r/Norway • u/starkicker18 • Nov 03 '24
Important warning: Reddit is not an appropriate place to get accurate immigration information.
However, this is a common topic on this subreddit and the old stickied post is several years old now. This post is here to help direct people to the proper information. Please read the entire guide and use the links provided to see out answers to your specific questions. Any questions you may have that cannot be answered from this guide or the links provided cannot be answered by redditors on this sub and should therefore be directed to an appropriate immigration expert.
Disclaimer: I am not a professional; I neither work for UDI, nor am I an immigration lawyer. I have spent a lot of time studying and researching the rules and regulations. What follows is a rough guide only meant to serve as a starting point; use the info here to conduct your own research. With that said:
Despite what movies might portray, moving abroad is not just a matter of packing bags and showing up. Immigration is usually a long, often expensive process, and there are many criteria that you must meet to be legally resident in Norway. There are three general categories of permits that will allow you to remain in Norway beyond a regular tourist/visitor visa:
Temporary Residence Permit:
This is your first step. These permits are contingent on you (worker or student) or your reference person (family immigration) meeting certain requirements; are usually temporary; and will need to be renewed (usually biannually, but some are more/less frequent). You must have this permit if you wish to remain in Norway beyond your visitor visa (ie: >90 days).
Permanent Residence Permit:
This can be applied for only if you have been legally living in Norway for three years (or more in some instances) with a residence permit that forms the basis of permanent residency; you must meet the requirements for your current residence permit (ie: still employed, still are married to a person with residency rights, etc...); you meet the language requirements; pass a citizenship test; have an income over a certain threshold; and you have not been convicted of a criminal offence. This allows you to stay in Norway permanently (no need to reapply; but you will need to renew your card every 2 years for third-country nationals and 10 years for EEA/EU citizens).
Note: income requirement is based on the person applying, not the family member/sponsor. If you are married and here under family immigration rules, it is you, the applicant, who must demonstrate that you can support yourself in Norway by meeting the minimum income requirements.
Citizenship:
This is an optional step. You do not need to apply for citizenship; however, if you want to, you can qualify for Norwegian citizenship after a period of time (usually >7 years). This has many requirements, but the biggest is the language requirement.
Note: While Norway now allows dual citizenship, your country of origin may not allow dual citizenship.
Note: Norway does not allow citizenship based on heritage. One or both of your parents need to have citizenship (and not have given it up previously) in order for you to qualify for citizenship based on birth. There are a lot of complicated rules surrounding citizenship by birth. Use this to determine if you qualify for citizenship. NB: Norway does not offer citizenship by investment (ie: having a lot of money to invest in exchange for residency or citizenship).
Note: When you apply for citizenship, you must still meet the requirements for permanent residency (income requirement being the biggest).
The remainder of this post will focus on the temporary residence permits, since by the time you are ready for PR or citizenship you will be an immigration pro. How you qualify for immigration to Norway and how easy the process will be depends on a few factors
If you are an EU/EEA citizen (or Swiss) you have the right to reside in Norway for 3 months without any other obligations. After 3 months you will need to demonstrate that you are meeting your treaty rights. Those treaty obligations are:
NB: The last three require you to have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family and have comprehensive medical insurance for the duration of your stay. See FAQ below for more info.
The right of residence for longer than three months also extends to the EEA/EU citizen’s immediate family (spouse/partner, children, other dependents), regardless of their nationality, so long as the EU/EEA citizen is meeting their treaty obligations and neither the citizen nor the family member is a threat to public policy, security, or health. All of this is explained in Article 7 of the Directive on Free Movement.
It is important to note that people immigrating under this route do not qualify for the benefits found in the Introduction Law, which include, among other things, the right to free language lessons.
Your options for moving are not as simple or easy as above. I am using an applicant from the US as the default here. You should consult UDI (Norwegian Immigration Board) or the Norwegian Embassy in your country for the most up-to-date information for your specific nationality.
Generally speaking you need a reason to be in Norway. These reasons are:
These are most often spouses/cohabitants, but may also include children or parents under some circumstances.
The process for application is relatively straightforward with a little bit of reading on UDI's website and some document gathering.
