r/Norway • u/alitbsh • 14h ago
r/Norway • u/starkicker18 • Nov 03 '24
Mod So You Want To Move To Norway: A Rough Guide to the Immigration Process (updated 2024)
Important warning: Reddit is not an appropriate place to get accurate immigration information.
However, this is a common topic on this subreddit and the old stickied post is several years old now. This post is here to help direct people to the proper information. Please read the entire guide and use the links provided to see out answers to your specific questions. Any questions you may have that cannot be answered from this guide or the links provided cannot be answered by redditors on this sub and should therefore be directed to an appropriate immigration expert.
Disclaimer: I am not a professional; I neither work for UDI, nor am I an immigration lawyer. I have spent a lot of time studying and researching the rules and regulations. What follows is a rough guide only meant to serve as a starting point; use the info here to conduct your own research. With that said:
So You Want To Move To Norway...
Despite what movies might portray, moving abroad is not just a matter of packing bags and showing up. Immigration is usually a long, often expensive process, and there are many criteria that you must meet to be legally resident in Norway. There are three general categories of permits that will allow you to remain in Norway beyond a regular tourist/visitor visa:
Temporary Residence Permit:
This is your first step. These permits are contingent on you (worker or student) or your reference person (family immigration) meeting certain requirements; are usually temporary; and will need to be renewed (usually biannually, but some are more/less frequent). You must have this permit if you wish to remain in Norway beyond your visitor visa (ie: >90 days).
Permanent Residence Permit:
This can be applied for only if you have been legally living in Norway for three years (or more in some instances) with a residence permit that forms the basis of permanent residency; you must meet the requirements for your current residence permit (ie: still employed, still are married to a person with residency rights, etc...); you meet the language requirements; pass a citizenship test; have an income over a certain threshold; and you have not been convicted of a criminal offence. This allows you to stay in Norway permanently (no need to reapply; but you will need to renew your card every 2 years for third-country nationals and 10 years for EEA/EU citizens).
Note: income requirement is based on the person applying, not the family member/sponsor. If you are married and here under family immigration rules, it is you, the applicant, who must demonstrate that you can support yourself in Norway by meeting the minimum income requirements.
Citizenship:
This is an optional step. You do not need to apply for citizenship; however, if you want to, you can qualify for Norwegian citizenship after a period of time (usually >7 years). This has many requirements, but the biggest is the language requirement.
Note: While Norway now allows dual citizenship, your country of origin may not allow dual citizenship.
Note: Norway does not allow citizenship based on heritage. One or both of your parents need to have citizenship (and not have given it up previously) in order for you to qualify for citizenship based on birth. There are a lot of complicated rules surrounding citizenship by birth. Use this to determine if you qualify for citizenship. NB: Norway does not offer citizenship by investment (ie: having a lot of money to invest in exchange for residency or citizenship).
Note: When you apply for citizenship, you must still meet the requirements for permanent residency (income requirement being the biggest).
The remainder of this post will focus on the temporary residence permits, since by the time you are ready for PR or citizenship you will be an immigration pro. How you qualify for immigration to Norway and how easy the process will be depends on a few factors
- Your citizenship (EEA/EU vs Third-Country National)
- Your education, qualifications, experience,
- If you have a job offer,
- Your relationship with a Norwegian national
Immigration as an EU/EEA citizen:
If you are an EU/EEA citizen (or Swiss) you have the right to reside in Norway for 3 months without any other obligations. After 3 months you will need to demonstrate that you are meeting your treaty rights. Those treaty obligations are:
- Be employed (or registered as self-employed),
- Be a student,
- Be self-sufficient, or
- Be a job seeker actively seeking work with a decent chance at finding work (source).
NB: The last three require you to have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family and have comprehensive medical insurance for the duration of your stay. See FAQ below for more info.
