My inbox has recently flooded with questions about moving to Norway that I simply haven’t had the time to answer, so I figured it would be easiest to just do so in one big blog post.
I’m not any sort of expert on how to move to Norway, but I also get that sometimes it’s probably nicer to hear from people actually living in Norway than simply Googling information about life in Norway – especially when those searches lead you to a really scary forum (unless Google led you here – oh hey!).
I’ve been living in Norway for over seven years now, so I’ve gone through a lot of different stages of the moving to Norway process. I remember what it was like to first move to Norway, how exciting and overwhelming it was, how the excitement eventually died down and living in such an expensive country felt scary, and how now I love it so much!
Honestly though, this post is really meant as a response to all the questions about immigrating to Norway that I’ve gotten from people since I moved to Norway myself, because I was once in your shoes too! So if you want to know what it’s like moving to Norway (especially from the US), here it goes:
Moving to Norway from the US – how are you able to live legally in Norway as an American citizen?
Ugh, I’m so sorry I can’t be of more help, but I’m actually also a Norwegian citizen, so moving to Norway was really easy for me.
Since my mother is a Norwegian citizen and I was born in the U.S., I was given dual citizenship at birth.
There are very few circumstances where Norwegians are allowed to have dual citizenship – usually if you become a Norwegian citizen or a citizen of another country in addition to Norway you will have to give up one – but being born a dual citizen is one of the loopholes.
If I weren’t a Norwegian (or EU) citizen, then the process of moving to Norway would be considerably more complicated.
That said, I do know several people who decided to immigrate to Norway from the US and everything has worked out really well for them. One first came as a student and then got a job here, while two others came as tourists and quickly found work in their fields. So it is possible!
Oh and I also know an American woman who got a visa by marrying a Norwegian, so there’s also that.
What everyone who made the move to Norway has in common is their persistence. There’s a lot of paperwork, hassle, questions, and even confusion to get through in the move, but if you really want to immigrate to Norway you shouldn’t give up. Moving to a new country isn’t ever easy, and while in some ways Norway is an easier place to move to because the language isn’t too difficult to learn (at least for English speakers) and there are a lot of jobs here, but on the other hand Norway has a really small population so it’s strange to be on the outside here.
Norwegians tend to all be really similar, so it’s hard being on the outside looking in.
It can be really hard at first to make friends and feel a part of the community, but once you do you will truly feel a part of something, which is so great. In fact I’ve never felt as much of any community in any country I’ve lived in as I have in Norway. It’s a great feeling.
The exact circumstances for how to move to Norway from a non EU/EEA country will depend on your country of citizenship (find more information here), but essentially you will need to apply for a residence permit that will fall under one of these categories: family immigration, work immigration, study, au pair, and permanent residence.
Family immigration essentially allows someone working in Norway to bring their spouse or children here with them. So if you have a distant family member living in Norway, you probably won’t be able to get a Norway residence permit through them. And if you are an adult, even if you have a parent living here you will only be granted a residence permit if you can show that you make a certain base salary.
Usually if you come here under work immigration to Norway, you’ll need to have found work before coming to Norway (though often people will come to Norway on tourist visas and then quickly find a job before their visa expires). The exact type of residence permit you’ll be applying for will depend on your country of citizenship, as well as your specific skills and the type of work you’ll do in Norway. You can find more information specific to your citizenship and field here.
To obtain a study permit to Norway you’ll need to have been accepted to a full-time study program (longer than 3 months) and be able to show that you have enough money to live off of (I think it’s around 100,000 NOK/year). With a study permit you’ll also be allowed to work for up to 20/hours a week during your studies (and full time in between semesters).
There are different ways to obtain permanent residence in Norway, but essentially you’ll have to have had a residence permit here for at least three years, and show a certain level of Norwegian language and social understanding. And no, three years of having a study permit won’t count towards permanent residency, unfortunately.
A lot of people I knew in Trondheim had special au pair residence permits. You can only get an au pair permit while between the ages of 18 and 30, you can’t have children of your own, and you have to show that you will most likely be returning to your home country after finishing as an au pair.
And then of course there are special rules for asylum seekers in Norway.
Since Norway isn’t part of the EU, do I need a special visa to move to Norway as an EU citizen?
Nope, all you have to do is find a job within six months of living in Norway (and apparently even that rule is super lax). And as Norway is part of the EEA, as an EU citizen you can get any sort of job, regardless of your field.
I moved to Norway with my ex boyfriend who is an EU citizen, or at least was before Brexit, and while some things like getting a bank account were basically impossible for him to do before he got a job in Norway, mostly moving here was quite an easy process for him. If you have any more specific questions about moving to Norway as an EU citizen I’d be happy to try and answer them!
I have so many friends who are EU citizens and basically the hardest part for them was learning the language. Once you know basic Norwegian you should at least be able to get a job at a supermarket, as Norwegians generally don’t want those sorts of jobs. When I worked at a supermarket in Norway all the other workers were foreigners, except for the managers. It was kind of funny and made for a nice sense of community.
If you want a higher level position, you really will need to become fluent in Norwegian. The good news is that Norwegian is meant to be one of the easiest languages for English speakers to learn. The grammar is very basic and straightforward, and the vocabulary is surprisingly simple.
The only tough thing is that Norway has tons of different local dialects, and they can vary widely. Like my friends in Telemark say that sometimes people from Oslo don’t understand everything they say – even though they’re all Norwegians!
How can I find a job in Norway?
When moving to Norway people told me two things about finding work in Norway: it’s all about networking and it’s easier to find jobs in small towns or villages. And sure enough, Dan and I both got jobs through someone who read my blog, and we ended up living for several years in a tiny town in the middle of nowhere (read how we ended up working at a supermarket in the mountains here).
