What we check
Background checks: what they cost, what the law allows and what we check
Digital, consent-based and automated from order to finished report. Choose individual checks or set up Bundles tailored to your industry.
Background checks in brief
What is a background check?
A background check verifies that what the candidate states is actually true — identity, education, employment history, finances and publicly available information. It's a fact check, not an assessment of the person, and differs from a reference check, which gathers subjective impressions from sources the candidate has chosen. You may also see it called a personnel check or background screening; it's the same thing.
Are background checks legal in Norway?
Yes. The legality doesn't lie in the check itself, but in three things: that you have a reason, that the scope is proportionate to the role, and that the candidate knows what's happening. Consent is the most common legal basis in Norwegian recruitment, and the employer is the data controller. Credit checks and criminal record certificates have stricter requirements than the other checks.
How much does a background check cost?
Bundle prices are 195 credits for Basic, 390 for Enhanced and 485 for Comprehensive. One credit is 10 kroner, so 1,950, 3,900 and 4,850 kroner per candidate before volume discount. If you only need one thing checked, identity verification costs 9 credits (90 kroner) and handling of a criminal record certificate costs 12 credits (120 kroner) – the certificate itself is free from the police.
How long does a background check take?
Identity verification and other automated checks are completed within minutes. Checks awaiting a response from a third party — such as employment history verification — typically take a few days. The criminal record certificate is ordered by the candidate directly from the police, and processing time depends on the police's workload.
The check types we offer
Identity verification
Verification via BankID or document-based verification
The foundation of every background check. We verify the candidate's identity digitally via BankID for Nordic candidates, or through document-based verification for international candidates.
- Seamless verification via BankID
- Document-based verification for international candidates
- Supports ID documents from over 200 countries and territories
- Fast and automated
Employment history
Job title, period and employer
Verifies that the candidate's stated employment history is accurate. Job title, employment period and employer are confirmed directly with the source.
- Verification of employment period
- Uncovers gaps and discrepancies in employment history
- Direct contact with employer
- Covers Norwegian and international employment
CV gap check
Analysis of periods without registered employment
Analyses periods without registered employment in the candidate's history. The system identifies uncovered periods automatically and gives the candidate the opportunity to explain the gaps directly in the process.
- Automatic identification of uncovered periods
- The candidate explains each gap directly in the flow
- Start and end date, duration and explanation in the report
- If no gaps are detected, the check is completed automatically
Verification of education
Norwegian diploma portal and international institutions
Verifies that the candidate's stated education has actually been completed. Degree and institution are confirmed via the Norwegian diploma portal or directly with the educational institution.
- Automatic lookup
- Direct verification with international institutions
- Norwegian and foreign degrees
- Covers higher education and vocational certificates
Country affiliation check
Foreign residence and activity
Maps the candidate's connections to other countries. Citizenship, residence, family relations and financial interests are recorded. Important for roles requiring security clearance or international exposure.
- Foreign citizenship and residence history
- Relevant international connections
- Tailored to security clearance requirements
- All processing complies with GDPR
Open source search
Social media, news articles and forums
Structured search of open digital sources. Provides a comprehensive picture of the candidate's public digital footprint, including social media, news, blogs and forums.
- Norwegian and international news sources
- Social media and discussion forums
- Structured and verifiable methodology
- Gain insight into whether the candidate's public profile aligns with your organisation's values, and protect your reputation.
Business interests
Roles, ownership and bankruptcies
Maps the candidate's business connections. Provides insight into roles and engagements that may affect impartiality, financial risk or conflicts of interest.
- Board roles and ownership
- Bankruptcy and liquidation history
- Searches in public registers
- Identification of conflicts of interest
Credit check
Payment remarks and finances
Provides insight into the candidate's financial history where legal grounds exist. Relevant for roles with responsibility for finances, procurement or assets.
- Payment remarks and debt collection cases
- Credit assessment from approved source
- Only where consent and legal basis exist
- Delivered in accordance with GDPR
Criminal record certificate
Obtained with correct legal basis and purpose letter
Criminal record certificates are obtained in accordance with the Police Register Act. We ensure the correct type of certificate, purpose letter, consent and secure storage. Particularly important for sports, schools and positions of trust involving children and young people.
- Standard criminal record certificate
- Children's criminal record certificate for work with children and young people
- We complete the purpose letter for you
- The certificate must be issued within the last 3 months
Specific source search
Sanctions, PEP and industry registers
Targeted searches in sanctions lists, PEP registers and industry-specific registers. Identifies whether the candidate is politically exposed or listed in ways that may affect suitability for the role.
- Consolidated international sanctions registers
- PEP register (politically exposed persons)
- Industry-specific registers and databases
- Combines register searches and self-declaration from the candidate
Reference check
Structured digital reference check
Collects structured feedback from up to four previous employers. A digital form replaces phone interviews and provides more comparable responses.
- Up to four previous employers from the last ten years
- Standardised assessments across 10 dimensions
- Open-ended responses on strengths and development areas
- Digital flow from invitation to consolidated report
Build your own check
Build the bundle that suits your organisation
With Right Person's Check Builder, you assemble the bundle yourself: choose from identity, finance, reputation, work experience and education, and pay only for the checks you actually need.
- Choose from five categories: identity, finance, reputation, work experience and education
- Pay only for the checks you actually need
- The more checks, the lower the price per check
- Includes all standard checks from Right Person