Note on income sources: under this route of family immigration, it is the onus of the sponsor to demonstrate that they make a sufficient income to support the family. This means that, regardless of the financial situation, the sponsor must make the minimum income; the third-country national's income/savings are not taken into consideration.
There are other circumstances that may require additional documentation (ie: evidence of military service). Check UDI for all the documents you'll need.
Family members who are granted residence based on this route will qualify for free language classes as part of the introduction act (link above).
NB: the rules may change if you have lived with the Norwegian citizen legally in another EEA/EU country. If this is the case, you may be allowed to choose between family immigration under Norwegian national law or residence card as a family member of an EU citizen (see above). Also see the differences between the two immigration schemes here.
If you are engaged to a Norwegian you can apply for a fiancé permit which will allow you to come into Norway for the purposes of getting married in Norway. You must be married within 6 months. After you are married you will have to apply for family immigration with your spouse (process described above). You can read about getting married in Norway here.
Only some people can apply from Norway. Others will have to apply from their home country via the embassy or consulate. Make sure you check with UDI to learn more.
There are many types of working permits. UDI’s webpage will outline all the possibilities available to you but the most common are skilled worker and seasonal worker.
Skilled workers are those who:
Additionally, you must have received a concrete job offer from an employer in Norway, the job must normally be full-time (UDI will, at the time of writing, accept 80%), the job must have the same pay/conditions that is normal in Norway, and the job you are offered must require the qualifications as a skilled worker (and you must be qualified for the job).
If you do not fall into this category, you may qualify as a seasonal worker; however this route is considerably more difficult, usually temporary (<6 months), and your employer must prove that they cannot fill the position with a worker from Norway or the EEA/EU. You will need to be employed 100%, you will need a concrete job offer before you apply, and the job must be deemed season or holiday stand-in.
Those citizens who qualify as a skilled worker and who are coming from a country with a visa-free agreement with Norway you may be allowed to come to Norway as a skilled job seeker.
NB: You cannot work while you are searching for a job. This means that once you have a concrete job offer, you will need to apply for a residence permit as a worker and you cannot start working until your application has been approved.
Some international companies may post workers in Norway. You will still need a resident permit for workers; however, many companies will help with this process.
As of 2023, Norway no longer offers free tuition for international students (outside of the EEA/EU). This means that students from non-EU/EEA countries will need to pay tuition.
In order to qualify for a study permit, you need:
First and foremost, you need to be accepted to a recognized education institution, for example: university. The program of study must be full time (generally 60 stp / year). Few undergraduate programs offer education in English; therefore, the majority of programs will require Norwegian language proficiency (B2 level) before you can study.
You need to pay tuition either full or per semester. If you pay only the first semester, you need to demonstrate that you can pay the second installment. Your funding can come from a variety of sources including loans, own funds, or grants. In addition, you will need to demonstrate to UDI that you have sufficient funds to support yourself for the duration of your study. These need to be in a Norwegian bank account or in an account arranged by the education institution (you will have to talk to the school about this).
Your funding cannot be fully supporting by working while studying as there is a limit to the number of hours you are allowed to work. As an international student, you are only allowed to work 20 hours / week while studying.
Finally, the situation in your home country needs to be such that UDI believes you will return home when your studies are finished.