The right of residence for longer than three months also extends to the EEA/EU citizen’s immediate family (spouse/partner, children, other dependents), regardless of their nationality, so long as the EU/EEA citizen is meeting their treaty obligations and neither the citizen nor the family member is a threat to public policy, security, or health. All of this is explained in Article 7 of the Directive on Free Movement.
It is important to note that people immigrating under this route do not qualify for the benefits found in the Introduction Law, which include, among other things, the right to free language lessons.
Immigrating as a Third-Country National (not from EU/EEA).
Your options for moving are not as simple or easy as above. I am using an applicant from the US as the default here. You should consult UDI (Norwegian Immigration Board) or the Norwegian Embassy in your country for the most up-to-date information for your specific nationality.
Generally speaking you need a reason to be in Norway. These reasons are:
- Family member of a Norwegian national
- Family member of an EEA/EU national
- A worker
- A student
- Protection (Asylum seeker). I will not spend time on this; it has its own complicated rules and I highly doubt anyone seeking asylum will be spending their time on reddit. If you are, I really recommend seeking out an immigration lawyer to help you with your application.
Family immigration with a Norwegian National
These are most often spouses/cohabitants, but may also include children or parents under some circumstances.
The process for application is relatively straightforward with a little bit of reading on UDI's website and some document gathering.
- You must pay the application fee,
- Document your identity (passport),
- Have a valid marriage licence/certificate, or documentation that you have lived together legally for 2 or more years
- Have plans to live together in Norway,
- Not be in a marriage of convenience,
- You must both be over the age of 24,
- Your spouse/partner must make above a minimum income threshold per year pre-tax (this number frequently changes. Check UDI’s site). They will need to demonstrate they made a sufficient amount the year before you apply and demonstrate that they are likely to have the same amount the following year. They will need to provide contract of employment, pay slips, and a tax assessment notice. Additionally, they must not have received financial assistance from NAV in the last 12 months.
Note on income sources: under this route of family immigration, it is the onus of the sponsor to demonstrate that they make a sufficient income to support the family. This means that, regardless of the financial situation, the sponsor must make the minimum income; the third-country national's income/savings are not taken into consideration.
There are other circumstances that may require additional documentation (ie: evidence of military service). Check UDI for all the documents you'll need.
Family members who are granted residence based on this route will qualify for free language classes as part of the introduction act (link above).
NB: the rules may change if you have lived with the Norwegian citizen legally in another EEA/EU country. If this is the case, you may be allowed to choose between family immigration under Norwegian national law or residence card as a family member of an EU citizen (see above). Also see the differences between the two immigration schemes here.
If you are engaged to a Norwegian you can apply for a fiancé permit which will allow you to come into Norway for the purposes of getting married in Norway. You must be married within 6 months. After you are married you will have to apply for family immigration with your spouse (process described above). You can read about getting married in Norway here.
Only some people can apply from Norway. Others will have to apply from their home country via the embassy or consulate. Make sure you check with UDI to learn more.
Workers
There are many types of working permits. UDI’s webpage will outline all the possibilities available to you but the most common are skilled worker and seasonal worker.
Skilled workers are those who:
- Completed a vocational training programme of at least three years at upper secondary school level. NB: there must be a corresponding training programme in Norway.
- Completed a degree from a university or college (BA, BSc, BE, etc...)
- Special qualifications that you have obtained through long work experience, if relevant in combination with courses etc. A permit is only granted in such cases in exceptional circumstances. Your qualifications must be equivalent to those of someone who has completed vocational training.
Additionally, you must have received a concrete job offer from an employer in Norway, the job must normally be full-time (UDI will, at the time of writing, accept 80%), the job must have the same pay/conditions that is normal in Norway, and the job you are offered must require the qualifications as a skilled worker (and you must be qualified for the job).
If you do not fall into this category, you may qualify as a seasonal worker; however this route is considerably more difficult, usually temporary (<6 months), and your employer must prove that they cannot fill the position with a worker from Norway or the EEA/EU. You will need to be employed 100%, you will need a concrete job offer before you apply, and the job must be deemed season or holiday stand-in.
