Vipps is everywhere in Norway. Friends split a pizza bill with it, flea markets put out hand-written numbers for quick payments, and even tiny farm stands use the bright orange logo. If you are visiting, it is natural to wonder whether you can get Vipps as a tourist and use it the way locals do.
Short answer: Most short-term tourists cannot get Vipps. The service normally requires a Norwegian national identity number or D-number, a Norwegian bank account, and BankID from a Norwegian bank. If you do not have those, you will not be able to set up Vipps. The good news is that Norway is one of the easiest countries in the world to visit without local payment apps. Your regular contactless card or mobile wallet will work almost everywhere, from city buses to corner kiosks.
If you want the full picture, including edge cases where visitors can qualify, and practical workarounds for “Vipps only” situations, keep reading. Let’s take a deeper dive into how Vipps works for tourists and what to do instead.
What Vipps Actually Is
Vipps is Norway’s leading mobile payment app. Locals use it for peer-to-peer transfers, paying small businesses, donating to charities, and settling invoices. It sits on top of Norwegian bank infrastructure. The magic is how fast and simple it feels, but under the hood it is tied tightly to national ID and BankID for security. That security is exactly why it is hard for short-term visitors to join.
The Real Requirements You Need
To open Vipps as a private user, you generally need three things that tourists rarely have:
- A Norwegian national identity number or D-number. The D-number is a temporary ID issued for people who need a legal presence in Norway, for example workers, students, or certain long-stay visitors. Tourists on short trips do not receive one.
- A Norwegian bank account in your own name. Banks perform customer checks that require either a national identity number or D-number.
- BankID from a Norwegian bank. BankID is Norway’s common digital ID used for banking and public services. Vipps uses it to verify you during sign-up and for certain transactions.
If you are missing any one of these, you will not get through the Vipps onboarding. A foreign bank account or a foreign eID is not enough. A Norwegian phone number helps with verification codes, but it does not replace BankID or ID requirements.
Can Any Tourist Qualify For Vipps?
There are two main edge cases where a non-Norwegian visitor can get Vipps:
- You are moving to Norway for work or study, and you receive a D-number. Once you have the D-number and a Norwegian bank account with BankID, you can sign up for Vipps like a local. This is common for exchange students and seasonal workers.
- You already bank in Norway even if you live abroad. Some cross-border workers or returning Norwegians living overseas keep a Norwegian account and BankID active. If that is you, Vipps is straightforward.
For typical vacationers, even those staying a few weeks, these conditions do not apply. The process of getting a D-number and BankID takes time, in-person checks, and documentation.
If You Do Qualify: How To Set Up Vipps Step By Step
If you have a D-number, a Norwegian bank account, and BankID, the setup takes a few minutes:
- Install Vipps from your app store.
- Register with your Norwegian mobile number. You will receive an SMS code.
- Verify with BankID when prompted. Keep your BankID app or code device handy.
- Connect your Norwegian bank account and cards within the app.
- Set privacy and notifications so you can confirm payments quickly.
After that, you can send money by searching a phone number or scanning a QR code, and you can pay many merchants with a single tap.
What Most Tourists Should Use Instead
You do not need Vipps to have an easy trip in Norway. Here is what works smoothly:
Contactless cards and mobile wallets. Visa and Mastercard tap-to-pay are accepted almost universally. Apple Pay and Google Pay also work in most places. Even small kiosks and ticket machines support contactless.
Transit and tickets. Use card or the official transit apps in each city. In Oslo, for example, you can buy tickets in the Ruter app with a foreign card. Intercity rail, ferries, and airport trains all accept international cards.
Restaurants and bars. Pay by card at the table or at the counter. Splitting a bill can be done on the terminal, or one person pays and friends reimburse later by card-to-cash or a bank transfer if they have European accounts.
Markets and small shops. Many that advertise Vipps also have a card reader. If a seller says “Vipps only,” ask politely if card is possible. Often they will pull out a small terminal or accept cash.
Peer-to-peer alternatives. If you need to reimburse a Norwegian friend, ask for their IBAN and SWIFT and send money from your bank, or use services like Wise or Revolut for lower fees. It is slower than Vipps, but it works.
Dealing With “Vipps Only” Signs
You will see handwritten signs that read “Vipps 12345.” They look like a dead end without the app, but you have options:
Ask for a card terminal. Many stalls have one, they just prefer Vipps because it is cheaper and quicker for them.
Offer cash. Norway is very card-centric, but cash is still legal tender. Small vendors may accept it, especially at markets.
Request a payment link or invoice. Some vendors can send you a one-time payment link by SMS or email that you can pay with your card.
If it is a donation box, check the organization’s website. Most Norwegian charities have a donate page that accepts international cards, even if their poster lists a Vipps number.
Tipping, Taxis, and Little Traps To Avoid
Tipping. If you want to tip, you can add it directly on the card terminal. Staff can show you how to adjust the amount. No Vipps needed.
Taxis. Pay by card in the car. Several taxi apps operate in Norway, but you can complete the ride with a tap on the terminal.
Public toilets and lockers. Increasingly these accept contactless cards. If a door shows a Vipps QR, look for a small card reader nearby or scan the QR to see if there is a card option. When in doubt, ask a staff member. There is usually a way.
ATMs and currency exchange. With cards so widely accepted, withdrawing cash is rarely necessary. If you do, use an ATM and decline any dynamic currency conversion. Paying in local NOK on your card usually gives a better rate.
Common Myths About Vipps
“I can use my foreign BankID or eID.” No. Vipps requires BankID issued by a Norwegian bank tied to your Norwegian ID.
“A Norwegian SIM card is enough.” It helps receive codes but does not replace the identity and banking checks.
“I need Vipps to survive in Norway.” Not at all. Cards and mobile wallets cover nearly everything. I live here and often travel with foreign friends; none of them got Vipps, and they had zero problems paying for daily life.
My Practical Tips As A Local
If you are here for a short visit, set one card as your travel workhorse before you arrive. Let your bank know you will be in Norway, enable contactless and online payments, and add the card to your mobile wallet. Bring a backup card from a different issuer in case of a random block.
If you will be here for a semester or a work season, start your ID and bank journey early. Getting a D-number appointment, opening a bank account, and receiving BankID can take weeks. Once those are in place, Vipps is an easy final step.
If you are shopping at markets or farm stands, ask about card first. People are friendly and used to visitors. If they truly cannot take cards, they usually have a Plan B for tourists, like a payment link or accepting cash.
When you see a charity or museum poster that lists a Vipps number, check the website. Most have an English page with a card donation form. It is faster than trying to solve Vipps on the spot.
Quick FAQ For Tourists
Can I download the Vipps app and register with my foreign number? You can download the app, but you will not complete registration without Norwegian ID, a Norwegian bank account, and BankID.
Do I need Vipps for public transport? No. Use your card or the local transit app.
What if a bar says they only take Vipps for cloakroom or entry? Ask to pay by card at the bar. Most venues can process a small card payment even if the sign suggests Vipps.
Is Revolut or Wise useful in Norway? Yes. Both work well with card payments and ATM withdrawals. For reimbursing Norwegian friends, they are often cheaper than a traditional international bank transfer.
Can I tip hotel or restaurant staff without cash or Vipps? Yes. Ask to add a tip when the card terminal shows the amount.
Bottom line: Tourists almost never need Vipps in Norway. If you are here longer and receive a D-number, open a Norwegian bank account, and get BankID, then Vipps becomes available and very handy. For everyone else, a contactless card and a friendly question at the counter will get you through the entire trip.