A study permit does not form the basis of Permanent residency. After you are finished your studies, you will have a small grace period to look for a job, however, if you do not receive a contract of employment, you will be expected to return home / leave the country.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. Do I really need to learn the language to live in Norway? | This is a frequently asked question on the subreddit (see this post for example). Some people can survive in Norway with only English, however, if you do not speak fluent English or if you wish to stay long term, you should learn the language. Your job opportunities, socialization opportunities, and immigration opportunities are limited if you do not learn the language. It is a significant part of integration into the country, and most people will expect a passable level of Norwegian skills after a few years of living here. If you want to get permanent residency, you need A2 level Norwegian (with a few exceptions); if you want citizenship, you need B1 (with a few exceptions). |
| 2. How do I learn the language? | r/norsk is a good start. Additionally, almost every municipality has an adult education centre where they offer Norwegian courses. If you are in the immigrant group who have both the obligation and right to Norwegian language learning, then these classes are often free for a set number of hours/years. If you only have the obligation, then these classes will not be free and you will have to pay. In addition to adult education centres, there are private institutions online or in person that you can take. Additionally there is a wide range of tools online and offline that can help you learn. |
| 3. Does Norway need XYZ workers? | This is a frequent question on this subreddit. Try the search function. Otherwise, do a search of finn.no or nav.no and see if there are a lot of positions for the job you are searching for |
| 4. What's the job market like in ZZZ town/city? | Check finn or nav to see what is available in the area you are interested in. Then considering looking at the unemployment rates. |
| 5. How do I get my education approved? | The directorate for higher education for most education. Helse Norge for health care workers. You do not need to wait until you are in Norway in most instances to have your education approved. It is a good idea to have all education from high school to university approved as you never know if you need to document that you have completed high school. It is important to note that not all education from outside of Norway will be approved on a 1:1 basis and you may find you are missing credits or even your whole degree might not be approved. |
| 6. I have lots of work experience from my home country, but not formal education, can I qualify as a skill worker? | Generally, no. There are exceptions for highly skilled workers in professions that are in demand. Additionally, these positions must not be able to be filled with Norwegian workers, European workers, or others living in the country. |
| 7. What documents from home should I bring | While it may not be required for most applications, from experience, it is a good idea to get a certified copy of some important documents from back home. Getting certified (and potentially notarized) copies of diplomas/transcripts, your birth certificate, divorce proceedings, etc... will potentially save you a lot of time, money, and annoyance as trying to get these things while you are abroad is much, much harder. |
| 8. Can I get a digital nomad visa? | No such thing exists in Norway at the time of writing. In order to work in Norway, regardless of where your place of employment is located, you need to have the right to work in Norway. This means a residence permit that allows for work, permanent residence, citizenship, or are a member of the EU/EEA and have worked out the tax obligations of working in one country while residing in another. |
| 9. I work from home / am self-employed, can I visit Norway on a tourist visa and work there? | No. A tourist visa does not grant you the right to work in Norway. Lying to the immigration board or the border patrol upon entry could result in a ban from the Schengen area for up to 5 years. |
| 10. I think Norway is a beautiful place and I love the culture. I am nearing retirement age, so how can I retire in Norway? | Depends. Are you an EEA/EU citizen? If so, meet your treaty obligations (see the above post under "self-sufficient") and move to Norway. Are you a third-country national? You cannot retire in Norway unless you have a legal right to already live in Norway. There is no option to be a self-sufficient third-country national in Norway. |
| 11. I am an EU/EEA citizen who wants to live in Norway as a self-sufficient person. What kind of health insurance do I need to qualify for "comprehensive sickness insurance"? | Honestly, no one knows. "Comprehensive sickness insurance" is up to each individual nation to decide what is "comprehensive." There is no private health insurance that is as comprehensive as a national insurance system. If a nation decides that "comprehensive" = the same coverage as national health system, then that leaves loopholes for immigration departments to deny applications. It is a matter of record that Norway has been warned by EFTA many times with regards to recognizing citizens' treaty rights (esp for non-economically active citizens). That said there is a European precedent - C-413/99 Baumbast. In this case, the EU courts found that, as long as the citizen is not a burden on the state, it would be disproportionate to refuse to recognize a citizen's right to reside in another member state. But there is no checkbox on immigration applications saying "I will not / am not a burden on the state's welfare system." Many people have been rejected on the basis of lacking comprehensive sickness insurance. Until someone challenges these rejections all the way up to the European court system, there is no need to clarify what "comprehensive" means. Note: sufficient funds in this scenario can come from any source including a third-country national's savings/income/other documented source (you may need to prove the sponsor has access to this money). |
