How the purpose-bound Norwegian politiattest works, and what foreign police certificates Norwegian authorities expect from you.
Overview
Norway's police certificate of conduct (politiattest) is issued by the Norwegian police (Politiet) and applied for online at attest.politiet.no, or by post using the police's application form. A defining feature of the Norwegian system is that the certificate is purpose-bound: you cannot order a generic certificate — you must state the legal purpose (work, studies, a voluntary organisation, Norwegian citizenship, and so on), and the purpose determines which type of certificate is issued and which offences appear on it. The Police Register Act (politiregisterloven) defines several certificate types: the ordinary certificate (ordinær politiattest) with time-limited disclosure, the exhaustive certificate (uttømmende politiattest) with no time limits, and the child-care certificate (barneomsorgsattest) for roles involving minors. Processing normally takes 14 days from complete documentation, and the certificate is delivered by post or to your digital mailbox — never by e-mail. Inbound migrants should plan for the mirror-image requirement: Norwegian authorities commonly require police certificates from other countries you have lived in, translated and authenticated. Verified against politiet.no as of June 2026.
Applying for a Norwegian Politiattest
- Online: Apply at attest.politiet.no, logging in with a Norwegian electronic ID (ID-porten). After submitting you receive an e-mail with a case number, and you can log back in to check status and upload documentation.
- State the purpose: You must select the purpose for which the certificate is required (e.g. employment in healthcare, working with children, studies, Norwegian citizenship). The purpose must have a legal basis — the police publish the full list of accepted purposes — and you typically need confirmation from the employer/organisation requesting the certificate.
- By post: If you cannot use electronic ID, the police provide a paper application form (available in English on politiet.no) to send by post with a copy of valid ID.
- Processing time: Normally 14 days from the time all necessary documentation has been received; longer in high-volume periods.
- Delivery: By post or digital post only (Digipost, e-Boks, or Altinn inbox) — the police never send the certificate by e-mail. If you have a digital mailbox, both certificates and rejection letters go there.
- Appeals: If your application is rejected or you disagree with the content, the politiet.no application pages include a submit-an-appeal step.
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See Paid Plans →Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a Norwegian police certificate of conduct in 2026?
Apply online at attest.politiet.no using a Norwegian electronic ID through ID-porten. You select the purpose the certificate is needed for, upload any required confirmation from the requesting employer or organisation, and submit. You receive an e-mail with a case number confirming receipt, and you can log in afterwards to track status or add documentation. If you cannot use electronic ID, politiet.no provides a paper application form (also in English) that you send by post with a copy of valid identification.
How long does it take to get a politiattest, and how is it delivered?
The expected processing time is normally 14 days, counted from when the police have received all necessary documentation — it can be longer in periods with many applications. Delivery is by post or by digital post (Digipost, e-Boks or the Altinn inbox) only; the police never send certificates by e-mail. If you have registered a digital mailbox, both the certificate and any rejection letter will be sent there, which is usually several days faster than paper post.
What is the difference between an ordinary and an exhaustive politiattest?
An ordinary certificate (ordinær politiattest) follows the Police Register Act's main rule that reactions imposed by judgment or fine more than three years before issue are not shown, so older matters fall away over time. An exhaustive certificate (uttømmende politiattest) shows all penalties, criminal reactions and measures registered against you in the reaction register, with no time limits. You don't choose between them — the legal purpose you state in the application determines which type the police issue.
What is a barneomsorgsattest and when do I need one?
The child-care certificate (barneomsorgsattest) is the certificate type required for work or volunteering involving children — child welfare services, schools, kindergartens, sports clubs and voluntary organisations. Its content is defined by §39 of the Police Register Act: specified offence categories, including sexual offences, are disclosed without any time limitation (following exhaustive-certificate rules), while other offence categories follow the ordinary certificate's time-limit rules. Organisations can only require it where legislation gives them the right, and the certificate must generally be no older than three months when you present it.
I'm applying for a Norwegian residence permit or citizenship — which police certificates do I need from other countries?
Check the document checklist for your specific application on udi.no, because requirements differ by permit type and nationality. Where foreign certificates are required, they must come from the official police or justice authority of the country concerned, generally be apostilled (Hague countries) or legalised (others) in the issuing country, and be translated into Norwegian or English by an authorised translator. Mind the timing: Norwegian practice expects certificates no older than three months at submission, so don't order foreign certificates months before you actually file.
Can my Norwegian employer demand a politiattest from me?
Only if a law or regulation gives them the right to require one for that role — the purpose-bound design of the Norwegian system means there is no general employer right to demand a certificate. The police publish the register of accepted purposes with their legal bases, and the application requires confirmation of the purpose from the requesting party. For roles where it is authorised, employers can also request a renewed background check (fornyet vandelskontroll) on an existing employee rather than a brand-new certificate.