Children born to Norwegians or adopted by them, spouses or partners of citizens, as well as foreigners who have lived in the country for a specified period of time can obtain Norwegian citizenship. Persons from abroad applying for a Norwegian passport must fulfill a number of conditions in terms of knowledge of the language, compliance with laws, and achieving financial independence. Norway’s migration policy is based on the principles of accepting foreigners who, through their behavior, demonstrate the sharing of Norwegian values, stay in the state for a long time and are integrated into society. The procedure for granting status is regulated by the Law on Citizenship. The benefits of obtaining a Royal Norwegian passport are related to freedom of movement around the world – the document is third in the power ranking and opens up opportunities for travel to more than 170 countries.

Benefits of a Norwegian passport

Norway is one of the ten richest in the world in terms of GDP, which per capita is 79,639 EUR. The country has an effective social security system, high wages, and developed infrastructure, which together allows migrants to count on building a future in the most favorable conditions.

The Norwegian passport provides the holder with the following privileges:

  • free travel without obtaining permits in 175 countries;
  • permanent residence without the need to obtain a permit in any EU state;
  • priority obtaining work in the Norwegian and European markets without obtaining a work permit;
  • education at leading universities in Norway and other European countries on a free or reduced basis;
  • business development in a unified EU logistics environment with loans at favorable interest rates and grants from the state;
  • medical care in leading European institutions under insurance conditions;
  • participation in the electoral political process, holding public office in Norway;
  • receiving social assistance in connection with unemployment, the birth of a child, retirement, temporary disability.

Norway provides great opportunities for residents who are fully integrated into society: they are fluent in the state language and receive a stable income. Foreigners who have just started the immigration process or are planning to do so may face a number of difficulties: difficulties in finding employment, one of the highest income taxes in Europe – 27%, high prices for accommodation and housing.

What is needed to obtain Norwegian citizenship status?

Each method of obtaining Norwegian citizenship involves individual requirements for applicants. Foreigners who plan to move to Norway and undergo the general naturalization procedure must:

  • reach adulthood;
  • have resided in the kingdom for at least 8 years in the last 11 years;
  • stay in the country with a residence permit status for at least a year;
  • have a passport or other valid document to prove your identity;
  • obtain a certificate of good conduct;
  • pass a test for social studies and proficiency in the state language (for applicants aged 18 to 67 years);
  • have a permanent residence permit when applying for citizenship or meet the conditions for its issuance, in particular financial solvency;
  • demonstrate their intention to continue to stay in the country and build a future on its territory.

Given that Norway allows dual citizenship, a person does not have to demonstrate a renunciation of their current status.

Legal ways to obtain a Norwegian passport

You can obtain Norwegian citizenship by birth, adoption, descent, naturalization, in particular simplified for certain categories of applicants, and marriage. The country does not provide investment programs through which one could buy a passport.

Birth, descent and adoption

Children who are born to one or both Norwegian parents acquire default status. Even if the citizen father died at the time of birth, the child will be able to obtain a passport in any case.

Children found on the territory of the kingdom are recognized as Norwegians unless their foreign origin is established.

A child adopted by a citizen of the country automatically receives citizenship if he is under 18 years of age. The guardianship procedure must be carried out in accordance with the laws of the kingdom.

Marriage with a citizen or permanent residence holder

Foreigners who are in a legal marriage or registered partnership with Norwegian citizens or permanent residents can quickly apply for a passport. Applicants are subject to the standard requirements for naturalizing persons, with the exception of the period of stay. Instead of 8 years, spouses of Norwegians or permanent residence holders must have lived in the country for at least 5 years over the past 10. Moreover, the duration of the union and cohabitation of the couple must reach 7 years. The prescribed duration of marriage and cohabitation does not have to coincide with the period of residence in Norway. Partners may be abroad for some time, but the main thing is that the couple can confirm their cohabitation during the designated period.

General naturalization

The process of obtaining citizenship by long-term residence of a person in Norway, learning the language, complying with laws, and making a profit is called naturalization. The duration of the procedure is generally 8 years. If the foreigner received a residence permit before entering the state, the countdown begins from the date of crossing the border. If you arrive in the country before obtaining a residence permit, the beginning of naturalization is considered the day you submit your request for a residence permit. The time from the expiration of the current permit until the registration of an application for the next, illegal stay or stay for more than two months a year abroad is not counted in the total period.