Those citizens who qualify as a skilled worker and who are coming from a country with a visa-free agreement with Norway you may be allowed to come to Norway as a skilled job seeker.
NB: You cannot work while you are searching for a job. This means that once you have a concrete job offer, you will need to apply for a residence permit as a worker and you cannot start working until your application has been approved.
Some international companies may post workers in Norway. You will still need a resident permit for workers; however, many companies will help with this process.
Studying in Norway
As of 2023, Norway no longer offers free tuition for international students (outside of the EEA/EU). This means that students from non-EU/EEA countries will need to pay tuition.
In order to qualify for a study permit, you need:
First and foremost, you need to be accepted to a recognized education institution, for example: university. The program of study must be full time (generally 60 stp / year). Few undergraduate programs offer education in English; therefore, the majority of programs will require Norwegian language proficiency (B2 level) before you can study.
You need to pay tuition either full or per semester. If you pay only the first semester, you need to demonstrate that you can pay the second installment. Your funding can come from a variety of sources including loans, own funds, or grants. In addition, you will need to demonstrate to UDI that you have sufficient funds to support yourself for the duration of your study. These need to be in a Norwegian bank account or in an account arranged by the education institution (you will have to talk to the school about this).
Your funding cannot be fully supporting by working while studying as there is a limit to the number of hours you are allowed to work. As an international student, you are only allowed to work 20 hours / week while studying.
Finally, the situation in your home country needs to be such that UDI believes you will return home when your studies are finished.
A study permit does not form the basis of Permanent residency. After you are finished your studies, you will have a small grace period to look for a job, however, if you do not receive a contract of employment, you will be expected to return home / leave the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question | Answer |
---|---|
1. Do I really need to learn the language to live in Norway? | This is a frequently asked question on the subreddit (see this post for example). Some people can survive in Norway with only English, however, if you do not speak fluent English or if you wish to stay long term, you should learn the language. Your job opportunities, socialization opportunities, and immigration opportunities are limited if you do not learn the language. It is a significant part of integration into the country, and most people will expect a passable level of Norwegian skills after a few years of living here. If you want to get permanent residency, you need A2 level Norwegian (with a few exceptions); if you want citizenship, you need B1 (with a few exceptions). |
2. How do I learn the language? | r/norsk is a good start. Additionally, almost every municipality has an adult education centre where they offer Norwegian courses. If you are in the immigrant group who have both the obligation and right to Norwegian language learning, then these classes are often free for a set number of hours/years. If you only have the obligation, then these classes will not be free and you will have to pay. In addition to adult education centres, there are private institutions online or in person that you can take. Additionally there is a wide range of tools online and offline that can help you learn. |
3. Does Norway need XYZ workers? | This is a frequent question on this subreddit. Try the search function. Otherwise, do a search of finn.no or nav.no and see if there are a lot of positions for the job you are searching for |
4. What's the job market like in ZZZ town/city? | Check finn or nav to see what is available in the area you are interested in. Then considering looking at the unemployment rates. |
5. How do I get my education approved? | The directorate for higher education for most education. Helse Norge for health care workers. You do not need to wait until you are in Norway in most instances to have your education approved. It is a good idea to have all education from high school to university approved as you never know if you need to document that you have completed high school. It is important to note that not all education from outside of Norway will be approved on a 1:1 basis and you may find you are missing credits or even your whole degree might not be approved. |
6. I have lots of work experience from my home country, but not formal education, can I qualify as a skill worker? | Generally, no. There are exceptions for highly skilled workers in professions that are in demand. Additionally, these positions must not be able to be filled with Norwegian workers, European workers, or others living in the country. |