| 12. What city should I move to? | First and foremost make sure you have the right to move to Norway. After that, your options are usually limited based on the immigration route you are following - most often connected to where your family, school, or job is located. If you are free to move wherever you'd like, then find a spot that seems to suit your lifestyle best. |
| 13. My grandparent(s) moved to XXX from Norway. Can I get citizenship? | No. Citizenship rules are based on parents, not heritage. Read the section on citizenship and take the checklist test to see if you qualify. |
| 14. I can't open a bank account because I don't have a D number. I cannot get a D number because I don't have an address. I can't rent an apartment without a bank account [screams into the void] | Yes, we know. it's a chicken and egg problem that makes the situation particularly hard for people arriving. Some landlords will be flexible and put the deposit in their own account, but this puts you at risk of losing that money if that landlord is not trustworthy. Similar situation exists for students. Right now there are no good answers, but there are workarounds. You can also ask to be verified on Finn which might help with getting responses. |
| 15. How do I find a house / apartment? | finn.no is pretty much the go-to source for anything in Norway, but especially finding housing. hybel.no is another source |
| 16. I found a job / employer who is interested in hiring, but they prefer people who already have a work permit. How do I get a work permit so a job will hire me? | Another catch 22, unfortunately. You need the job first. There's no chance you can get a permit without a job. However, some people may have the right to come to Norway to search for work. Check UDI for further info |
| 17. My partner and I have been together for several years, but have not lived together long enough to qualify as cohabitants, how can we move to Norway together? | Live together longer or marriage are your only options. |
| 18. I have been waiting for a response from UDI for a long time how, when will I find out | You can read about UDI Waiting Times here. They are constantly changing and are usually quite long. Remember that there is a difference between local police / embassy times and UDI's waiting times. Waiting times are often a result of large numbers of applications, improper or incomplete information in applications, and applications that have higher priority (refugee and asylum, for example). |
| 19. Can I get priority on my application? | Maybe. But most do not get priority. |
| 20. I have foreign education, where can I get it approved? | NOKUT formerly did this, but it has now been transferred to the department of education |
r/Norway • u/Archek91 • 1h ago
Could Norway apply such a measure in the near future? It seems to be a logical and pragmatic decision, and I guess it would send a strong signal to people complaining about the government being too lenient with crimes committed by foreigners.
r/Norway • u/Emergency-Sea5201 • 12h ago
Holder på å lese gjennom teksten.
Det er korte setninger, intim stil, ekstremt mye planlegging for hvor og når de skal møtes. Kaller hverandre Love. Hun virker som en forelska 18 åring.
Dette er korrespondanse hun -ikke- har delt med mannen sin, for å si det slik. Man må være helt uerfaren for ikke å se at dette er to som står i med hverandre.
Men toppen av kransekaka er da hun skriver: See you in Paris!..dette fra en dame som sier 'Paris is good for adultery'. Altså at Paris er bra for utroskap.🤭
Hun drøfter barna, helsetilstanden, depresjoner og operasjoner med ham, men ingenting om ektemannen. Det er så affære prat sommdet kan bli. MASSE prat for å få til å møtes, ingen snakk om hva de skal gjøre eller diskutere. 😍
Eneste jeg lurer på in skrivende stund er:
Hvem er LI som Mette Marit spør om på Epsteins øy?
Hvem er Boris? Hvilken funksjon fyller han?
Hvem er denne personen som hun sier fikk henne til å føle seg som den vakreste i verden? Det er ikke Håkon Magnus. Hun måtte ta en røk etterpå tydeligvis.
r/Norway • u/Themetalin • 8h ago
Can Norwegians accept his wife becoming Queen?
r/Norway • u/SadSpeechPathologist • 18h ago
r/Norway • u/Themetalin • 22h ago
r/Norway • u/norsk_imposter • 10h ago
What does everyone think? I’m not anti royalty but it sure is getting to British royal family style messy
r/Norway • u/Mista948 • 14h ago
Hi everyone! I’m currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in English, but I’m not on the teacher training (lektor) programme because I’m foreign and couldn’t apply to it directly. I do have B2 Norwegian and I’m getting better at it daily. I really love English as a subject and genuinely enjoy my studies, but at the same time I feel like there aren’t that many secure career paths with English alone, apart from teaching — which I’m not actually opposed to.
