If you're a European citizen wondering if you can move to Norway, the short answer is yes, albeit with conditions.
Although Norway is not a member of the European Union, it is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) and the Schengen passport-free zone.
The relationship with Europe is complicated, but we've done our best to explain how it works in this article.
Norway is therefore bound by the same freedom of movement rules as all the other EU member states. So that's good news for citizens of:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
However, before you rush to grab your passport and book the first flight to Oslo, there are some conditions for Norway immigration.
Anyone from the above countries is entitled to come to Norway to work, study or live, but after three months, you must register with the Police in one of the following categories for your right to remain in Norway.
What about the UK? The United Kingdom is no longer a member of the European Union or the EEA. This means the freedom of movement benefits enjoyed by its citizens prior to Brexit no longer apply.
UK citizens who moved to Norway (or another EEA country) prior to Brexit had the opportunity to obtain permanent resident and retain most if not all of their benefits.
Employee / Job Seeker
If you find a job in Norway, you must register as an employee, which also entitles you to bring your immediate family to Norway.
If you come to Norway without a job, you can stay for a maximum of six months as a job-seeker. If you lose your job and have worked in Norway for less than one year, you are entitled to stay for up to six months as a job-seeker.
Student
To register in this category you must have been admitted to a recognised educational institution, have enough money to support yourself and any family members, and hold a European Health Insurance Card or prove you have private medical insurance.
Registering as a student entitles you to work part-time and bring your immediate family to Norway, who must also register.
Person with own funds
You are entitled to register if you can prove you have enough money to support yourself and any family members accompanying you. Such proof could be bank statements from a savings account or regular payments from a significant pension.
That said, bear in mind Norway is Europe's most expensive country in terms of cost of living and a basic state pension is unlikely to be enough. This category really only suits those with a substantial private pension.
Also, in order to register in this category, you must hold a European Health Insurance Card or have comprehensive private medical insurance.
Employee of foreign business
You are entitled to register in this category if you are an employee of a company registered in an EU/EEA country, or a self-employed individual, that has a contract with a Norwegian company to carry out an assignment in Norway.
Self-employed person
You must plan to start a business in Norway. This only applies to a sole proprietorship and not a limited company. You may be required to show proof of expected income in order to successfully register, depending on the business type.
Those who successfully register in this category can usually bring their immediate family – partner and children – with them, dependent on meeting certain financial criteria.
Family member of EU/EEA national with residence
As a family member of someone with residence in one of the above categories, you may be eligible to register yourself under the following conditions.
If your family member in Norway is a student, you can be:
- his/her spouse or registered partner
- his/her cohabitant. You must both be over the age of 18. You must have lived together for at least two years or have a child together or expect a child together.
- his/her child under the age of 21.
If your family member in Norway is an employee, self-employed person, service provider or has sufficient funds to support you, you can be:
- his/her spouse or registered partner
- his/her cohabitant. You must both be over the age of 18. You must have lived together for at least two years or have a child together or expect a child together.
- his/her fiancée/fiancé. You must have plans to marry within the next six months. You must have medical insurance that covers all risks.
- his/her child, grandchild or great-grandchild under the age of 21.
- his/her child, grandchild or great-grandchild over the age of 21 who is already being supported by the family member in Norway
- his/her parent, grandparent, great-grandparent who is already being supported by the family member in Norway
- his/her foster child under the age of 18. You must be an established member of the family and have confirmation from the authorities in your home country that you can settle in Norway. You must have medical insurance that covers all risks.
- his/her full sister/brother under the age of 18 without parents or other care providers. As a rule, the Norwegian child welfare authorities must have approved your family member as a care provider. You must have medical insurance that covers all risks.
- his/her family member with serious health problems and nursing needs. Your family member in Norway must be the only one who can provide nursing and care for you. You must have medical insurance that covers all risks.
In summary, citizens of an EU/EEA country can come to Norway to look for work for up to six months. Once you find work, it is relatively straightforward to register and stay in Norway.
After five years in Norway, the majority of EU/EEA citizens can apply for permanent residence, which entitles you to reside in Norway for an indefinite period and gives you extra protection against expulsion. After seven years, you can even consider citizenship.
Registering with the Police
The registration scheme for EU/EEA nationals is administered by the Norwegian Police.
The exact process varies upon the place you are moving to, but typically you will need to have your passport and relevant documentation, such as an employment contract or admissions letter to a university.
The process moved online recently, so you must pre-register on the UDI web portal and book an appointment, when you will present your documentation to the Police.
Should everything be in order, you will receive a registration certificate in the post.
Welcome to Norway!
Next in the series is the immigration requirements for those of you who are not an EU/EEA national.
Thanks for the infos! I’m moving to Norway in two weeks to do my Masters and I can’t wait!!
I hold a Finnish (EU) permanent residence am I eligible to work in Norway
Hello. You would have to apply for a work permit for citizens outside of EEA. A permanent residency permit from another EEA state doesn’t help you in this situation.
I hold portugese permanent residence (PR) not passport , am I eligible to work and stay permanent in Norway?
