Finding the right tenant is one thing. Setting up the deposit account can be another, especially when the tenant has recently moved to Norway.

Many international tenants do not yet have a Norwegian national identity number, D-number or BankID when they are ready to move in. Traditional onboarding processes may depend on these, which can delay the deposit account and, in some cases, the tenancy itself.

But a Norwegian identity number is not the only way to verify a tenant’s identity.

In short:

  • The law requires a blocked account in the tenant’s name — not that the tenant holds a Norwegian identity number.
  • Many traditional processes still depend on a national identity number, D-number or BankID.
  • A tenant cannot obtain a D-number themselves. It must be requested by an organisation or public authority.
  • Keyhole Secure can onboard international tenants without those numbers. Identity checks are still required.
  • The deposit should never be paid into the landlord’s account while you wait.

Can an international tenant open a deposit account without a D-number?

Yes, depending on the provider.

Norwegian law requires a cash deposit to be held in a separate, blocked account in the tenant’s name. It does not state that the tenant must have a Norwegian national identity number.

What varies between providers is how the tenant’s identity is verified. Some onboarding processes require a Norwegian identity number or BankID. Others, including Keyhole Secure, can support international tenants through a different identity-verification process.

This means you do not necessarily need to postpone the deposit account while the tenant waits for a D-number or national identity number.

How does Keyhole onboard international tenants?

Keyhole Secure is designed to support tenants who do not yet have Norwegian identification.

Instead of requiring a Norwegian national identity number or D-number first, the tenant’s identity is verified using accepted international documentation. Identity checks are still required, and the exact requirements may vary depending on the tenant and the documents available.

The deposit is still set up correctly:

  • It is held in a separate, blocked account.
  • The account is established in the tenant’s name.
  • Neither the landlord nor the tenant can access the money alone.
  • The tenant’s identity must be verified before the account is opened.

The difference is that international tenants are not automatically excluded because they have not yet received Norwegian identification.

What documentation may the tenant need?

The required documents can vary, but the tenant should normally be prepared to provide:

  • A valid foreign passport or another accepted identity document
  • A signed tenancy agreement
  • Their current address and contact information
  • Any additional documentation requested during the identity check

Keyhole guides the tenant through the process and explains which documents are needed.

As a landlord, you do not need to verify the tenant’s passport or manage the identity check yourself. However, it is helpful to confirm early that the tenant does not have Norwegian identification so the correct onboarding process can be used.

What should the landlord do?

If you are renting to an international tenant:

  1. Ask early whether the tenant has a Norwegian national identity number, D-number or BankID.
  2. Include the agreed deposit amount in the tenancy agreement.
  3. Choose a deposit provider that can onboard international tenants.
  4. Make sure the tenant receives clear instructions about the required documentation.
  5. Wait until the blocked account is ready before requesting the deposit payment.

Discussing this before the move-in date gives everyone enough time to complete the necessary checks.

What should the tenant do?

If you are moving to Norway and do not yet have Norwegian identification:

  1. Tell the landlord early.
  2. Ask which provider will hold the deposit.
  3. Follow the provider’s identity-verification instructions.
  4. Have your passport, tenancy agreement and other requested documents ready.
  5. Confirm that the deposit account has been established in your name before transferring the money.

Not having a Norwegian identity number may change the onboarding process, but it does not mean the deposit should be handled differently.

Do not transfer the deposit to the landlord’s account

When a traditional deposit account is delayed, transferring the money directly to the landlord may seem like a practical temporary solution.

It is not.

A cash deposit must be placed in a separate, blocked account in the tenant’s name. This applies whether the tenant is Norwegian or international and whether they have a Norwegian identity number or not.

The deposit must also be stated in the tenancy agreement and cannot exceed six months’ rent.

A smoother start for international tenancies

International tenants may be relocating for a new job, studies, family or because they are settling here for the longer term. They can be ready to sign a lease long before the Norwegian registration process is complete.

The deposit account should not become an unnecessary obstacle.

Keyhole Secure makes it possible to onboard international tenants and establish the deposit correctly without requiring them to obtain a Norwegian national identity number, D-number or BankID first.

Frequently asked questions

What is a D-number?

A D-number is a Norwegian identification number that may be assigned to someone who needs an identity number but does not meet the requirements for a national identity number.

The tenant cannot request a D-number directly. It must be requested by an authorised organisation or public authority when there is a valid need for it.

However, a tenant does not need to obtain a D-number first to use Keyhole Secure.

Can I rent a home in Norway without a Norwegian identity number?

Yes. Not having a Norwegian national identity number or D-number does not prevent someone from entering into a tenancy agreement.

The landlord and tenant should choose a deposit provider that can verify the tenant’s identity using the documentation available to them.

Does Keyhole Secure work without BankID?

Yes. Keyhole can onboard international tenants who do not yet have BankID, a Norwegian national identity number or a D-number. Identity verification is still required.

Is the deposit limit different for international tenants?

No. The deposit cannot exceed six months’ rent, regardless of the tenant’s nationality or type of identification.

Can the tenant pay the landlord while waiting for the account?

No. A cash deposit must be held in a separate, blocked account in the tenant’s name.

Set up the deposit with Keyhole Secure

Keyhole Secure helps landlords onboard international tenants and establish the deposit correctly, even when the tenant does not yet have Norwegian identification or BankID.

Are you a landlord?

Book a free, no-obligation conversation with Emma to learn how Keyhole can support your rental process.

Are you a tenant?

Visit our Help Centre to see how Keyhole Secure works and what to ask your landlord about.