Change of https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-norway
Change description : 2019-06-03 16:39:00: EU Exit update: added information to Passports and travel after the UK leaves the EU and Returning to the UK sections [Brexit]
Showing diff : ..2019-06-03 15:45:10 +00:00
Guidance
Official information British people moving to and living in Norway need to know, including EU Exit guidance, residency, healthcare and driving.
You should:
You may wish to check entry requirements for Norway
If you’re staying in Norway for more than 3 months, you need to register with the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). You’ll need to fill in an application form and book an appointment. You have to bring the filled-in application and documents with you to the appointment.
You can also find information about the various types of residence permit that allow you to live and work in Norway via the UDI website.
If you’re in Norway to work, you’ll need to show at your registration appointment:
If you’re in Norway to study, you’ll need to show at your registration appointment:
You can apply for a residency permit at your local service centre for foreign workers (SUA).
Once you have your residency permit, you can apply for a Norwegian personal number from the local people register (Folkeregister). See Norwegian Directorate of Immigration.
If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, there will be no changes to the residency procedure until the end of the implementation period.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, UK nationals who plan to move to Norway after the UK leaves the EU will need to apply for a residence permit. We will update this page as soon as information is available once the UK leaves the EU. For more information you can:
Existing documents including registration certificates and a residence cards will still be valid documentation of legal residence in Norway until new legislation enters into force.
You can apply for or renew your British passport from Norway. If you cannot get a passport in time for your trip, you may need to get an emergency travel document or ‘emergency passport’.
See our travel advice for Norway and sign up for up-to-date information on local laws and customs, safety and emergencies.
If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, nothing will change until the end of 2020. In this time you can continue to travel freely in the Schengen area with your UK passport. What happens after 2020 will be part of the next part of negotiations.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, new travel rules will apply. You should have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland).
If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.
You should check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. You’ll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, UK nationals will not need visas for short stays elsewhere in the EU. You will be able to stay up to 90 days in another EU, EEA or EFTA country, within a 180 day period. You should retain evidence of travel (e.g. train and plane tickets), in case these are requested by national authorities. If you hold a residence permit from an EU, EEA or EFTA country, you will be able to transit through other EU, EEA or EFTA countries to reach your country of residence. We will update this guidance as more information becomes available.
If you are a UK national living in Norway and you are planning to travel out of Norway, you should follow the guidance provided on the Norwegian Government advice page (in English) on extra documentation you will need to carry with you.
You need to make sure you are correctly registered for healthcare as a resident in Norway.
You can read the NHS’s guidance on who is able to access healthcare in Norway and how to register.
You’ll pay into the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme (NIS) through your income tax. The NIS covers basic medical services, although you will sometimes have to pay a small fee. Children under 16 get free medical care.
If you live in Norway and receive an exportable UK pension, contribution-based Employment Support Allowance or another exportable benefit, you may currently be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK. You will need to apply for a certificate of entitlement known as an S1 certificate.
If you are resident in Norway, you should not be using a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the UK to access healthcare in Norway.
You can read the NHS’s guidance on healthcare and studying abroad.
You can only change your GP twice in a year. Find English-speaking doctors and dentists in Norway.
Ask your doctor about a health insurance receipt card at your first GP visit.
You should also check your prescriptions are legal in Norway.
The UK has reached an agreement with the EEA EFTA states on citizens’ rights in a no deal scenario. The deal protects the rights of UK nationals living in the EEA EFTA states and EEA EFTA nationals living in the UK if the UK leaves the EU without a deal and will enable them to continue living their lives broadly as they do now.
Social security coordination is covered by our citizens’ rights agreements for those residing in Norway. Current healthcare arrangements will continue to apply in full to UK nationals who are resident in Norway before UK leaves the EU, for as long as they reside in Norway. This includes students and S1 holders, but not those using an EHIC card as these are for temporary travel.
The UK is working to ensure UK issued EHIC cards will continue to be accepted in EEA EFTA states. However, this will not currently be the case in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal. It is important that persons travelling always purchase comprehensive healthcare insurance.
See working in another EU country.
Some jobs may require a UK criminal records check.