It really seems like getting to know people and asking around (or even hanging out at places you’d potentially like to work, like restaurants or bars) is the best way to get a job in Norway. And of course that also means knowing at least basic Norwegian – luckily basic Norwegian skills aren’t too hard to achieve. After five months of living in Norway Dan had good enough Norwegian to work at a supermarket, and Norwegian is the first foreign language he’s learned.
BUT he also had a job in Trondheim before that which he found through a job announcement on Finn.no. He was hired by StudentConsulting to work for Dekkmann changing tires on cars, and most of the people whom he worked with there were immigrants who didn’t speak Norwegian. So networking, language skills, and small towns aren’t everything.
If you are willing to do any sort of work and apply for everything available, finding a job in Norway shouldn’t actually be all that difficult for you.
In fact, I would say if you can speak some Norwegian and are totally flexible on where you’d want to live and what sort of work you want to do, it really shouldn’t be hard for you to find a job in Norway at all. It seriously seems like supermarkets all over Norway are always hiring! At least as long as you’re not in a big city or a student area, as those students always seem to get all the supermarket jobs.
Where to move to in Norway – the best place to live in Norway
Of course this will be totally up to your personal preference, but like I said, it will be a lot easier to find work in a small town or village than in say, Oslo. Plus the cost of living in smaller towns is way lower than in the cities.
From what I’ve heard, Oslo is the hardest place to find work as an immigrant, though it also has the most immigrants living there, whereas in a small town you might be one of just a few foreigners. Personally I think of that as a good thing though, because at least for me it’s been much easier to integrate into a small town than it was in Trondheim, where I was tempted to just hang out with other foreigners and only speak English. In fact I speak way less Norwegian now that I live in Tromsø than I did when I lived in a small town.
If you want to get a better idea of the different areas of Norway, click on the below map to read more about each region (I’ve only colored in the regions I’ve personally visited and know really well).
Norway
Is Norway really such a great place to live? Should I move to Norway?
So many people ask me this and it’s a tough one to answer!
For me, the answer is yes, I love living in Norway.
There’s so much to love about life in Norway. It’s beautiful, the government is like, not horrible, if you’re happy to start out with low skilled work then the wages are crazy high, and Norwegian people are generally really lovely to each other.
I mean, I never thought I would love working at a supermarket, but having super laid back managers, colleagues who feel like family, and the sweetest customers really made me appreciate living in the mountains of Norway. Plus Norway just feels like a really safe place to live.
Education is free in Norway, so I could easily go back to school and get a master’s degree without racking up any debt, and I’ve had a really good experience with the healthcare here. Like, coming from the US, I think my quality of life in Norway is way higher than it was in the US.
But I can also imagine that Norway wouldn’t be for everyone.
Norwegian people are a peculiar bunch, and I think the culture in Norway could feel cold or frustrating to some people, the weather won’t be too appealing if you don’t like snow, and getting stuff done here takes a whole lot of patience and persistence. Like, it can be really difficult to get a straight answer on questions about important stuff like taxes, visas, etc.
It can also take a long time to feel part of the community here, as Norwegians tend to be really shy and reserved. They won’t often offer to help you with things or approach you to talk, but just know that if you need help with someone, Norwegians will do almost anything for you as soon as you ask. In fact it seems like Norwegians love being able to offer help, they’re just too shy to offer until you ask. So just ask!
If you live in a small town here it can feel like everyone has known each other forever, and they probably have. So it can be tough joining in as an outsider because everyone already has their set group of friends. But if you try to join activities or clubs you should be able to start to get to know people.
When I moved to Mosjøen in northern Norway it took a good year for me to really make friends. People were just very slow to open up and I really had to make an effort to keep making plans with people and begin to feel like part of their lives. I also joined a dance class and yoga class in an attempt to make friends. Again, it was a slow process, but Norwegians do take being part of a group seriously and eventually I did start to feel like I really belonged here.
I personally think it’s worth it, but a lot of people might not. In fact I’ve had a lot of comments on this blog from long term expats who seem to truly loathe Norway (I guess they’re still here because of their families?), so I think it’s safe to say that Norway is definitely not for everyone.
But if you love nature and the quiet, don’t mind the cold, have an appreciation for boiled potatoes and tinned fish, and know how to be patient, then by all means, immigrating to Norway could be a great choice!
I feel incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to live here, and living in Norway has given me a wonderful sense of safety. Not only is it a very safe country in general, but once you’re a resident in here it feels like you’re really taken care of. Health care and education is free, and even unskilled work pays well, so as long as you’re willing to put in the hard work to learn the language you should be able to have a good life here.
Read also:
5 Norwegian TV Shows That Prove Norwegians are Crazy
7 Ways Norway Isn’t as Expensive as You Think
23 Ways My Life Changed When I Moved to Norway
And here is a video about life in Norway – the good, the bad, & the ugly:
Danny says
I realize Norway isn’t in the EU, but it’s times like these that I really wish I had EU citizenship. I’d love to just pack up my bags and move to a new country on a whim. Oh well, I suppose there are always U.S. territories, right?!
Silvia says
Yup! Ugh, it is such a pain.
Jackson says
How do I just pack up and get a tourist and then work visa?
Went to that link and it seemed like you needed to be established there already.
Silvia says
Technically you are not allowed to look for work on a tourist visa, but I know a lot of people do it anyway. It’s better to start on something like an au pair visa and then you could eventually find another job.
Jan Grue says
Hi
What if your father was born in Norway and you are Canadian born ?
Collins says
Thanks you so much for every detailed information sheared..
Jon says
hi
Most people are better-off staying where they have permanent right of residence. It’s just a sad fact of life. Even being an EU national is no protection. Google “NAV Scandal hits EOS expats hard”
Staying with your family and support network is best
Cole says
Not everyone has a support network or family that they can rely on
Jordan says
Such a great post!!! I get asked how I moved to Germany ALL THE TIME (and I only have American citizenship!). I’ll need to do a post on it one of these days…
Silvia says
You really do – your story is much more interesting than mine!
