My inbox has recently been overflowing with inquiries regarding my move to Norway which I haven’t had the time to reply So I decided it would be the easiest option to just do so in one big blog post.
I’m certainly not an expert on the best way to move to Norway However, I know that at times it’s nicer to hear from people actually living in Norway instead of simply searching for details about life in Norway even if your searches lead you to a really scary site (unless Google led you here Oh, no! ).
I’ve been living in Norway for seven years now, so I’ve seen a lot of different phases of the move to Norway process. I’m still able to remember what it felt like to first move to Norway as a teenager, how thrilling at the same time as it seemed overwhelming, how the excitement eventually died down and living in such a pricey country was a bit scary. And how now I love Norway so much!
In all honesty, this article is intended to be an answer to all of the questions about moving to Norway I’ve been asked by people since I moved into Norway myself, since I was once in your shoes too! So if you want to know more about when you move into Norway (especially from the US) This is how the details:
Moving to Norway from the US How are you legally able to stay and legally in Norway in the capacity of an American citizen?
Ugh, I’m so sorry that I’m unable to provide more help however, I’m an Norwegian citizen, and so the move to Norway was a breeze for me.
Since my mother is an Norwegian citizen and that I was born within the U.S., I was given dual citizenship at birth.
There are only a handful of circumstances in which Norwegians can be dual citizens – typically in the event that you become one of the Norwegian citizen or are a citizen of another country, in addition to Norway you have to surrender one, but having a dual citizenship when you were born could be one loophole.
If I were not a Norwegian (or EU) citizen or EU citizen, the process for moving to Norway would be considerably more complex.
However, I do know some people who have decided to immigrate in Norway to the US and everything has worked out very well for them. One of them came first as a student and then got a job here in the same way, while two others came as tourists and soon discovered work in their respective fields. That’s why it’s possible!
Oh and I also have a friend who is an American woman who got an immigration visa through marriage to the wife of a Norwegian and a Norwegian, so there’s this.
The one thing that everyone who has decided to move to Norway has in common is their perseverance. There’s a lot of paperwork, hassle along with questions and confusion to get through in the move however, if are considering moving to Norway you should not be discouraged. The process of moving to a new place can be a challenge, there are many advantages to it. Norway is a more convenient place to relocate to due to it’s not too difficult to learn (at at least for English natives) and there’s a wide variety of jobs available, it’s also a place where Norway is a tiny population, and therefore it’s odd to be on the outside there.
Norwegians tend to all be really similar, so it’s hard being on the outside looking in.
It’s a challenge at first to connect with people and feel like a part of the community But once you’ve made friends, you’ll truly feel part of something that is so great. In fact I’ve never felt this much of a community in any country I’ve been in as I have in Norway. It’s a fantastic feeling.
The specifics of how to move to Norway from a non EU/EEA country will depend on the citizenship country of your country (find more information here) However, you’ll need to apply for a residence permit that will fall under one of the following categories: family immigration, studies, immigration for work, au pair, and permanent residence.
Family immigration basically allows someone living in Norway in Norway to carry their spouse or children here with them. In other words, if you’ve got a distant family member living in Norway, you probably won’t have the opportunity to apply for an Norway residence permit through them. And if you are an older adult though you have a parent living here you will only be granted the residence permit only if you can show that you make an amount that is deemed to be a base.
Usually if you come here under work immigration to Norway, you’ll need to have a job before entering Norway (though typically, people visit Norway with tourist visas, and then quickly find a job before their visa runs out). The exact type of residence permit that you’ll be applying for will be contingent upon the country you’re from, as well as the specific skills you have and the type of work you’ll do in Norway.
In order to get a permit for study to Norway you’ll need to been accepted into an academic program that is full-time (longer than 3 months) and also prove that you have the money to support yourself (I believe it’s about 100,000 NOK/year). A study permit holder will also be allowed to work for up 20/hours a week during your studies (and fully-time between the semesters).
There are various ways to be able to acquire permanent residence in Norway however, in the end, you’ll require a residence permit here for at least three years, and show a certain amount of Norwegian cultural and language proficiency. The three-year period of having a permit to study won’t count towards permanent residency in the end, unfortunately.
Many of the people I knew in Trondheim had special au pair residence permits. The only way to obtain an au pair permit while between 18 and 30, and you’re not allowed to have children of your own and you must prove that you will most likely return back to your home country following finishing as an au pair.
And then of course there are specific rules for asylum seekers in Norway.
Because Norway isn’t a member of the EU Do I require an additional visa to travel into Norway for the purpose of becoming an EU citizen?
Nope, all you have to do is get work within six months of moving to Norway (and the law is extremely lax). In addition, since Norway can be considered part of EEA which is an EU citizen, you are able to get any sort of job, regardless of your field.
I relocated to Norway together with my ex-boyfriend who also happens to be an EU citizen, or at least was prior to Brexit. While certain things like opening an account at a bank were impossible for him prior to he landed a job in Norway but generally, moving to Norway was fairly easy for him. If you have additional specific questions about moving from Norway in the capacity of an EU citizen, I’d be more than happy to help you answer them!
I have so many friends of mine who’re EU citizens, and their biggest challenge was learning Norwegian. Once you’ve mastered the basics of Norwegian you should at least be able to get an entry-level job in a supermarket because Norwegians typically don’t have the desire for these jobs. When I worked at the supermarket in Norway everyone else were foreigners, excluding the managers. It was kind of funny and helped create an excellent feeling of belonging.
