In Norway, passports are sent by mail. Hundreds never reach their owners
Several hundred Norwegian passports disappear every year during postal delivery. The Police Directorate (POD) reports that in 2025, there were 302 such cases. The institution still considers regular mail to be a predictable and safe delivery method.
The issue concerns hundreds of passports each year.
Fot. Adobe Stock, licencja standardowa (zdjęcie poglądowe)
A passport is one of the most important identity documents. In Norway, many people choose to have it delivered directly to their home, as when applying, they can decide between personal pickup or delivery to the address registered in the population registry. National ID cards are sent in the same way.
The documents contain a personal identification number. This data is particularly important for identity verification, which is why some recipients have concerns about regular mail delivery. However, the POD told E24 that the scale of losses remains very low.
The documents contain a personal identification number. This data is particularly important for identity verification, which is why some recipients have concerns about regular mail delivery. However, the POD told E24 that the scale of losses remains very low.
Documents go missing. According to the police, the scale is small
In 2025, 302 documents sent by mail went missing. The POD told E24 that during the same period, 686,000 passports were issued, so delivery losses affected 0.04 percent of shipments. That’s less than one per mille. The institution describes the level as consistently low.
According to the POD, in recent years, usually between 350 and 500 passports have gone missing annually. The exception was 2023, when nearly 700 losses were reported during postal delivery. The office notes that most documents reported as lost are later found. The police also allocate significant resources to locating them.
According to the POD, in recent years, usually between 350 and 500 passports have gone missing annually. The exception was 2023, when nearly 700 losses were reported during postal delivery. The office notes that most documents reported as lost are later found. The police also allocate significant resources to locating them.
The police consider postal delivery to be safe due to the low rate of losses.Photo: stock.adobe.com/standard license
Simpler pickup and lower costs for applicants
Most applicants choose postal delivery. The POD explains that the system is meant to increase accessibility and simplify the procedure for citizens, who do not have to return to the passport office. The document can also be picked up in person. The choice is up to the applicant.
Jahn Røising told E24 about his concerns after receiving his new ID card and previous passport in his mailbox. According to him, the only noticeable control element was an SMS notification about the shipment. The POD says it has considered various ways of delivering documents. Registered mail would increase annual costs by NOK 300–400 million and raise the passport fee by NOK 350–400.
Jahn Røising told E24 about his concerns after receiving his new ID card and previous passport in his mailbox. According to him, the only noticeable control element was an SMS notification about the shipment. The POD says it has considered various ways of delivering documents. Registered mail would increase annual costs by NOK 300–400 million and raise the passport fee by NOK 350–400.
Currently, a new Norwegian passport costs NOK 840 for adults and NOK 510 for children. After the document is produced, the police send an SMS with information about the shipment. If the passport or ID card does not arrive within 10 days of this message, the recipient should report the matter to the police.
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