Victoria @The British Berliner says
‘Love the post. As a British person living in Germany, I get loads of questions on how easy or difficult it is to be an expat. And most of the questions are either from Americans or fellow Brits who want to make a leap, but not too far from home lol!
And of course, German bureaucracy would give any one a headache..!
It’s great being an EU citizen as quite frankly, you can just up and move, if you wanted to. Which we still can. For now lol….!
Silvia says
Take advantage while you can! Ha. No, EU citizenship really is magically though.
Anne says
EU citizenship really is magical. I still can’t believe we’ve thrown our membership away and after Brexit all this access will be denied to me 🙁
Leesa & Kate says
Thanks for answering these questions. Norway looks amazing.
xx Leesa & Kate
Travel inspiration? http://www.wanderlustchronicles.com.au
Silvia says
It is!
alexander fitz says
Any good Chef jobs in Norway?
Abi says
Love your post! I was also asked how I am living in Japan while I am a Filipina. And when I go to another country for another 6 months, same question was asked! Anyway thanks for sharing this post!
Silvia says
Haha then you know the feeling!
Alexandra says
I am living since 2 years in Oslo, having lived before 9 years in Helsinki and 2 years in the US. I think you were very right with saying as long as you don’t mind where you want to live within Norway and as what job you want to do it can be easier to come to Norway. However it is not that easy when you want to move to a bigger city such as Oslo, and most migrants want to be in a bigger city since they have a bigger community on their own there. Also being able to speak Norwegian becomes more and more important in the recent years and I can remember that my colleagues husband (who came from Turkey, she is a Norwegian of Turkish decent) applied with her help to 100s of small jobs and only found a job in a supermarket after speaking relatively good Norwegian. Perhaps competition in the bigger cities makes it harder to even get odd jobs. Also getting a bank account, telephone contract etc is virtually impossible before you have the social security number (D- and P-nummer). In many higher employments and academic jobs it is also increasingly common to show a language certificate and my Indian colleague had to show a certificate that she at least has 2nd level language knowledge before they would extend her Visa (she already lives since 7 years in Oslo). I also heard from a Norwegian work colleague that his wife, who is American, got her Visa extension rejected and they will now re-locate back to US. But this is for Oslo where competition is very high and many highly skilled workers fight for job. I work at the University and hear a lot of stories from my foreign colleagues that have to meet very strict requirements being not from an EU country. I am German so I have not such a huge problem but even I had to run around getting a lot of paper work done. I also had already a job before I came to Norway so locating here was easy. It is worth to mention that one should also have some financial safety package that will tide you over the first 6 months you live in Norway as it is very common to have to pay a deposit of 3 months rent for an apartment plus the first months rent in advance, and renting a flat in Oslo is not cheap. Also people in Oslo are in general a little more distant that people in the smaller/rural Norway. I am always amazed how much more friendly people are in smaller places in Norway than in Oslo but I assume that is a capital city phenomenon. Also Norwegians are more reserved and private so if you come from a country where people are more extrovert and social it will be very alienating, or even rude the way Norwegians behave sometimes (a good example is that I meet a lot of colleagues in the bus every morning and we say hello but they will not neccessarely sit next to you – a thing I am OK with but a lot of my foreign colleagues get so upset about that). Also as you said everything takes more time here, that doesn’t mean that people do a bad job they are just less efficient. My boss actually employs quite a lot of foreigners because they produce more data in a shorter time than our Norwegian colleagues and it is important for her career to publish as much as possible, but at the end of the day the quality of the work is equal. So as long as you can live with the fact that everything is a bit slower and inefficient, you have to call multiple times to get things done, love cold weather and amazing nature, and can live with the fact that, at least at the beginning of your stay, your friendship circle will contain 99% fellow foreigners you are all good to settle here.
Silvia says
Thanks so much for the added info! It sounds like moving to Oslo really is such a different experience than moving to a small town, so it’s really interesting to hear that side of things. I think in some ways it could be easier since there are other foreigners to become friends with when you don’t speak Norwegian, more things to do, etc., but mostly this just made me a little relieved I moved to the countryside instead, because a lot of things seem way easier here than in Oslo! I guess there are positive sides to both though.
Fiona says
We hope to move to Norway after I finish university.
Im starting this Fall with a major in Scandinavian studies with Norwegian.
Even if we end up staying in Canada most of the time Im hoping to work as a translations consultant for the oil and gas industry plus Ill be teaching in Newfoundland.
Id be happy with 6months Norway and rotating the rest of the year in Bergen or Tromsø.
Silvia says
Oh interesting, that sounds like an exciting plan!
Fiona says
Oops! I meant to say rotating between Norway and Canada.
We also added Stavanger to our list though Lofoten would be my dream retirenent place.
Silvia says
haha yeah, I figured that’s what you meant. I want to retire to Lofoten too!
JOEL says
Hello good day Silvia,
Am a Nigerian and am planing to move to Norway with my Wife, she is an European precisely from Romania where i live and study although done with studies.Basically am looking for a city where i can find my area of proffesion (Bachelor Degree in Navigation and Naval Transport/Engineering) sas a sailor man easily?
And what visa can i apply with to be more easier?
Ti says
I’m going to move to Norway at the end of 2019 (hopefully something will happen to compeltely derail the Brexit talks so we can never leave the EU -_-). I was thinking of moving to Bodo but people said it would be better to move to a city to find work, so I was considering Trondheim…but you’ve said it’s easier in small towns? Does that still apply to admin sort of work? HR/Payroll that sort of thing? I’d much rather live in a town…have no idea how to start networking though to find work 🙁
Thanks for all your posts, loving them!
KC says
Thinking about moving to Norway for a couple months. What are the best (warmest lol) months?