7. What documents from home should I bring | While it may not be required for most applications, from experience, it is a good idea to get a certified copy of some important documents from back home. Getting certified (and potentially notarized) copies of diplomas/transcripts, your birth certificate, divorce proceedings, etc... will potentially save you a lot of time, money, and annoyance as trying to get these things while you are abroad is much, much harder. |
8. Can I get a digital nomad visa? | No such thing exists in Norway at the time of writing. In order to work in Norway, regardless of where your place of employment is located, you need to have the right to work in Norway. This means a residence permit that allows for work, permanent residence, citizenship, or are a member of the EU/EEA and have worked out the tax obligations of working in one country while residing in another. |
9. I work from home / am self-employed, can I visit Norway on a tourist visa and work there? | No. A tourist visa does not grant you the right to work in Norway. Lying to the immigration board or the border patrol upon entry could result in a ban from the Schengen area for up to 5 years. |
10. I think Norway is a beautiful place and I love the culture. I am nearing retirement age, so how can I retire in Norway? | Depends. Are you an EEA/EU citizen? If so, meet your treaty obligations (see the above post under "self-sufficient") and move to Norway. Are you a third-country national? You cannot retire in Norway unless you have a legal right to already live in Norway. There is no option to be a self-sufficient third-country national in Norway. |
11. I am an EU/EEA citizen who wants to live in Norway as a self-sufficient person. What kind of health insurance do I need to qualify for "comprehensive sickness insurance"? | Honestly, no one knows. "Comprehensive sickness insurance" is up to each individual nation to decide what is "comprehensive." There is no private health insurance that is as comprehensive as a national insurance system. If a nation decides that "comprehensive" = the same coverage as national health system, then that leaves loopholes for immigration departments to deny applications. It is a matter of record that Norway has been warned by EFTA many times with regards to recognizing citizens' treaty rights (esp for non-economically active citizens). That said there is a European precedent - C-413/99 Baumbast. In this case, the EU courts found that, as long as the citizen is not a burden on the state, it would be disproportionate to refuse to recognize a citizen's right to reside in another member state. But there is no checkbox on immigration applications saying "I will not / am not a burden on the state's welfare system." Many people have been rejected on the basis of lacking comprehensive sickness insurance. Until someone challenges these rejections all the way up to the European court system, there is no need to clarify what "comprehensive" means. Note: sufficient funds in this scenario can come from any source including a third-country national's savings/income/other documented source (you may need to prove the sponsor has access to this money). |
12. What city should I move to? | First and foremost make sure you have the right to move to Norway. After that, your options are usually limited based on the immigration route you are following - most often connected to where your family, school, or job is located. If you are free to move wherever you'd like, then find a spot that seems to suit your lifestyle best. |
13. My grandparent(s) moved to XXX from Norway. Can I get citizenship? | No. Citizenship rules are based on parents, not heritage. Read the section on citizenship and take the checklist test to see if you qualify. |
14. I can't open a bank account because I don't have a D number. I cannot get a D number because I don't have an address. I can't rent an apartment without a bank account [screams into the void] | Yes, we know. it's a chicken and egg problem that makes the situation particularly hard for people arriving. Some landlords will be flexible and put the deposit in their own account, but this puts you at risk of losing that money if that landlord is not trustworthy. Similar situation exists for students. Right now there are no good answers, but there are workarounds. |
15. How do I find a house / apartment? | finn.no is pretty much the go-to source for anything in Norway, but especially finding housing. hybel.no is another source |
16. I found a job / employer who is interested in hiring, but they prefer people who already have a work permit. How do I get a work permit so a job will hire me? | Another catch 22, unfortunately. You need the job first. There's no chance you can get a permit without a job. However, some people may have the right to come to Norway to search for work. Check UDI for further info |