Naturalization begins with the opening of a visa, if there is no agreement on free border crossing between the foreigner’s state and Norway, and then the person issues a residence permit on one of the grounds (work, doing business, family reunification) and undertakes to renew the residence on time throughout the entire period. Obtaining permanent residence is not a prerequisite for acquiring citizenship, but the applicant must meet the requirements for permanent residence and have an application pending at the time of applying for the passport. Together with a naturalizing parent, his minor children can apply for status, but at the same time, special requirements are also put forward for them. A child under 2 years of age must have a residence permit, and from 2 to 18 years of age must also have a residence permit and stay in the country for 2 years or more.

Simplified naturalization

Norwegian legislation defines several categories of persons who must meet the general requirements for naturalization, but the period of stay in the state is reduced for them:

  • persons who arrived in the kingdom before the age of 18 – 5 years;
  • stateless persons – 3 years;
  • refugees – 7 years.

Persons who were previously citizens of the kingdom, but have lost their status, can regain it if they meet the conditions of naturalization. However, applicants in this category must live in the country for 2 years and do not have to fulfill the requirements for obtaining permanent residence.

Simplified status for Nordic citizens

Special conditions apply to passport holders of Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland. Persons belonging to this category can, with the fulfillment of basic naturalization standards, with the exception of having permanent residence or meeting the requirements for its acquisition, receive status after 2 years of residence.

There is also the option of a longer stay in the state, but with simplified conditions. If an adult applicant has been in the Kingdom for 7 years and has not been sentenced to prison for a criminal offense during this time, he will be able to apply for a Norwegian passport by notification without fulfilling the remaining naturalization requirements.

How to obtain Norwegian citizenship: step-by-step instructions

Naturalization begins with obtaining a residence permit from abroad on one of the available grounds. During the course of residence, the foreigner regularly renews the permit while maintaining compliance with the established requirements, and, if desired, can request permanent residence with an indefinite validity. After the expiration of the naturalization period, the applicant should begin the procedure for obtaining citizenship. Let’s take a step-by-step look at the procedure for acquiring status in Norway.

Registration of a residence permit

A request for the first residence permit in accordance with the basis relevant to the applicant must be submitted before entering the country by contacting the diplomatic mission. A residence permit is issued for a period of up to 5 years, depending on the type, but if obtained on the basis of employment, the duration of the permit cannot exceed the duration of the work contract. Extension of a residence permit requires contacting the police. After three years of stay in Norway and fulfilling the requirements for social studies and language proficiency, it is possible to apply for permanent residence . Registration of permanent residence at this stage is not mandatory, but before submitting a request for citizenship, a person in any case must meet the conditions imposed on holders of permanent residence.

Passing the test

Foreigners who undergo general naturalization are required to confirm knowledge of the state language at level B1, and simplified – A2. The test is conducted in an oral format and information on the types of testing and certificates that are approved for status can be found on the Office of Higher Education and Skills website. Applicants must also take a Norwegian citizenship and social studies test, which are administered in writing. On the Kompetanse Norge website you can sign up for the test, find out the details, and practice completing online tasks. Each municipality determines testing schedules and examination centers separately. If the applicant has previously taken a social studies test in Norwegian as part of the integration course, the test will not be required again.

Collection and preparation of documents

The basic dossier for obtaining naturalization status includes:

  • completed application form;
  • foreign passport or other identity card with copies of all pages;
  • birth certificate;
  • a completed travel review during your stay in the country, as well as planned stays abroad for 2 months or more;
  • a police certificate confirming the absence of offenses (for persons over 15 years of age);
  • permanent residence permit or documents required for applying for permanent residence, in addition to the request form;
  • test certificates or evidence of grounds for exemption;
  • health certificate.

If it is not possible to provide any of the documents, a written explanation must be prepared. The individual must also print and sign the UDI Dossier Checklist. All documents in a language other than Norwegian or English require translation. When visiting the authorized body in person, you must have the originals with you.