Silvia says
July and August tend to be the warmest, though July is incredibly crowded with tourists, so I would choose August and September.
Dalia says
Thanks a lot for your informative post. I am Egyptian and My daughter who is 7 months old hold the Norwegian citizenship from her father. I met her father in UK where we were studying together. We were planning to move to Norway but unfortunately we broke up few months ago.
Do you think I can still move to Norway with my daughter?
Thanks
Silvia says
Oh, I’m not sure about that, but I imagine you could inquire on the UDI website or their social media.
Alexandra says
Hi Silvia! I am an American with EU citizenship and am thinking about moving to Norway for my Master’s degree. I have a specific technical question, do I have to get a European Health insurance card before I make the move? Or is that something I can do there?
Silvia says
I got my health card after moving to Norway. It was really easy – I just ordered it online. But depending on what your status in Norway will be (if you get a Norwegian ID number – which you usually get if you work here, so I”m not sure about studying), you may have to get the card from your country of citizenship instead. It should be really easy though, and that card will work in Norway too.
Shivani says
Hi, I am applying for international masters degree at a university at Trondheim. Since I am from India, do u think I ll be able to work in norway aftr my post graduation and get my visa extended?? How is the part time job opportunity in Trondheim for international students? Please do provide some input. Thankx
Ron Decker says
Hi…
I have a girlfriend, who lives in Vennesla, Norway; Just north of Kristiansand. We’re planning a visit for me to come there and finally meet face to face in person. I can hardly wait !!!
Today, while on the phone with her, I told her that when I come there, I may not want to leave. She said we’ll see what we can do about that.
I’m really considering the move, and to live with her there forever.
I’m a US Citizen, and from what I’m understanding, I don’t need a visa, just a passport.
Please feel free to send any and all possible information to my email address.
Thank you 🙂
Silvia says
That’s right, you don’t need a visa to visit Norway as an American. I’m sure you’ll love it!
Abdul says
silvia how are you , silvia am looking for marriage in norway but dont have enough money to move there , there is any proposal for me let me know.
am from pakistan
age 27
5.9 my hight.fair colour
black hair
Albert Navarro says
Hello Silvia,
‘An old post, but the information is very valuable nonetheless, thank you! My wife wants to move to Norway with our kids, she is Norwegian since birth, but born in Spain, and our children also have Norwegian citizenship. I am a US citizen, and our children also have dual citizenship, my wife only Norwegian.
I would not go immediately, but will support her while she and the kids move. We are in the middle of a major re-model on our home, and I expect to be done with that by the end of the Spring, 2018.
My concerns are about the schools. We have four children, 14, 12, 10 and 8. Do you know of anyone who has been in this situation (maybe not as many kids :)? Would we be required to enter our children in an international school, or does Norway have programs for “returning Norwegians”?
Any information about this subject would be appreciated!
Thank you,
Albert
Silvia says
Are you concerned about the language for your kids in school? Growing up I spent a couple of years in schools where I didn’t know the language at first (Japanese and German), but within a few months I did fine. So I imagine it would be similarly possible for your kids to join local schools. There are a lot of immigrants in Norway, so a lot of schools should be used to welcoming foreign students.
Lizzie says
Hello,
Please can you tell me where the picture of the small harbour in the mountains was taken? It looks lovely!
Thanks!
Silvia says
It’s right outside of Odda, on Hardangerfjord!
Lizzie says
Blimey, that was speedy response! Thanks so much. I’ll be adding that to my list of places to visit… I ‘collect’ little harbours, and I’m learning Norwegian, so it seems logical…
evelyne linda says
i honestly want to come and study and get asmall job in norway, so what exactly do i do ? is an invitation from arelative good enough to make me move to there.thnx ,i will appreciate if if i get areply
Rechanda Mardy says
I would looovve to move to Norway. I’ll test out for Nursing (ASN) in the summer and really want to go somewhere different but inviting. I’m from the U.S. by the way
Sarah says
Hi, I don’t know if you’d be able to give advice, but how difficult is moving/getting a job to get a work visa in the first place if two people (me and my husband) have advanced degrees? He is a mental health therapist (counselor), and I have a masters (soon, hopefully, PhD) in entomology. I, personally, would not mind taking a lower skill job at first, though a job in my career field would be preferable. We have U.S.A. citizenship, no EU, unfortunately. I’m an avid language learner. He is not, but he would be motivated to learn Norwegian dialects.
John from Seattle says
Thanks for this post. I spent 9th grade in a very small Norwegian town (Andenes in the Lofoten Islands). The entire school just switched into English for my time there. The teachers thought of it as a good learning tool, and most Norwegians are quite bilingual (if not trilingual) by their early teens*.
The people were very kind, but not exactly friendly until they got to know you. They were often xenophobic, occasionally racist, and had that typically European love/hate thing for the US. The food was pretty horrific unless you really really love boiled potatoes and boiled cod – a rare and special treat was having some bacon grease to pour on.
The nature, the lifestyle . . . well what can anyone say? Spectacular. Every single day you can see something that touches your soul.
Anyway, my step-father is a natural born Norwegian citizen. I wonder how hard it would be to emigrate.
*Math was two++ years ahead of American math – we were in Pre-Algebra in the states while they were in Pre-Calculus.
John Witner says
I have been google-surfing from Nordcap soutbward through Norway. Scenery is most breathtaking and the Northern region seems benign as to other lands of these latitudes. Every so often I see communes off the highway. I was even able to tour through one of them. Wondering, what is the deal with the communes? Are the provisional for certain economical classes of people, are they ethnocentric? They vaguely remind me of coal towns of northeastern Pennsylvania. Curious.
Blackfyre says
Hello.