Hello all. I’m suppose of an EU citizen but I have only residence card here in Italy not citizenship.
my query is that may I come to norway with my wife as job seeker and live in Norway?
does the eventual registration certificate have some kind of tax number on it? presumably I need one of those for getting a job / mortgage etc?
takk skal du har
Yes, you are basically registering for a national ID number
Hi David,
I used to live in Norway 3 years ago, I have this ID number already. My plans for 2019 is to return in Norway. Do you think i can still use my previous ID number? Just going to UDI , showing them my reasons for moving in Norway again and that’s all? Many thanks in advance. Your articles are really helpful!!
I have no idea but I don’t see why not. Either way you’ll have to register when you arrive so you can just ask then. Welcome back!
What if my wife after 1 or 2 months of working in Norway, She decides to move back to her country? Can I as her husband keep living in Norway? Or then I will have to leave Norway too?
*She’s EU citizen and I am holding 3 years Estonian ID*
In order to resident card as a spouse of EU citizen, how much suifficient funds she proves?
I am a US citizen and my husband is a German citizen. My understanding from this article is that I may reside in Norway based on his citizenship and ability to show he has sufficient funds. However, does this also permit me to work in Norway, or would I need to apply for a work visa separately? Thank you!
You can check the specific requirements on http://www.udi.no
Hi David, thank you for your amazing blog.
I am considering moving to Norway from an EU country in 2020 and finding a full time employment there, so therefore getting an Employee visa. However, while I’m working, I’m considering maybe going back to university and finally getting a degree (I dropped out 4 years ago). Would I be able to attend the university with an Employee visa, or must I have a Student visa?
European citizens don’t need a visa, you just follow the registration process as outlined above
Dear David,
I’m an EU citizen and my husband has an EU residence card (Residence card of a Family Member of a Union Citizen).
I know we can enter Norway and we don’t need visa, but what is the procedure if he get’s a job offer and I don’t?
I couldn’t find any clear explanation /information I could apply to our situation.
Dear David,
My partner is a Norwegian man and Brexit has made things more difficult. We spent every other month together for 3-4 weeks for two years. We knew each other for 5 or 6 years, dating for 3, have lots of chat logs with each other.
Do you think I could register as his partner or get married before Brexit and have the authorities accept it? We weren’t planning on marriage, just kids and living together once I finish my degree
here in the UK.
Sorry for being a bother, Brexit has just screwed up my plans. 🙁
Hi David
Could you please be so kind and help me out.?
I had lived and worked 31 years in Norway.
My common law husband was Norwegian and I have Netherlands Nationality. He worked for a Norwegian company and was on a temporary contract for 3 years in Canada. We both moved to Canada. Unfortunately he suddenly died in Canada and I had to my move back alone. Do I have to register at the police again? We had stayed a member of folkeregister and been using my Norwegian ID continually.
Thank you most kindly.,
I have an EU passport and am working remotely for an American company with offices throughout the eu. Can I live in Norway?
Hello. I am from Belgium. EU sitizen and I’m thinking to arrive in Norway for as minimum long time live.I read all this site but I still can’t be sure how and where I have to start. General problems are find a roof, than administration issues for take basic Norwegian documents to start work and it’s not sure,that it will be possible without lenguage skills….so please,if sombody knows how to start from absolutely 0 without friends in Norway,write a little clear, detalled article to explain all to me and much other interested people .
Hi there,
I basically have the same questions as Rolo,
If somebody can help?
And is it hard to find a job if you are not a local,specially now woth covid?
Hi David,
I plan to look into Norwegian citizenship–I have U.S. but my mother was born and raised in Norway and read that’s a path to citizenship. Wondering though if Norwegian citizens can easily reside in EU countries and what that arrangement is.
Christine
Hello, so i was planning on moving in Norway with my girlfriend, and it’s said that you can stay up to 6 months looking for work, also if you register as an employee it’s written that you can bring your immediate family in Norway. How does that work? Do i have to find a job, register for employee and then invite my girlfriend to come or i can directly come with her, find a job and register. Also lets say that i come directly with her once i register i am entitled to bring my family with me, so will she need to register as well? Regards.
You can check on http://www.udi.no
I have recently found out that I’m a dual citizen of the US and Norway (born in Norway, my biological father and much family live there). I am the primary breadwinner, and support my husband and children. Would my husband be able to move to Norway without a job if I’m able to financially support him? He will be looking for work or starting his own company once we’re settled. Thank you.
Hi David, thanks for your great articles. I’m a freelance translator living in France. I could easily work in Norway since the time zone is the same and my job is 99% done through email. I’m not planning to start a business (as indicated in the self-employed section of this article), but will just work from a different location. Do you have any links to articles with more infomation? It would be much appreciated!!
You would need a work permit or to start your own business: https://www.lifeinnorway.net/moving-to-norway-as-a-remote-worker/
Hi David,
Thank you so much for all these articles. I currently work remotely for a UK company (which is now non-EU), and I am hoping to move to Norway with my partner. But can I still work for the UK firm, stay in Norway beyond three months and register as a resident? I can’t find any information on this scenario on your website or the UDI.
Info here: https://www.lifeinnorway.net/moving-to-norway-as-a-remote-worker/