Applying for citizenship and receiving a decision

The applicant needs to register on the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) website, after which he will be able to access the application form and document checklist, making an appointment. The file is submitted in person at the police station, and the decision on the case is made by the responsible UDI authority. The total waiting period varies depending on individual conditions. Transferring a file from the police to UDI takes anywhere from a week to several months depending on the branch, while the Immigration Department takes an average of 22 months to process a case. The decision is sent to the applicant’s email or postal address, after which the registration of passports can begin.

Terms and cost of obtaining Norwegian citizenship

The duration of consideration of an application for a residence permit is up to 20 days. The number of permit extensions before the citizenship registration stage depends on the basis and type of document. The maximum validity period of the first residence permit is 5 years. The total duration of obtaining Norwegian citizenship, taking into account the waiting period for consideration of applications, ranges from 2 to 8 years, depending on the method of obtaining.

The cost of applying for citizenship status for an adult naturalizing foreigner is NOK 6,500/EUR 560. Additionally, it is worth considering the costs of translation and legalization of documents (from 10-15 EUR per page), residence in the country, and payment for the services of specialists if their help is required. During naturalization, a person will also need to pay fees for registration and renewal of a residence permit, which range from 500 to 920 EUR depending on the basis for obtaining permanent residence (330 EUR).

Norwegian passport: how to get it after obtaining citizenship

Norwegians receive an internal identity card in the form of a plastic card with a photo for use within the kingdom and travel to EU countries, Switzerland, as well as a foreign passport of a Norwegian citizen in book format for travel to other countries of the world.

You can request an ID card from the police department only in Norway, and a foreign passport can also be requested from designated authorities or from a diplomatic mission if the person is abroad. You can submit a request for two documents at the same time. The person must make an appointment in advance and prepare a dossier, including a decision on granting citizenship from the UDI, a residence card, and a foreigner’s identity card. When documents are ready, they are delivered by mail to the applicant. The estimated waiting period is 1 week and additional time for delivery from Oslo if registration took place through authorities in other cities. The cost of producing an ID card is 570 NOK/50 EUR for a period of 10 years and 340 NOK/30 EUR for up to 10 years. The fee for issuing a foreign passport is 50 and 30 EUR for persons over 16 and under the specified age, respectively. If an application is submitted for two ID cards at the same time, the total fee is reduced – for example, for adult applicants over 16 years old 920 NOK/80 EUR for both passports.

Dual Norwegian citizenship

From 1 January 2020, Norwegians are allowed to hold two or more passports. In connection with this legal provision, foreigners who intend to legalize their stay in the country have the right to retain their current status and obtain a second citizenship in Norway. In this case, individuals can use two identification documents at their own discretion and enjoy available privileges, but at the same time in each state they will be considered only their own citizens. The rights and obligations of individuals are not interchangeable, unlike dual citizenship, when an agreement is signed between countries. The authorities do not require a foreign applicant for status to renounce their current passport and do not notify the responsible authorities of their state of origin of the person’s accession to the Norwegian nation.

Refusal and revocation of Norwegian citizenship

Rejection of an application for Norwegian citizenship may be due to the following reasons:

  • the applicant does not meet one of the requirements established by law;
  • submission of an incomplete dossier or incorrectly formatted components;
  • providing inaccurate or deliberately false information about the identity of the applicant in order to mislead government officials;
  • the presence of a threat from the applicant to the country’s national security.

You should also take a responsible approach to preparing your dossier and provide only truthful, complete information, which will help minimize the risk of your request being rejected.

Deprivation of status is possible in connection with the discovery of facts that a person fraudulently acquired citizenship. If, after a thorough assessment of the situation by authorized persons, it is determined that the citizen does not have strong ties to the kingdom, he may lose his passport. Revocation of citizenship is also possible due to the commission of a criminal offense (for adults). If a person has another citizenship and does not correspond to the fundamental national interests of Norway due to this factor, the Ministry of the Interior has the right to decide to revoke the status.

Applicants for Norwegian citizenship should carefully monitor the relevance of their permits to stay in the country before applying for a passport and renew them on time. Illegal residence risks deportation and inability to obtain a visa, residency status and citizenship in Norway in the future.

How to obtain Norwegian citizenship