How to Move to Norway: Full Guide (2025)

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Visas · Residency & Citizenship · Business · Resources

Chasing fjords, Northern Lights, and a quieter life? Here’s how to call Norway home:

🇳🇴 Norway at a Glance

• Population: 5,750,762 people as of January 1, 2025
• Geography: Nearly two-thirds mountainous; around 50,000 islands along its coast, carved by dramatic fjords
• Climate: Coastal regions enjoy milder winters and cooler summers, thanks to the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf Stream; up north, brace yourself for polar nights in winter and the midnight sun in summer
• Historical twist: Norway skipped traditional feudalism, so you’ll find distinctive dialects and cultural quirks across the regions
• Unique feature: One of Europe’s wettest countries; expect the weather to change fast—some areas get 10x more rainfall than places just 68 km away!

🏠 Living Essentials

• Currency: Norwegian Krone (NOK)—banknotes in 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000; coins in 1, 5, 10, 20
• Languages: Norwegian (both Bokmål and Nynorsk); plus Sámi and Kven are official in certain municipalities
• Major religions (2024): Lutheran Christianity 62.6%, other Christian groups 6.9%, Islam 3.4%, Buddhism 0.4%, Hinduism 0.2%, other religions 0.3%, Non-religious/unknown 23.8%, Humanists 2.5%
• Major ethnicities: Norwegian 78.5% (inc. ~60,000 Sami); immigrants & descendants 21.5% (largest groups: Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Syria, Somalia)
• Largest three cities:
  • Oslo: 724,290 (city), 1,116,000 (metro)
  • Bergen: 293,709
  • Trondheim: 216,518

🤔 Why Choose Norway

• Social welfare: Excellent system with healthcare and education benefits
• Natural beauty: Think fjords, mountains, and jaw-dropping coastlines
• High standard of living: Among the world’s highest GDP per capita
• Work-life balance: A culture that cherishes outdoor life and family time
• Safety: Low crime rates and safe cities
• Political stability: Transparent governance
• Community spirit: Experience “Dugnad” — Norway’s unique tradition of collective action
• Diversity: Increasingly cosmopolitan, especially in urban centers

⚠️ Norway Challenges

Note: these are common expat complaints, and may not apply to you.

• High cost of living: Prices are steep, and real wages have declined over the past decade
• Harsh climate: Long, dark winters up north (hello, polar nights!)
• Social integration: Norwegians may seem reserved — making friends takes effort
• Taxes: Get ready for a heavy tax load (including those pesky exit taxes)
• Groceries: Limited and pricey food options, sometimes lacking in quality
• Geographical isolation: Norway feels a bit remote from mainland Europe
• Language barrier: Norwegian is no walk in the park, and regional dialects can trip up even fluent speakers
• Job market: Locals first is common; career progress can be tough for newcomers
• Housing crunch: Shortages and high prices in cities like Oslo
• Currency woes: The krone (NOK) has dipped in value, lowering your buying power

🛂 Norway Visa Guide

Skilled Worker Visa

• Eligibility: Completed vocational training (at least 3 years upper secondary), university degree, or special qualifications via extensive work experience
• Job Offer: Need a concrete offer from a Norwegian employer; job should be full-time (UDI may accept 80%)
• Pay & Conditions: Must match Norwegian standards
• Duration: Permit valid for up to 2 years at a time, with a total maximum of 6 years
• After 6 Years: Need to live outside Norway for 2 years before reapplying
• Job Search: If from a visa-free country, you can enter Norway to look for jobs—but can’t work until visa is approved

Seasonal Worker Visa

• Eligibility: Job offer in seasonal sectors (agriculture, tourism, forestry)
• Duration: Valid for up to 6 months (temporary permit)
• Limitation: Must spend 6 months outside Norway before reapplying
• 2025 Update: New rules for eligibility and application in seasonal industries

Family Immigration Visa

• Spouse/Partner Eligibility: Must be married (or proof of at least 2 years cohabitation), both partners over 24
• Income Requirement: From February 2025, sponsor needs an annual income of NOK 400,000 (up from NOK 335,000)
• Extra Requirements: Must plan to live together in Norway, prove marriage is genuine, sponsor cannot have received NAV aid in last 12 months
• Duration: Starts as temporary—typically renewable every 6 months (sometimes longer)

EU/EEA Registration

• Initial Stay: EU/EEA citizens can stay up to 3 months with no extra steps
• After 3 Months: Must show employment, student status, self-sufficiency, or active job search
• Self-sufficient/Students: Need adequate funds and comprehensive medical insurance
• Family Rights: Immediate family (any nationality) covered, if EU/EEA citizen meets treaty rights

🛬 Residency & Citizenship

Permanent Residency

• Third-country Nationals: Need 3 years of legal residence with a valid permit eligible for permanent residency
• EU/EEA Citizens: Need 5 years on EU/EEA registration scheme
• Requirements: Meet income, fulfill language & citizenship test requirements, and have no criminal record
• Note: Study permits don’t count toward the years needed
• Benefits: Lets you stay in Norway indefinitely with extra protection from expulsion
• Card Renewal: Third-country citizens must renew every 2 years; EU/EEA citizens every 10 years

Citizenship

• Residence Requirement: 7 years continuous residence in Norway
• Language & Social Studies: Must complete Norwegian language and social studies courses—and pass both exams!
• Criminal Record: Must have no criminal convictions
• Dual Citizenship: Allowed by Norway, but check your home country’s rules!
• Important: Heritage/ancestry isn’t enough—residence and requirements are a must
• Application: Once all boxes are ticked, submit application to UDI

💼 Business in Norway

Business Climate

• Global Ranking: Norway is #9 worldwide for ease of doing business
• Economy: Small population (5 million), but robust economy
• Startups: About 35,000 new businesses launched yearly
• Key Sectors: Energy, maritime, tech, innovation, communications, sustainability
• Government Support: Pro-business policies make life easier for entrepreneurs

Business Types and Requirements

• Private Limited Company (AS):
  • Capital: Minimum of NOK 30,000 (about USD 3,600) in a Norwegian bank
  • Registration Fee: NOK 5,570 (about USD 668)
  • Management: Need at least 2 directors—one must be European or Norwegian
  • Accounts: Must file annual accounts with the authorities

Starting Process

• Register: Go through the Brønnøysund Register Center
• Steps: Fill out the “Start and register a business” form, choose company type, deposit capital, pay fees, appoint management
• Warning: Starting up is simple, but get familiar with Norwegian employment law and tax rules!

📚 Helpful Resources

• UDI: Main source for immigration, visa, residence, and citizenship info
• Finn.no – Norway’s most popular job portal, with thousands of vacancies across industries and location
• Brønnøysund Register Center: Where you register a business or find national register info
• Norwegian Tax Administration (Skatteetaten): All about taxes, D-number, personal number
• NAV: For jobs and social benefits info

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