I don’t know if you’re still answering comments but I’ll do it anyways. Over the last months, my mind is firmly set on moving to Norway, most likely three years from now, when I finish my PhD researchs in México and while I learn some Norwegian. However, I don’t really plan to go to a university in Norway and do research there, since I know it would be quite difficult (why would they hire a mexican when they do have a lot of better doctors). I probably would just pick whatever and wherever job crosses in my way. As you may guess, I don’t want to live here in this place since it’s awful for many reasons. So I thank you for writing this since now you make it sound like it’s not impossible. Most likely, I’ll just grab all money I’ll have and do an all-out trip.
Wayne K. says
Silvia, interesting blog and thanks for writing it. I’m curious about retirees especially an aging hippie from Philadelphia via New York like myself with very little to offer financially. I am quite outgoing as well as aloof and from what I’ve read those are qualities which may work quite well in Norway (yeah, I’ve got an attitude but I hide it well until you get to know me). I’ve learned a little Norsk via Google Oversette. I think I can get the hang of it quickly especially if I give it a little effort. Do retirees have a chance??? Thanks.
P.S. You’re cute.
Seth B says
I want to live in a place without an economic caste system. That is the situation I am currently dealing with in Northern California, and it is maddening to see people judged by their means and not their quality of character. The materialism and superficiality is slowly excavating my inherent positivity and generous spirit; I fear there will be nothing left before too long.
I need out of this backwards society, bit don’t know where to go! I’ve travelled all over the country by car trying to find “authenticity” (generosity of spirit), but there is nothing left in the USA for nice, open, kind-hearted people like myself.
San Francisco was the only place I found, so I moved here in 2002. But recently we have had a ton of East Coasters move in, chasing the quick money of Silicon Valley. Half of all license plates are from New York, it seems. My town has become homogenized, bastardized, and criminalized – so I must leave.
To get as far away as possible, I am researching the places that are reportedly the happiest countries on Earth. Norway is one of the highest-rated, and your blog came up first in a Google search. (1st! You’re #1, you’re #1!) So, congratulations! But with that high profile come the drawbacks; now you gotta deal with freaks like me. LOL!
Sorry. I’m just a little edgy right now, knowing I have to uproot once again.
And BTW, not that it matters for anyone looking to move to Norway (hopefully), but I am not homosexual. I do appreciate their general tolerance and easy acceptance of different and unusual types of people(Now I’m the one generalizing, d’oh!), but I was born straight as an arrow.
In any case… I forgot my question. Oh yeah – what is your feeling regarding any type of economic caste system that governs the average citizen of Norway’s day-to-day interpersonal relationships? Is that even a thing there, or are people judged by their quality of character and overall intelligence, (as I believe they should)?
قیمت بیت کوین says
such a great article
Nekobasu says
I have been thinking of immigrating to Norway. I live in Maine in the usa so obviously I love snow lol
Vincenzo says
Do you know anything about working as an architect in Norway while studying a masters degree? im from Venezuela but I am an Italian citizen.
Rohit says
Hello ! Just saw about norway on a tv program.
Such an amaizing country.
Tried to know more about Norway on google and landed on your post.
So my question is..
Is there any chance for an Indian to move to Norway??
Smith says
The best and The safest country to live in.
I wish I could shift to Norway.
but after knowing it is the most expensive country to live I have droped my idea to shift there. 😀
Harry says
I just saw Netflix movie about a mother deprived her children in Norway. Ridiculous and barbarous
Joseph Nazar says
I’m an American, and I’ve grown tired of the negatives of life here in the US. From the research I’ve done, it seems that the positives of live far outweigh the negatives in Norway–at least for someone such as myself. I would like to live in a country where the people are generally well-bred, nice, and respectful of others, where the environment is clean, where the education is free, where there is no hot and humid weather (although on this point I’m not so sure regarding Norway), and where, if one works hard, and acts decently, one can have a pretty good life. I think that I could pick up Norwegian fairly quickly, since I’ve studied German and comparative linguistics (I know that German is a West Germanic language, while Norwegian is a North Germanic language.) The only challenge I see is the fact that I’m 61, even though I’m in good health.
Pippa says
Wonderful post – did you go?
I was looking at retirement there….
Just a couple years older than you!
Abdullah says
I’m from Afghanistan, there is no way for me to enter Norway legally. Does Norway accept refugees from Afghanistan? If I happen to enter Norway, would the government accept my case for asylum? If anybody has similar experience that would be great to hear from.
somayeh says
Hello, I am Iranian and I intend to immigrate. I really need guidance
I’m female. i’m 37 years old. For more than 10 years I’ve been working at a book printing center, but I’m going to spend my mobile and computer repairs in order to create a better job. Do you think that it is possible for me to immigrate to Norway and find a job.
In your opinion, what training and skills are appropriate for the labor market in Norway?
Thank you very much for giving me time and I would appreciate if you can answer me.
I apologize for your weak grammar.
p.s Somayeh
MARK EBOIGBE says
Hello,My name is Mark,I will like to migrate to Noway,I’m electrical technician,can you kindly find a suitable job for me,so that it will enable apply for migration visa,……..
Kabuff says
Hello. As far as the crazy Norwegian TV shows goes, well I am hooked. There is a station I just discovered that broadcasts the train trip in central Norway. I am hooked! My goodness, the county is beautiful. I have added that train ride to my bucket list. I am absolutely smitten with the train video. Would love to live in one of those small towns where the train stops. I could never give up my United States citizenship to do it, but I love Norway!!
reinalyn remigio says
hi my name is lenny, im moving permanently with my son in norway this coming march 2019, just wondering how hard for non EU citizen to get a job in oslo norway ?i was thinking to move in somewhere in oslo as its big city with a lot of opportunity i think however after reading your blog i do have prospective city which Trondheim? is it much easy to get a job there to start with. um single mom and we dont know anyone there, i been working with airlines industry for more than 8yrs now as customer service relation.