If you’re hoping to earn to be a top-level employee it is essential to learn Norwegian. The good thing is that Norwegian is meant to be among the easiest languages for English users to learn. The grammar is basic and simple as well as the vocabulary quite simple.
The biggest challenge is that Norway has many different local dialects, and they can differ in a wide range. Just like my friends in Telemark they say that there are times when Norwegians from Oslo aren’t able to comprehend everything they say – even being Norwegians!
How can I find a job in Norway?
When moving to Norway people I spoke to told me two things about getting work in Norway It’s mostly about networking and it’s simpler to find jobs in tiny towns or villages. And sure enough, Dan and I both got jobs thanks to someone who had was a fan of my blog. Then, we were able to live for many years in a small town in the middle of the wilderness.
It’s pretty obvious that meeting people and asking them questions (or even hanging out at places where you might want to work at, such as restaurants or bars) is the most efficient way to land a job Norway. Of course, that means knowing at least basic Norwegian It’s a good thing that the basic Norwegian abilities aren’t that difficult to attain. After five months of living in Norway Dan had enough Norwegian to be able to work in the grocery store, also Norwegian is the only foreign language he’s picked up.
If you’re willing to complete any work and submit your application to every opportunity that is available, finding work in Norway should not be all that difficult for you.
In actual fact, I would suggest that if you speak some Norwegian and have a lot of flexibility on where you’d want to be and what kind of work you’d like to perform, it will not be difficult for you to find work in Norway in any way. It’s like the supermarkets all over Norway are always hiring! At least as long as you’re in a smaller city or a student area where students have the best supermarket jobs.
Where to move to in Norway is the most desirable place to reside in Norway
Of course this is entirely your personal preference, but like I said, it will be much easier to find jobs in smaller towns or villages than in say, Oslo. Additionally, the costs of living in smaller towns is way lower than the city.
Based on what I’ve heard Oslo is the hardest place to get a job as an immigrant, though it also has the largest number of immigrants. However, in smaller towns, you could be among only a handful of foreigners. Personally I think of that as a benefit but, at the very least, I’ve found it easier to integrate into small towns as opposed to Trondheim which was in which I was tempted to just hang out with other foreigners and only speak English. In reality, I speak less Norwegian when I’m living in Tromso in comparison to when I lived in the small town of Trondheim.
Are Norway really such a great area to live? Do I need to move to Norway?
So many people ask me this and it’s a hard question to give an answer!
My answer is yes, I love living in Norway.
There’s plenty to love about living in Norway. It’s beautiful, and the government isn’t terrible, but it’s not a total disaster If you’re content to begin with low skilled work , then the salaries are astronomical, and Norwegian individuals are generally nice to one another.
I’m sure I’ve never thought I would love working in a store however having extremely laid-back managers, coworkers who feel like family, and the most welcoming customers have made me love life in Norway’s mountains. Norway. Plus Norway just feels like the most secure location to live in.
Education is free in Norway This means that I could easily go back to school and get a master’s degree without having to pay any credit card debt. Additionally, I’ve enjoyed a great experience regarding the healthcare system in Norway. Being from the US I feel that my standard of living in Norway is far superior to what my experience in the US.
But I can also see that Norway wouldn’t be for everyone.
Norwegian people are an unusual lot, and I’m sure that the culture of Norway may be cold or frustrating to some individuals. The weather will not appeal to you if aren’t a fan of snow. Also, getting things completed here takes a lot of patience and persistence. Like, it can be extremely difficult to obtain an answer to matters of importance like taxes, visas, etc.
It can also take a long time to feel part of the community here, because Norwegians are generally shy and reserved. They’re not likely assistance with your needs or approach you to talk, but just know that if you’re in need of assistance, Norwegians will do almost everything for you as soon as you ask. It’s true that Norwegians love being able to offer help, they’re just reluctant to provide assistance until you inquire. So just ask!
If you’re in a small city, it’s easy to feel like everyone knows each other forever, and they probably have. This can make it difficult joining in as an outsider because everyone already has their particular group of buddies. If you do join activities or clubs you’ll be able start to get to know other people.
When I first moved in Mosjoen in northern Norway it took me a solid year for me to really become friends. The people were a bit slow to be open and I needed to work to keep making plans with friends and then begin to feel a part of their lives. I also joined a dance class and yoga class to try to make friends. It was, as always, the slowest of things, but Norwegians do take being part of a group very seriously and eventually I did start to feel that I truly felt at home in Norway.
I personally think it’s worth the effort, but many people may not. Actually, I’ve received a lot of posts on my blog written by long-term expats who truly dislike Norway (I think they’re staying because of their families? ) So I think it’s safe to say that Norway isn’t for all.
If you’re a fan of nature and the quiet and do not mind the cold, love a taste for cooked potatoes and tinned salmon, and know how to be patient in all things, immigrating to Norway could be a great option!
I’m extremely grateful having the chance to reside here, and the experience of living in Norway has given me an amazing sense of security. Not only is it an extremely secure country in general however, once you’re a resident, it’s as if you’re being taken care of. Healthcare and education are free, and even unskilled jobs pay well for those who are willing to work hard. If you’re willing to do the hard work to learn the language, you’ll be able enjoy an excellent life here.