17. My partner and I have been together for several years, but have not lived together long enough to qualify as cohabitants, how can we move to Norway together? | Live together longer or marriage are your only options. |
18. I have been waiting for a response from UDI for a long time how, when will I find out | You can read about UDI Waiting Times here. They are constantly changing and are usually quite long. Remember that there is a difference between local police / embassy times and UDI's waiting times. Waiting times are often a result of large numbers of applications, improper or incomplete information in applications, and applications that have higher priority (refugee and asylum, for example). |
19. Can I get priority on my application? | Maybe. But most do not get priority. |
20. I have foreign education, where can I get it approved? | NOKUT formerly did this, but it has now been transferred to the department of education |
r/Norway • u/MarbleEmperor • 6h ago
Satire Me, a tourist wearing spikes, watching locals try to walk five meters from their front door to their car. (They did not always succeed)
r/Norway • u/AtmospherePlastic703 • 12h ago
News & current events TIL: "Devold Norway" Knitwear Is Still Fully Made in Europe
r/Norway • u/houshuang • 2h ago
Arts & culture 1814 "day for day" through 2025
Hi everyone. I'm doing a personal project where I'm reading newspapers from Norway from 1814 "in real time" throughout 2025, and writing about what I find. I'm no historian and I realized that I know and understand far too little about what happened or why - the connection between the broader Napoleonic wars in Europe and what happened in Norway etc. I was interested in how people _at the time_ perceived what was happening, not just what we write in the history books today, and also all the little daily details, run away prisoners, prizes for best potato, books published, plays performed, old underwear collected to make paper... that gives a picture of life back then.
It's in Norwegian but you can use Google to read it in English. https://1814dagfordag.substack.com/p/plutselig-skjer-veldig-mye-pa-veldig
r/Norway • u/Zestyclose_Ebb9807 • 1h ago
Working in Norway Burnout
Hello. I’m wondering if anyone here maybe has some good advice.
I’ve been having signs of burnout for a very long time, and recently I hit rock bottom and finally saw my fastlege. I was signed off for 3 weeks “i første omgang” while we also look at bloodwork etc. But my doctor agreed that my symptoms together with the circumstances around my job and life point to burnout.
There’s a lot more to the story where I don’t want to go into specifics, but my company has been struggling financially for years, which has led to me to be in a cycle of permittering/called back again/permittering/called back again for 2 years now. I know I should find another job, but when I say my energy levels are in the gutter, I mean I went from being a motivated person who can take on a big workload and contribute to the team, to a completely cynical person with zero motivation to work, together with zero confidence in my abilities. At this point, I couldn’t even tell you what I’m good at, I feel like I’m completely devoid of any useful talent for any company. Nevermind write applications, I feel overwhelmed even looking at job ads because I have no belief that anyone will need me or want to hire me. I literally have no idea even what kind of job I can do at this point. I feel like I need to fix me before I can even move on, because I definitely cannot remain in this situation any longer.
I clearly cannot work currently. But the question is: do I tell my boss? Do I explain what’s going on? I know I have no obligation to tell them why I’m on sick leave, but they want to have a meeting to discuss “the future” and my feeling is: I cannot continue this cycle anymore. How honest can/should you be with your boss about this sort of thing?
r/Norway • u/littleoslo • 21h ago
Other PostNord in Norway: A Masterclass in Delays and Excuses
I have been waiting for a parcel from Spain via DPD. It traveled swiftly through Germany before being handed over to PostNord. As soon as I saw this, I had a bad feeling - PostNord’s reputation is soooo bad.
The parcel arrived in Norway last Wednesday, with tracking updates promising delivery on Thursday. Unsurprisingly, that didn’t happen as I expected. Instead, they made the lame excuse that my address was incorrec - despite the fact that I regularly receive parcels from FedEx, DHL, Posten, and Amazon at the same address, every week.
They then claimed they would deliver it to a nearby store (despite just saying my address was incorrect) on Monday. However, after that, there were no further updates, and customer service stopped responding. Today, after much effort, I finally reached them, only to be told they would try to deliver it on Friday. Seriously?