Silvia says
I would say it’s much easier to get a job in Oslo as it’s bigger and there are a lot of foreigners there. Good luck!
James F. Sartie says
It’s actually my daily prayers to get contacted with Norwegian that will make a way for me to get overthere.
Paul Banyagi-Mugenyi says
I spent my summer (2018) in Norway this year (rented a flat in Oslo). I also joined a course to learn Norwegian got to A1 so not bad. I’ve always loved Norway and have friends and family there. Now having a massive internal debate with myself about moving there. For me I’m assuming the hardest part will be getting a job especially as I still live in the UK. Norway as you say is just the most amazing, friendly, and kind country and my summer there was the first time I’ve felt truly at ease for a very longtime. So what to do – argh. Guess it all depends if I’m good enough to get a job.
Thank you for the information and it is great to see you are loving it. Hoping Brexit doesn’t mess the whole thing up.
William Rhodes says
Hello, I enjoyed reading this post 🙂
I have quite a few personal questions regarding this type of move, and I am a U.S. citizen. I would love to speak with you. If I left an email address, could you respond to it so we could message?
I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you for your time,
William 🙂
Elise says
Hi, I’m a US citizen currently in college. My dream has always been to move to Norway, and I do plan on it after I finish college. My question is, in order to apply for the residence permit, I need to get a job, can a small job such as a grocery clerk per say, count as a job in order to fill out my form?
Silvia says
I think the job has to be in your field of study, as they only give work visas to Americans as skilled labor.
Elise says
Thank you very much!! I love your blog by the way and you really helped me believe that my dream can come true!!
VIPIN DAS says
ONE OF MY GREAT WISH THAT I WANT TO WORK IN NORWAY. WHY BECAUSE NORWAY ITS AMAZING PLACE TO LIVE AS FAR AS I KNOW . WHENEVER I GOT EVEN A SMALL CHANCE I WOULD REALLY COME THERE
Fee says
Thanks for sharing! Even by reading the comments gave me ideas what should I do first when we move to Trondheim in July 19. We are grateful to be granted family visa in Mar 19 and through this post, it’s no brained that language is the key to settle in quickly. I shall enrol myself for language course ASAP. My 2 kids who will be attending international school should fine in picking Norwegian as part of the lesson. I have made some friends from my home country living in Norway in my previous visit to provide more support and networking. I plan to join more communities activities help to lay a good platform for more possibilities.
Really can’t wait to see the beautiful nature again.
Eli says
Thank you for sharing what you were able to share on a personal point of view. I met someone last year that lives in Norway and visits the United States often, we have spoke on the telephone, but have never met. He seems like the sweetest person I have ever met. So much that I have seriously contemplated leaving everything and booking an extended stay in Norway to see what could of my life. I found your page through Google and I am glade I did.
Kalema paul says
Am Ugandan citizen but all my life I like staying and living in Norway because seriously I like I want to move with my girlfriend what can I do and how can I start up life over there
Kartyn says
Hello Silvia!
I know you have a lot of people asking a lot of questions… I love your story and likewise understand how you can just get up and move… agree with so many sentiments of freedom, different mentality of people, completely agree with Norwegians being very polite and shy, but very helpful and proud of their beautiful country.
I am physician practicing in US. I wish I would be younger to learn the language and take a test to work in Norway, but I am afraid that at age of 52 it is little too late for me…. 😐
Silvia says
Yeah unfortunately you can’t just take a test to work in Norway – you’d have to go back to medical school. At least that’s been the experience of people I know, even when they have been practicing for years.
Katryn says
Hello!
Thank you for your reply! I think this depends on a country you finished your medical school, some of the schools are not recognized by medical boards of particular countries, so I don’t think this can be generalized for every single doctor wanting to practice in Norway… This rule applies in multiple European countries. It does not change the fact of very difficult transition.
Silvia says
Yes, that’s true! Sorry, I just assumed you went to school in the US. But yes, it’s a difficult transition but one that I’ve seen several people do – my doctor here is Belarusian.
Suns says
Hi,
I am a nigerian.Would love to migrate to norway for a masters degree.I hope after getting my study visa i can stay back and still apply for PHD .I am a banker with over 10 years experience.Can i get jobs in between as i study too.
Freddie M Stanleta says
Good morning, I am a retired US citizen, and have visited your Beautiful country in the past. My income is $1350 USD per month. I am a photographer and video editor hobbiest. What kind of a lifestyle would I afford if living in a rural or remote village? No tourist areas for me. Thank you, Freddie
sam kapoor says
I have my girlfriend working in norway with workpermit for last one year. We never got married and are in a livin relation in india. What is the best possible way for her to call me there to settle with her? PLease advice
Greg says
Hi I am an Australian Lawyer 68 years old presently working in the Pacific do I have a chance of getting a legal job preferably government> I would love to live In Norway
Stevenson Thomas says
A job is available for you.
Diego says
Hi 🙂 great guide. How does the process change if I have a degree?. Is it easier to get a job?
Silvia says
It depends what your citizenship is, but if you aren’t European you will need to find a job within your field of studies. Having a degree usually helps, but Norway doesn’t accept all degrees so it depends on where and what you studied.
Daniel says
Hi, interesting guide there, it really exposed me to a lot about Norway. i plan to travel there as a tourist but can you give me an insight about the housing? type of housing, rent, etc.
i would be looking for the cheapest i can get.
thanks.
Silvia says
You can see housing listings on https://www.finn.no/
amit khaitan says
Hey Silvia..same like you i also fall in love with this beautiful country.. recently i visited Norway in Feb.2020 and to be honest i followed your 2 week itinerary for this trip including Abisko.
I am an Indian citizen and i am Resident of UAE as i have business here.
is there any scheme in Norway that by the investment in Norway, directly i can get the PR or Resident Visa?
Please advise.
