Nearly 200,000 Norwegians lack BankID access, facing societal exclusion

Nearly 200,000 people in Norway are currently without access to BankID, a crucial digital identification system used for a wide range of services, effectively excluding them from full participation in society. This situation highlights a growing digital divide and the challenges faced by those who struggle to meet the system's identification requirements.

One affected individual, 69-year-old Ingvar Berg-Hansen from Tjongsfjorden in Nordland, described his predicament: "I am not part of society like other people." He lost access to his BankID about a year ago when he was asked to re-identify himself using a passport or ID card. However, his passport expired in 2024, rendering him unable to renew his digital access.

The inability to access BankID prevents Berg-Hansen from performing essential tasks, such as visiting the passport office. This dependency on digital identification for basic services means that individuals without the necessary documentation or technical means are effectively shut out from civic and administrative processes.

The problem underscores the reliance on up-to-date identification, typically a valid passport or national ID card, for maintaining access to BankID. For a significant portion of the Norwegian population, particularly the elderly or those in remote areas, obtaining and renewing these documents can be a barrier, leading to a loss of access to vital digital services and a feeling of societal exclusion.

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I am not part of society like other people.