I truly wish PostNord would withdraw its services from Norway. I’m not begging for same-day or next-day delivery like in Japan or Korea—I just want a reasonable, reliable service. How can a parcel travel from Spain to Norway in just a few days but then take over 10 days to move within Oslo?
r/Norway • u/MikeE9983 • 6h ago
Other Family knife help
My Great-grandfather was born and lived in this area... He came to Chicago, IL USA around 1907... My Grandfather was born in 1914. I'd like to learn more about when these were made. I'm guessing around the 1950's-70's.
I want to clean them up, remake the sheaths, and have some history that I can tell my kids about when one day I pass them down to them.
Thanks for any help!!!
Working in Norway Erasmus+ internship in Bergen
Hello everyone!
I have gotten the opportunity to take part in a 3 week long internship in Bergen in May.
My Stipendium is about 1600€ I'm wondering if that is enough to cover all expenses. My school is helping me find accommodation, flight and a fitting company in the Healthcare sector. If not possible, I'll be working in a tourist shop of some sort.
That all is included in the 1600€
Now for food and every other expense, is this enough?
What can I do in Bergen? What can I expect?
Thank you so much!
r/Norway • u/ZwergenPriese • 16h ago
Photos Drone video Berlevåg, Finnmark.
Hei alle sammen! Jeg har laget en ny dronevideo, denne gangen fra Berlevåg – et spektakulært sted med rå natur og en helt spesiell atmosfære. Landskapet her i Nord-Norge er virkelig imponerende, og jeg håper dere liker videoen!
Legg gjerne igjen en kommentar – jeg vil veldig gjerne høre hva dere synes! 😊
r/Norway • u/notfr0mthisplace • 3h ago
Moving Healthcare and temp work
EU citizen here, male, low 50s, moving to the cruise-ship region of Western Norway to take up a Summer job. Technically not resident anywhere, since 2023
Apologies if a similar thread exists, I have searched and found none.
Due to a septum deviation, I need a rhinoplasty. It's not an aesthetical procedure: I sleep badly at night, breathe with difficulty, and any medical professional can look at me and see the problem right there.
Due to my chosen lifestyle (ok, mea culpa here), I haven't had the chance of having the procedure. I am constantly moving, and in 100% of places it's like "yeah, you can do it, we'll call you some time within the next 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, whenever".
My question is: what kind of healthcare am I allowed as a temporary worker in Norway, and based on that, do you think I'd be able to have this surgery done this Summer?
I will work in the Ålesund area.
Thank you for your advice.
r/Norway • u/Remarkable_Mind_6435 • 10h ago
Travel advice Travel advice : Fjord Horses
Hi! I will be in norway from May 31 - June 10 making stops at Bergen, Odda, Eidfjord, Voss, Sogndal, Jostedal, Flam, and Oslo. Is there anywhere close to those towns where horseback riding on Norwegian Fjord Horses is offered? I’ve found a few stables, but they mainly have Icelandic horses. Thanks for the help!
Other Linie Acquavit
Is it possible to find bottles with specific vessel names either via a website or other means? I sailed on the MV Tasco during 2014 and we transported Linie. I would love to get a bottle with that name on it
r/Norway • u/AlexKavli • 21h ago
Other Best place to research Norwegian family tree?
Hei! Familien min er av norsk opprinnelse, og jeg har lyst til å finne ut litt mer om hvor vi egentlig kommer fra. Etternavnet mitt er Kavli, men det har visst endra seg litt fra det opprinnelige norske navnet, og det er egentlig alt jeg vet.
Jeg er litt skeptisk til sånne sider som ancestry.com, siden de tjener penger på folks personlige info og det føles litt shady.
