Is electronic signature legal in Norway?
Yes. Norway is not in the EU, but it applies eIDAS through the EEA Agreement and the Trust Services Act 2018. Norwegian contract law has no general form requirement, so electronic signatures such as BankID are valid for most contracts, with exceptions such as wills and prenuptial agreements.
Last reviewed October 2026. General information, not legal advice.
E-signature law in Norway at a glance
- Status
- Legal
- Main laws
Lov om elektroniske tillitstjenester (tillitstjenesteloven), LOV-2018-06-15-44
Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 (eIDAS), incorporated into the EEA Agreement
- Approach
- Tiered: simple, advanced and qualified
Types of electronic signature in Norway
Simple electronic signature
Valid under freedom of contract and freely assessed as evidence by Norwegian courts.
Advanced electronic signature
Uniquely linked to and identifies the signer. BankID signing is widely used for contracts in Norway.
Qualified electronic signature
Treated as equivalent to a handwritten signature under eIDAS as incorporated into Norwegian law. Required for some documents filed with authorities, such as real property registration.
What you can sign electronically in Norway
- Most commercial contracts
- Employment contracts
- Real estate purchase contracts, with qualified signatures used for documents sent for registration
- Consumer contracts
Documents that need a handwritten signature or extra formalities
- Wills, which must be signed on paper in the presence of two witnesses
- Prenuptial and marital property agreements
- Some powers of attorney and directly enforceable debt declarations issued by non-financial institutions
Contracts that must be “in writing”
Norwegian law generally follows freedom of form, and the preparatory works to the Trust Services Act state that eIDAS did not change the existing position. Where a document is sent to an authority, the authority's rules may require a qualified signature.
E-signatures in Norway: frequently asked questions
Are e-signed employment contracts valid in Norway?
Yes. Employment contracts must be in writing under the Working Environment Act, and electronic signing is commonly used to meet that requirement.
Is BankID a legal e-signature in Norway?
Yes. BankID is the most common way to sign electronically in Norway and gives strong evidence of the signer's identity.
Can I sign a will electronically in Norway?
No. A will must be signed on paper with two witnesses present.
Sources
This page is general information about e-signature law in Norway, not legal advice. It was last reviewed in October 2026, and laws change. Check the official sources above or ask a lawyer in Norway before you rely on an electronic signature for an important document. See also whether electronic signatures are legal.
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