit Should a Student Request?

A new student should normally begin with a modest limit, such as NOK 5,000–15,000, rather than accepting the highest amount offered.

A smaller limit can:

• Reduce the risk of overspending.
• Make the monthly invoice easier to repay.
• Limit potential interest charges.
• Reduce the amount of available unsecured credit.

Norway’s Debt Register helps lenders see how much unsecured credit and consumer debt an applicant already has.

How to Improve Your Approval Chances

Before applying:

1. Complete your Norwegian population registration.
2. Open a local bank account.
3. Obtain BankID.
4. Receive salary into your Norwegian account.
5. Wait until your income can be documented.
6. Pay every invoice before its deadline.
7. Check for incorrect debt or payment information.
8. Apply to your main bank first.
9. Request a low credit limit.
10. Avoid submitting several applications simultaneously.

Should New Students Use a Debit Card First?

For most newly arrived international students, yes.

A debit card provides:

• In-store and online payments.
• ATM access.
• Mobile payments.
• No interest-bearing debt.
• Easier approval than a credit card.

Using a debit card for several months while establishing income is safer than applying repeatedly for credit or using expensive instalment services.

Final Verdict

SpareBank 1 Mastercard Ung is the most student-oriented starter card for eligible applicants aged 18–34 with a Norwegian national identity number.

DNB Mastercard is the strongest simple option for existing DNB customers, while Bank Norwegian provides better cashback and travel rewards for students with documented income. TF Bank Mastercard is useful for registered residents who make frequent international purchases.

Students without Norwegian income, BankID or full population registration should begin with a debit card and apply for credit only when they can repay the complete monthly balance.

Official Sources

• Norwegian Tax Administration – International Students
• Finance Norway – Opening a Bank Account in Norway
• SpareBank 1 Mastercard Ung
• DNB Mastercard
• Bank Norwegian Credit Card
• Bank Norwegian Application Requirements
• TF Bank Mastercard
• Norwegian Debt Register