The Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs (Bufdir) processes applications concerning adoption, including the adoption of children from both abroad and Norway.

After the adoption has been completed, Bufdir will notify the Tax Administration. The notification will form the basis for registering the child in the National Population Register. When we have registered the information, we will send a confirmation to one of the parents. You can view the child’s information on My page.

Adoptive parents who adopt from abroad must report a move to Norway for their child.

At least one of the parents must meet at the tax office together with the child. You must bring valid identification, prior consent to adopt, and the adoption papers from abroad. If the adoption papers are in another language than Norwegian or English, you must bring a translation of the adoption papers.  

When the report of a move to Norway has been approved, the child will receive a letter with a national identity number by post, addressed to their original name. 

If the adoption has been made abroad without prior consent to adopt by the Norwegian adoption authority, the adoption must be approved by Bufdir. When Bufdir has recognised the foreign adoption, the adoptive parents must send a copy of the recognition to the Tax Administration themselves. In such cases, the adoptive parents must report the adoption to the Tax Administration themselves by enclosing a copy of the approval from Bufdir.

The child’s name

On Bufdir’s application form, you can choose to enter a new name for the child. 

Surname: You can choose the child’s surname. If you do not choose the surname, the child automatically receives the surname of the adoptive mother. If the child is to have two surnames, the names must be written with a hyphen (double surname). 

First name: You can give the child a new first name. The child can have several first names, for example, their original name. 

Middle name(s): You can give the child a new middle name. Only surnames can be used as middle names.