Last modified: Jul 14, 2025

Altinn 3 API

Description of different Altinn 3 APIs for both end users and application owners.

The APIs

The Altinn 3 solution has multiple APIs, but they can be divided in two groups. The app APIs and the Platform APIs.

App API

The application API is an API that provides access to specific instances of a specific app. The API provides features for working with data elements while keeping the metadata document for the instance and its data elements updated. The instance level endpoints revolves around moving an instance through its defined process and controlling some instance level settings.

Metadata for an app is the second job of the app API. There are endpoints that give access to the metadata of the app itself, its data types and process description.

Every app will expose almost identical endpoints and functionality. External parties should need only one client implementation across all app APIs, but it is possible for the application owner to extend the app API with additional endpoints and even make changes to default functionality. Documentation for app specific API and features must be retrieved directly from the app or from the application owner.

https://{org}.apps.altinn.no/{org}/{appname}

The URL identifies the application owner specific hostname using the short name org, and the identifier of the app consisting of both the application owner short name and the name of the app. Combining the org and appName results in what we call the app id org/appname.

Platform API

The Platform APIs are primarily made to support the applications hosted on the platform, but a lot of endpoints can be used directly by both application owners and users. Primarily on the Authentication, Events and Storage APIs.

The Storage API provides access to all instances across all applications. It can be used to access metadata about applications, instances, data elements and instance activity log (events), as well as the actual data content. This API should be the preferred method for application owners to download data associated with instances created based on their applications. Application users can use it if they need a form of message box or want to retrieve archived instances and their data.

The Authentication API provides methods for authentication.

The Events API provides access to the Events component endpoint for listing events. This can be used sporadically to query Altinn for events that have occured in the solution.

https://platform.altinn.no

API user groups

There are primarily two groups of users of the Altinn APIs. The first group consists of applications and systems used by the owners of the Apps hosted by Altinn. This group is called Application Owners. The second group consists of organisations and people using the Apps to communicate with the application owners. This group is called Application Users.

The two groups have many similar needs, but there are some differences in what type of tasks they need to perform. All new APIs is technically available to both groups, but some endpoints have authorization to allow only one of the groups.

Application Owners

Common tasks for an application owner:

  • Query instances for a given application according to status or instance owners.
  • Create an application instance.
  • Upload form data and attachments.
  • Download form data.
  • Change process state (workflow).
  • Confirm instance as complete.

Application Users

Common tasks for an application user:

  • Query instances for themselves or a party they can represent (instance owner).
  • Create an application instance.
  • Upload form data and attachments.
  • Download form data.
  • Change process state (workflow).
  • View status of an instance.
  • Access Management

    Documentation of available Access Management APIs in Altinn 3

  • App API

    The default APIs exposed by apps in Altinn 3

  • Authentication API

    Description of how systems and service owners can use Maskinporten or ID-porten to access APIs in Altinn 3

  • Authorization API

    Description of how systems and service owners can use Maskinporten or ID-porten to access APIs in Altinn 3

  • Broker API

    API for Altinn 3 Broker functionality

  • Correspondence API

    API for Altinn 3 Correspondence functionality

  • Dialogporten API

    API for Dialogporten functionality

  • Guides

    Here you will find guides on how to integrate with the Altinn API

  • Models

    This is an overview over most of the models exposed by the different APIs. It does not explain every single property of all models, but will try to give a solid introduction to the important parts.

  • Profile API

    Description of the APIs supported by the Profile component for Altinn Studio.

  • Resource Registry API

    Description of the Altinn 3 APIs supported by the Resource Registry component

  • Scenarios

    Different API usage scenarios

  • Storage API

    Description of the Altinn 3 APIs supported by the storage component in the Altinn 3 Platform

  • Altinn Studio Repository API

    The OpenAPI (swagger) specification for Altinn Studio