Thanks
Aouse says
I have a question. I am a norwgian citizen but lived abroad for the past 17 years. I did my bachelors and mba in Malaysia. I have gone through attestation from ministry of higher education in malaysia, ministry of foreign affairs in malaysia and Norwegian embassy in Malaysia. Will there be any restrictions when looking for a job with my degrees? Do I need to further certify them with all the stamps etc I already have done? Thank you!
John Pedersen says
Hey there! Is there any way to get an ancestry visa in Norway with me having a father who is Norwegian.
Frankly, I’m lost in Malaysia having experience racism, oppression to a large degree for the most part of my life.
I don’t expect any sympathy from anyone but it would be appreciated if someone could suggest a solution,
Silvia says
Unfortunately I don’t think we have any type of ancestry visa in Norway. Your best bet would be to try to get a job here.
Steve Thomas says
I can help you secure Norwegian visa since your dad from Norway
Liza Reyes says
Hello,
May I ask a frank question? How do Norwegians feel about immigrants who are people of color?
I am an American of Mexican descent and my husband who is an American of Swedish descendant. Our 12 year old son is mixed. Would we face racism or hostility?
When my son and I traveled to Scandinavia a few years ago we didn’t feel particularly welcome. It may have been a cultural thing.
My husband and I are considering moving to a country in Europe and Norway keeps popping up as a good country for immigration.
Any insights would be greatly appreciated.
Klara says
Hi, could you provide any insight on how you were able to be born a dual citizen? I’m similar to you – my mother is Norwegian and my father is American. I didn’t think I could be a dual citizen unless I lived in Norway for two years before I turned 18.
Silvia says
Hm the rules have changed many times throughout the years, but when I applied to keep my dual citizenship at twenty I just had to show some visits to Norway in my passport. My sister is three years older and had to write a letter detailing why she feels Norwegian, and my cousin is five years younger and had to have lived in Norway for two years. So it changes a lot! Though we were all dual citizens from birth and just had to apply to keep it as adults (also our mothers are Norwegian, not US citizens).
Malena says
So I am a citizen of Norway and the US just like you and have run into conflicting opinions about how to fly with the two passports. Next year I’m going to be moving to Norway and buying a one way ticket and I’ve been wondering what passport I use for each step of the way. I know that the US says that you have to leave using the US passport but there isn’t immigration at the airport when you leave. I’m also curious about which passports I use when getting round trip flights to the US and back to Norway. I just don’t want to make a mistake and get in trouble.
Silvia says
I always book my flights using the passport number for the country I will be flying into (for roundtrip I’ll use the destination country). Then at check in at the airport I show both passports. So if you’re leaving the US, just show the check in agents both passports and they’ll register your departure on your US passport, then use the Norwegian one when you arrive in Norway.
Shiret says
Hi Silvia. Great blog. My husband and I are both US citizens on the brink of retirement. We spent 2 weeks traveling in Norway last year. We are considering buying a remote property to spend 3-4 months a year in Norway. Will we need any type of citizen papers?
Jon says
You become tax liable to Norway once you spend 6 months out of 12 in Norway and need permission to remain, Montana might be less hassle
Shahab Uddin says
I am planning to study master’s in norway. I don’t mind working lower salary jobs as a student . And after completing my education, i want to settle there. Will government give me residence permit If a do lower job there?
Jötunn says
I must say it isn’t anything special to Norway about making friends and becoming a part of community. Such sentences usually come form people who have moved from larger cities. I assure you, if Norway had a 9-million-population city, it would feel exactly as New York City.
Silvia says
Norway does not have any 9-million-population cities, which is exactly the point.
Janice Qercia says
I would like to move to Norway with my children but we are Black. Is there any racist concerns I should note?
Ann Mahfuzah says
Thank you for posting this. I’ve been doing a lot of research about other countries including Norway because I was thinking of migrating from my country, Malaysia. I’m really glad I found your blog as this is really helpful. From your blog post and comments here, I was made to understand that living in small town is better than Oslo. Currently I’m working in a professional field, however I feel that I need to restart my life, work in a field that does not related to my current field. I’m thinking of studying and also working. I think I will need to do more research and a lot of thinking before I move to another country as the process is very complicated.
Cory says
This is great information. I’m currently learning Norwegian as best as I can I hope maybe by the end of the year starting next year I will be able to find a job there and the information you have given will make this much easier for me as a US citizen. Thanks again! If there’s any changes that has happened since you wrote this that I should be aware of I hope you wouldn’t mind sending that over please. I’m a Welder/Steel Fabricator by trade and it was also curious if that’s going to be hard to get into later in the years at first I won’t mind what job I have lol.
Mikky says
Hi, I plan on immigrating to Norway possibly at the end of the year. I wanted to know a few things first.
Who would I contact to get the process started on permanent residency? Also how much would it cost? I’m from the US and am just really confused on how to do this.
Who would I contact if I wanted to be an actor in Norway or just in film in general in Europe?
If I want to change my name where would I go or who would I contact for that process?
I may have more questions at some point but I think that’ll do for now.
Catherine says
Hi Silvia – I believe I have dual US-Norwegian citizenship. My father is Norwegian by birth and only has Norwegian citizenship; I have aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. there. My mother is American by birth and only has American citizenship. I was born in the US. My parents were not married when I was born, but they got married when I was almost 3 years old (before 9/1/2006). According to the UDI website, this means I do have Norwegian citizenship! I have contacted the local embassy to help me confirm this and file the appropriate paperwork, get a passport, etc.
In the meantime, can you tell me more about the process of moving to Norway as a dual citizen? You said it was easy – how long did it take? What did you need to have in place before moving? My partner is a US citizen – will it be difficult to bring him with me, do you think? Thanks for any insights you can provide!