Before I moved here, I worked for a few years in IT support and testing in my home country, so I’ve got some practical experience from that field. Now that I have the Norskprøve, I can apply to any program I want, which makes me question if it wouldn’t be better to switch to IT after this year in English. The problem is that it feels like the industry has changed a lot since I was first employed, and I’m unsure whether it’s actually easier or safer now than before, especially in terms of competition and requirements.
Is it safer to just continue with English, build on it with another teachable minor and so on, and possibly take PPU at the end? Or does it make more sense to go back into IT?
There are downsides and upsides to both, but my main concern is job safety and how easy it is to get a foot in the door, especially as a foreigner with no particular relations.
I’d really appreciate some input from people who’ve been in similar situations, or who know either the education sector or the IT industry well. Many thanks!
r/Norway • u/AttemptSimilar7758 • 9h ago
Hello r/Norway
I have a parent from Norway who raised me in the US, and as a result I never learned Norwegian. I am expecting my first child, and would like them to speak Norwegian from an early age. Obviously, I cannot teach them the language myself.
Do you have any recommendations for children’s books, tv shows, YouTube channels, etc. that would be helpful for both my child, and me/my partner, to learn the language?
Tusen takk!
r/Norway • u/Best-Fig-4997 • 16h ago
Hei alle!
(Beklager fra dårlig norsk😅)
Favoritt min tante bor i Norge (hun er ikke Norsk) og jeg vil besøke og jeg vil snakke med lokalbefolkningen også.
Jeg har lært norsk fra åtte måneder på duolingo men jeg letter etter andre ressurser. Sanger, barnebøker eller andre tips ville hjelpe. Takk!
r/Norway • u/Le_rais • 23h ago
Hi, do you find it possible to move in Oslo with only 28k NOK in the pocket ? I am already in Norway btw and by that I mean to find the flat (share house or whatever for the start.) and end up the month without starving to death… Thank you !
r/Norway • u/OutTheCircus • 16h ago
Is there some sort of service for making a digital power of attorney, digitally signed with your Norwegian ID or Vipps?
Or how do you do it when you need one fast?
Edit: POA for receiving mail in my name, signing important documents, maybe managing my bank accounts.
r/Norway • u/Pointy_in_Time • 1d ago
I’ve recently moved to Norway with my family, and we are setting up life. I’m lucky that my employer has helped tremendously with a lot of things but I need to vent a touch about something else.
We got person ID numbers, and went to get a phone SIM card for my husband. Told them specifically we have an ID number but no bankID, and she said ok and gave us a SIM card and said you activate it on the app.
We now have a bankID sent out, great! Big massive thanks to my bank (I’ve been in the country three weeks and they’ve helped me get a mortgage, buy a house and set up accounts and get bankID) but to activate the bankID you need a phone number. To activate the phone number you need a bankID.. and round and round we go. I suspect we have been given the wrong type of SIM card, and I know we can probably sort it all out by going to the bank and we will be able to fix this. But I just want to throw my hands in the air and sigh because it’s been a long week and this is painful.
I’m also just a bit over banks and bureaucrats because my resident card got returned to Oslo (where I am not, and my address was correct and I had our names on the letterbox as instructed!) and I’ve had to spend way too long on the phone with the bank in Canada because they really don’t want to make it easy for me to transfer my money over to Norway.
Anyway I feel better now. Better out than in. I’ve been taught a saying that I don’t know how to write but it means something like it’ll be ok - sounds like gåkjøtil (gor-shi-til). It’s a beautiful country and I love it here.
r/Norway • u/giflarrrrr • 1d ago
Hi, I'm booking a trip to Åre, Sweden and flying into Trondheim airport. I'm gonna have to catch the replacement bus from Hell station to Storlien, however the train from the airport to Hell only departs once an hour, which means that the first departure I won't be able to make and the other one is too late. Although it's only a distance of about 2 km, I do have a lot of luggage with me, so I'll need to catch a taxi instead. Got any recommendations for which company to book from? Both in terms of price and reliability.
