4 Identity cards

Red, blue, green and brown identity (ID) cards are issued by the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the various categories of personnel listed below, provided they are not Norwegian nationals or permanently resident in Norway.

RED – Diplomatic agents

Red cards are issued to diplomatic agents stationed in Norway and to their family members. (ID cards are issued to their dependent children over 15 years of age.)

BLUE – Members of the administrative and technical staff

Blue cards are issued to members of the administrative and technical staff of missions and to their family members. (ID cards are issued to their dependent children over 15 years of age).

GREEN – Consular officers

Green cards are issued to consular officers stationed in Norway and to their family members. (ID cards are issued to their dependent children over 15 years of age).

BROWN – Service staff

Brown cards are issued to members of the service staff of a diplomatic mission or consular post who are in possession of an official (service) passport, and to their family members, provided that they too have official (service) passports. (ID cards are issued to their dependent children over 15 years of age).

Please note:

When an ID card needs to be renewed, a request should be sent to the Protocol Department in the form of a verbal note, enclosing the expired ID card and a copy of the biographical data page of the applicant’s passport.

Loss of an ID card should be reported to Majorstua Police Station, which will provide a written report on the loss. A copy of the report is required before a new ID card can be issued. Majorstua Police Station can be contacted by telephone on 22 66 85 51, by e-mail to post.oslo@politiet.no, or by post at PO Box 8101 Dep, N-0032 Oslo, or by personal visit at Sørkedalsveien 27, NO-0369 Oslo.

ID cards issued by the Protocol Department cannot be used as identity or travel documents outside Norway. ID cards must be returned to the Protocol Department on departure from Norway at the end of the tour of duty, see Chapter 36 below.

Recommendations

It is recommended that all members of missions and consular officers carry their ID cards at all times. If they come into contact with the police, they should immediately clarify their status by showing their ID card, so that the police are able to treat them accordingly.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expects all members of missions and consular officers to fully respect Norwegian laws and regulations during their stay in Norway, cf. Article 41 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Members of missions are asked to pay particular attention to speed limits and to Norwegian laws concerning alcohol and driving. (Please see Chapters 17 and 21 for further details.)

Diplomatic and consular immunity does not relieve diplomatic and consular personnel of the duty to discharge all private financial obligations incurred during their stay in Norway.