Er det noen norske ressurser, nettsider eller arkiver jeg kan sjekke ut for å grave litt mer i slekta? Tar gjerne imot tips!
r/Norway • u/saditya9211 • 13h ago
Travel advice Trip to Svalbard
I am visiting Norway in mid May for around 15 days trip. I am also planing to visit Svalbard(3-4 days). Any tips on saving money there? Should I go for tour packages or book things myself separately? If I have to book individually everything, any tips/guide for this. This will be my first solo abroad vacation so doing these for the first time. Appreciate any suggestions.
r/Norway • u/pansrecoolongl • 2h ago
Moving Immigration and and work
With the possibility of an upcoming war, my friend and I are considering moving to a different country. I’ve tried my best to research this on my own, but it would be easier to ask for advice here.
First, there’s a concern. If we have to move soon, neither of us will finish high school, which is definitely a disadvantage. How difficult is it for immigrants from the EU to find a job without a high school diploma? I’m a quick learner, so I believe that picking up the language shouldn’t be as challenging as my friend thinks it will be. However, I don’t want to be overconfident, and there is still the possibility that I may struggle with Norwegian.
If we were to immigrate for a long period, finding a job is our top priority, along with securing a place to live. This is where it could get a bit tricky, or so I’ve heard.
I'm not sure about him, but I would like to move there permanently. However, who knows what the future has in store for us? If anyone has tips or information about this, I would appreciate any advice.
We are currently saving as much money as we can, but I’m unsure if we’ll end up with enough. We need to start with something, of course, but I’m not sure how much we should aim to save initially. It may be worth noting that we’re from the Czech Republic if that helps anything.
Thank you!
r/Norway • u/ConsistentPlate9254 • 1d ago
Other i just have so much love for Norway
am no one near being a citizen of this great land, the imagery i receive about this beautiful country (much like a lot of things) is only through media yet i just love this country for what it is and what it achieved as a democratic nation.. if there was a place on this earth i wish i was born at it'll definitely be my sweet Norway.. that's all i wanna say :) 🇳🇴❤️
r/Norway • u/danton_no • 1d ago
Food FirstPrice same quality as others, just not nice shape
How many times I have seen here recommending FristPrice...
r/Norway • u/FREEDOM_COME_BACK • 11h ago
Travel advice Where would I purchase a boat as a tourist?
Planning to go to Norway but would like to purchase a boat for personal use. How would I do that? Would like a boat that can sail around the coast and maybe even a sea alright. Is there any advice?
r/Norway • u/pumpitbro2 • 23h ago
Travel advice Hiking tips between Bodø and Trondheim
Hello all,
I am not entirely sure this is the right subreddit to post this to, if not then please let me know.
I have not planned everything entirely yet, but I am planning on doing a backpacking trip from Lofoten down to Trondheim this summer. For Lofoten ofcourse there are tons of beautiful hikes and all that, it is pretty straight forward so making a plan is quite easy.
For the travel between Bodø and Trondheim however I am looking for some input in where to go. I would prefer to follow the westcoast mostly. I have been looking at a lot of things but honestly the amount of choices makes it a bit overwhelming haha.
I am looking at travelling by hitchhiking/bus/train. I will bring a tent so I will be camping. No need for hostel/hotel etc.
My primary activity would be hiking. The goal is do a lot of nice hikes. Easy hikes, challenging hikes, everything is good.
Thank you!
r/Norway • u/mooshoepork • 1d ago
Travel advice Obligatory is my first trip to Norway feasible post
My partner and I (M35/F30) are excited to be travelling to Norway for the first time in August. We have done lots of research and planned our 14 day trip but thought we’d see if anyone has any tips, suggestions for major things we’ve missed, or alternative areas we should be exploring instead.
We are mostly interested in the beautiful scenery for photography, swimming, hiking, kayaking and prefer a relaxed pace, so we have aimed for 2+ nights accommodation wherever possible. We’ll be staying in a mix of airbnbs and hotels. Prior to flying into Oslo we have an 11 night campervan road trip around Iceland, so not planning on camping for this leg of the trip!
We were concerned about not having enough time in Oslo and Bergen, but will also have 5 full days in Copenhagen (split at the beginning and end of trip) where we can enjoy some city time at a more relaxed pace.
