Practical matters in Norway
These are the things that don't appear on any checklist, but that everything else depends on: identity number, address, electronic ID, GP (fastlege), tax card.
They're connected to the test in an indirect way. The curriculum has its own learning objectives about how public agencies work, about rights and duties as a newcomer, and about how you get access to health services. That's exactly what this is, from the curriculum's point of view.
The order that tends to work
- Identity number. D-number or national identity number.
- The National Population Register (Folkeregisteret). A correctly registered address, because your kommune decides who's responsible for you.
- Electronic ID. MinID or BankID. Without this, everything has to be done in person.
- GP. Your regular point of entry into the health service.
- Tax card. Otherwise tax is deducted at the highest rate.
Why the order matters
Because they build on each other. Without an identity number you can't get a bank account, without a bank account no BankID, and without BankID everything gets slower.
People discover this in the middle of an application deadline. It's easier to sort it out early, in that order.