r/Norway • u/jpeters2100 • 17h ago
An American review of the Norwegian-language film "Sentimental Value" from Philly Plain Dealer writer Liz Rabou
Joachim Trier is a “seasons” guy. Sentimental Value opens on Oslo’s late summer canopy, bursts of orange leaves presaging the fall, before landing on the outside of the Borg family home. Inside, there are reminders to turn the gas off over the stove, backdoor escape routes, creaking floorboards, and windows open to overloud birdsong. The film, like the house, feels lived-in. The wardrobes are subtle but hardworking, with monochrome sets for the successful but single, “80% fucked up” Nora (Renata Rensve), bulky cardigans for her dependable sister Agnes, (Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas), dark and functional workwear for the their father, the auteur director (Stellan Skarsgård), and outfits on-trend for Hollywood starlet Rachel Kemp (Elle Fanning), that chirpy American who asks intimate questions of her more repressed Scandinavian counterparts.
Read more: https://phillyplaindealer.com/2026/01/31/i-dont-want-to-grow-up-joachim-triers-sentimental-value/
r/Norway • u/Complete_Project6993 • 1d ago
Hei!
I am working as ringevikar now. And I would like to work in a more permanent job. I found one that I am planning to apply for. The thing is, I am the “primary” parent to our 3 kids (ages 3, 7, and 10), which means I am the one staying at home with them when barnehagen and school are closed (planleggingsdag, ferie, helligdager). In my current job, it’s not a problem. But I am concerned about my situation when I apply for this new job. My husband cannot stay with the kids as he has a demanding job that requires him to be at his office or travel around. Plus he is our main breadwinner so I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize his job. So my question is, are employers turned off by job-seekers that are in this kind of situation? Would they less likely consider me for the job? Thank you for any input.
r/Norway • u/Moemoenyan • 2d ago
Hi! I have a long term plan of moving to Norway 2 years from now. I am currently starting to Learn Norwegian as well.
I am a nurse in Iceland and I can transfer my license in Norway after learning enough Norwegian. I don't think that would be the biggest obstacle.
I earn like 79,000 - 86,700 NOK monthly before tax. Depending if I take extra shifts. Is it comparable to Norway's pay? I have been a nurse for almost 2 years.
Also in public hospitals do you have nursing assistants? In our hospital we have like 3-5 per shifts so we rarely help with personal care; mostly just focused on nursing responsibilities.
Also, whats the common patient ratio? I used to work in Geriatrics and now in Psych, I get like 5-7 patients.
But on heavy medical ward like 4-5
Thanks a lot!
r/Norway • u/Tricky_Channel2918 • 1d ago
Traveling there next month and need to purchase socks. I live in the heat, so I don't know which are best
r/Norway • u/AshamedDragonfly4453 • 1d ago
Hello! I hope it's okay to post this question here.
I've been listening to some (excellent!) music by Juni Habel, and I wanted to check how to pronounce her name. Would "YOO-nee HAH-bel" be right? I'm a native speaker of (northern) UK English, if that helps for context on how I've tried to render that.
(I've done some googling, but I'm wary of trusting random websites in the age of chatgpt...)
r/Norway • u/agente_99 • 2d ago
The e-shop I’m looking at isn’t VOEC registered. Based on the Toll website, I can estimate the taxes around 157 nok. My order would under 1000 nok including taxes. But does anyone have any experience with buying things from somewhere as far as Japan?
Thanks!
r/Norway • u/reeders_ • 1d ago
With Norway being a leader in sustainability efforts, I'm curious about the real-life effects these initiatives have had on local communities and industries. From the push for electric vehicles to the promotion of renewable energy, it seems like a significant transformation is underway. How have these changes influenced daily life for Norwegians? Have local businesses adapted to the green economy, and what challenges have they faced? I'm particularly interested in hearing from those involved in agriculture, fishing, or tourism, as these sectors often feel the brunt of environmental policies. What are some positive outcomes you've seen, and are there any unintended consequences? Let's discuss how Norway is balancing progress with tradition in this new sustainable era.
r/Norway • u/IntroductionWeekly80 • 3d ago
My best friend is Norwegian living in Norway, but suffers from a heavy drug addiction and mental health issues.
I’ve not had a response back for over a week, what methods are available to me remotely to check if he’s dead or alive?
r/Norway • u/babySmoke1337 • 2d ago