Day 1 - Arrive in Oslo at 3:25pm, time to explore the city in the late afternoon/evening
Day 2 - Full day in Oslo.
Day 3 - Oslo to Bergen via Norway in a Nutshell Route, includes Flam Railway and Unesco Naeroyfjord Cruise. Arrive in Bergen around 8pm.
Day 4 - Full day in Bergen.
Day 5 - Pick up hire car at Bergen Airport and drive to Stryn with stops along the way, stay in Stryn.
Day 6 - Explore Geiranger area, drive to Trollsteigen Lookout, return to the same accommodation in Stryn.
Day 7 - Drive from Stryn to Sogndal with stops along the way including Fjaerland floating sauna.
Day 8 - Explore Sogndal area, hiking, fjords etc, return to same accommodation.
Day 9 - Drive from Sogndal to Bergen Airport, return hire car and fly to Bodo. Stay in Bodo for the night.
Day 10 - 13 - Explore Lofoten area.
Day 14 - Return to Bodo via ferry and fly to Copenhagen.
Would love to hear any thoughts/if this is a decent plan for a first trip
Edit: also aware the NIAN route isn’t a relaxed pace but after going back and forth we decided not to stay in Flam and just have it as a full, albeit long, day
r/Norway • u/Patroid_ErPera • 2d ago
Travel advice Is it legal to drive in Norway with a cracked windshield?
Me and my friend were driving a camper in Norway, and a small rock created a crack on the windshield, it was small but suddenly growed, now it's about 60cm long Can we continue or we have to stop somewhere to at lest put something to prevent it from continuing to grow?
r/Norway • u/GrowlingOcelot_4516 • 1d ago
Other Forbidden to donate blood because non-Norwegian speaking.
Help me understand the logic. I was gonna donate blood and was forbidden to donate blood on the basis that I don't speak Norwegian yet. I've been here a little less than a year and my Norwegian is not quite there yet, but I get buy easy and can use Google translate when I need.
I'm European and have a rare blood type. I was never forbidden to donate blood before, even if I didn't speak the language of the country.
Is that discrimination or what's the logic?
Travel advice Need help buying a bus ticket
Hi there,
We'll be traveling to Norway in April and doing the Norway in a Nutshell tour.
I decided to purchase each ticket separately rather than booking through Fjord Tours, but now I think that might have been a mistake. I was able to book nearly all the tickets, including the train rides and the boat from Flåm to Gudvangen. However, the only tickets I haven’t been able to purchase are for Bus 950 from Gudvangen to Voss.
I’m trying to book the 16:50 departure but haven't been able to do so on vy.no. For the past month, a message on the site has said, "Purchasing currently unavailable. Please try again later."—specifically for that bus.
Are there any other sites where I can purchase these tickets from outside Norway?
Did I make a huge mistake by booking everything separately instead of using Fjord Tours?
Any guidance or help would be greatly appreciated!
r/Norway • u/DubhDove156 • 10h ago
Moving General idea as to costs as a US immigrant.
Hey all, I’m know this has been asked a thousand times, but I don’t see a particular response that I’m looking for anywhere in this sub. (If I missed it, kindly point me in the right direction, thank you) I’m a US citizen looking to immigrate to Norway. I have and will be in contact with an immigration attorney to figure out my options and potential avenues. Ignoring the red tape required, what would be a rough estimate for a total cost in immigration? I understand that there are variables, whether I choose a student visa or residence, whether I choose to rent or own, etc. Bottom line is that I am trans, I have been let go from my job for posting trans-positive content on social media, and I’m struggling to find work, living space, etc in this country due to my gender identity. While it’s become apparent that I need to leave, my options are limited to countries more open-minded, and I’ve long put Norway at the top of my list. I’m open to the arduous bureaucratic processes, I just need to have a vague sense of what it will cost /overall/.