Silvia says
That’s exciting! Really all you need to move here is your person number (like a social security number), which you should get with your citizenship. It will be on your passport. That’s the number you need to register when you move at the local office, and you will need it to open a bank account, sign a rental agreement, etc. So once you have that you’ll be set! I’m single so I don’t know about moving with a partner.
Padmanabhan Kumaravel says
Dear silviya,
I am a graduate in zoology, postgraduate in sociology and corporate secretary having 25 years of corporate secretary experience in senior management in india. Indian citizen, married, 53 years. I would like to migrate and settle in norway.please help me.
Pads
Please hel
Abela kitale says
I’m graduated diploma in nursing and midwifery I’m 23 yrs old and I have 6 months of experience as midwifery in my country
I would like to get permanent job in norway and permanent resident
Brain Taylor says
Thanks for sharing good and useful article. I like u r article. This very helpful me.
Modupe soremekun says
Thank you for sharing this article.I want to ask,how can I get an unskilled job at norway?I am a Nigerian presently staying in Nigeria.
Sean Byrd says
Hi,
It is not necessarily your business to be my confidant and general pukka sahib on the subject of possibly living in Norway for a while, and for that I apologize and will try and keep this not that weird or confusing, and thank you additionally for the lovely swathe of information you have already provided.
Generally speaking, the question is, as an American living in the UK, hypothetically, am I to understand that if a man, approximately me shaped, where to gently strut my way over to Norway, a country I have always enjoyed spending time in, and find a place to stay for a couple of months, getting settled in with the pile of pieces of eight I have accumulated in the amount necessary to cover what the government website lists as the amount necessary to prove you can be alive, then I might be able to apply in country for a skilled worker residency permit, for I believe I am one of those, find a job at a shop capitalizing on my okay basic Norwegian, and just live there for a while like a regular person?
If so, and if the schpeel I outlined wasn’t too garbled, then that is crazy. It has been a very specific and layered process to be able to live where I am that the potential ease of trying out Norway after this, assuming there is any potential truth in my hypothetical scenario, would frankly crack my mind clean in half.
Anyways, hope this wasn’t too unreasonable of a query nor forcing to break an oath you swore to the Mayor you would never break, and if you have the juice, I would love your opinion on whether or not I am indeed full to the brim with stink and nonsense or if I have a leg to stand on.
Hoping life is treating you well, and that you are having one and a half blasts with your whatsit,
Sean
Silvia says
I believe as an American you need to find skilled work in your area of training – so whatever your degree is in. So if you have a more practical degree than mine in philosophy and can find work then you should be all set!
Erik says
“Moving to a new country isn’t ever easy, and while in some ways Norway is an easier place to move to because the language isn’t too difficult to learn (at least for English speakers)…”
You do not need to learn the language. Most Norwegians speak and write English.
NICK ORTAKAND says
hi there
my name is nick and i live in Melbourne Australia and thinking to relocate to Norway with my three children and wife do you think is everything gonna be ok to do so ?
Dennis says
Hi Silvia,
Awesome blog.
So are there a lot of IT jobs in Norway? I have a BS in IT from a university in California and a few years of work experience. I suppose it’s easier to find a job there in person compare to just looking and applying via a Norwegian job website.
Always dreamed of moving to a peaceful, safe, and beautiful country with friendly people, it seems Norway has all that and then some.
All the best,
Dennis
Amraah says
Hello Silvia,I’m Amraah,i’m a Nigerian,thinking of relocating to Norway to study,heard it’s cheap and Norway is beautiful right?can you please guide me on that?
Emma B. says
I currently work remotely, Is Norway pretty amenable to people who already have work abroad and can support themselves? Or does the work have to be specifically in Norway? I am planning my escape from the US now after the madness of the last election and increasing danger to people of my ethnic group.
Silvia says
If you’re American I think it will be difficult to get a visa while working remotely.
Jon says
I agree
So long as you don’t remain or work in Norway too much (like more than six months in a year), you can just visit. Winters are long. Heating expensive
Stephen Tobin says
Hello,
I would like to move to Norway. Are people racist there if you don’t have blonde hair? I’m not joking do they discriminate if your not a blonde? To get there I will need a Visa and what else? Can I go to college for free? That’s one of the primary reasons I’m looking for a country with free college tuition, because I can’t afford American tuition, it’s just too much. Is it very cold there? Do most people have fireplaces, which would be very cool and cozy when I’m studying for a college or university. I like the small houses in Norway I have seen in pictures are the really, really expensive? Thank you, I think that’s all for now.
Anna says
Thanks for the great post. You said that it was easier for you having dual citizenship? I am in that same small boat (Norwegian and Australian), but confused about whether I still need to apply for residency, or can I literally just show up with my Norsk passport and say I’ve moved in? There is so much information about all the applications for a non EU country, but I struggle to find the information specific to what I’m looking for. Would be most appreciative of anything you can shed light on.
Silvia says
Yeah it’s super easy. When you arrive you can first open a bank account, which will also give you a bankID, which is linked to your person number and used for all digital signing of documents. Then all you have to do is register your new Norwegian address in the folkeregisteret and you’re official!
Anna says
Thanks so much! Truly appreciate your time in responding 🙂
mvh, Anna
Chukwuemeka Nwachukwu says
How can I come to observe life in Norway as their culture?
Cole says
I would like to note that if you don’t have EU citizenship the whole process is much harder. The reason is that if you want to qualify for a work visa then you have to get a job as a “skilled worker”. You can’t simply find any job such as at the supermarket. It has to be a job that requires the use of higher education degrees, generally speaking. Even then you won’t always qualify since it needs to also be full-time (80%+), not remote unless that’s a normal part of that position, and pay as well as what is “normal” for that position (which basically requires your qualifications to be better than average when average could be people with multiple years of experience in the field) Been applying for months, not even a singular interview yet. I wish I could take a job at a supermarket…