Once you have a job offer, you need to apply for a personal number at your local police station or your local service centre for foreign workers.
If you’re planning to start a business, provide a service, or do a job in a regulated profession after the UK leaves the EU, further guidance can be found here.
The UK has a double-taxation agreement with Norway to ensure people do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.
You can read our guidance on:
We recommend you get professional advice on paying tax in Norway. Find an English speaking Norwegian lawyer.
If you’re working on the Norwegian continental shelf, it’s compulsory to become member of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme. You must pay national insurance contributions to Norway even if you don’t pay taxes to Norway.
You may be able to pay National Insurance while abroad in order to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.
If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, it may become more expensive to use your UK bank card in Norway.
Read more about using a bank card, insurance or other financial service after the UK leaves the EU..
The UK leaving the European Union will not change existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Norway. You should direct individual taxpayer questions about double taxation to the relevant tax authority.
You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.
If you retire to Norway, you can claim:
If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you need to respond as soon as possible – your payments may be suspended if you don’t.
The UK government will continue to pay State pension, child benefits and disability benefits to those eligible in the EU after the UK leaves the EU. Find guidance on benefits and pensions in a no deal scenario here.
Social security coordination is covered by our citizens’ rights agreements in both a deal and no deal scenario. Current pension arrangements will continue to apply in full to UK nationals who are resident in Norway before the UK leaves the EU for as long as they reside in Norway.
You may still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in Norway. You can:
If you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks, many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid.
You may be eligible to claim some Norwegian social security benefits after you’ve worked 6 months continually – see Norwegian social security benefits.
You can request proof of the time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.
The UK government will continue to pay State pension, child benefits and disability benefits to those eligible in the EU after the UK leaves the EU. Find guidance on benefits and pensions in a no deal scenario here.
Social security coordination is covered by our citizens’ rights agreements in both a deal and no deal scenario. Current benefit arrangements will continue to apply in full to UK nationals who are resident in Norway before the UK leaves the EU for as long as they reside in Norway.
You should exchange your UK licence for a Norwegian licence before the UK leaves the EU. You can still use your Norwegian licence in the UK for short visits or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test if you return to live in the UK.
Whilst we remain in the EU, UK licences can be exchanged for Norwegian ones without having to take a test.
For information on driving in Norway, read our guidance on:
Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.
You can read the European Union’s guidance on car registration rules and taxes in Norway. You may be exempt from some of these taxes. If so you will need certificates of exemption.
Please read our guidance on driving after the UK leaves the EU.
The Norwegian government has proposed changes to their current regulation which would allow UK driving licences to continue to be exchanged for a Norwegian driving licence after the UK leaves the EU in the same way as before. However, this new regulation may not be in place by the time the UK leaves the EU. You can read guidance on the Norwegian Public Roads Administration site for more information in Norwegian on the consultation.
The Norwegian government has confirmed that travelers from the UK will not require an International Driving Permit after the UK leaves the EU. Those living in or visiting Norway can drive for up to three months on a UK licence.
You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:
If you’re resident in Norway, you can vote in local elections.
If your child is born in Norway you will need to register the birth abroad.
If someone dies in Norway you can:
Find out how you can get married abroad.
You may also need:
Read our guidance on buying a property abroad.
For travel to EEA/EFTA countries from the UK, pet owners should check the requirements of their destination country.
Read guidance on travelling with pets
If you’re travelling with your pet for the first time you’ll have to visit your vet to get a pet passport.
Read guidance on travelling with pets after Brexit
For moving pet horses and other equines read guidance on export horses and ponies: special rules
Norway’s emergency numbers are:
If you’re the victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact the British Embassy Oslo.
Tell the UK and Norwegian authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.
You should read our guidance on:
To move your pension to the UK, contact the International Pension Centre.
If you get healthcare in Norway through the S1 form, you must contact the Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 (0)191 218 1999 to make sure your S1 is cancelled at the right time.
Please note that this information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Norwegian authorities. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.
2025-12-18 13:21
Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand. Includes new information about dual citizens travelling to the UK (‘Passports and travel’ section).
2024-08-20 14:39
Information added to the ‘Passports and travel’ section on the EU Entry/Exit system due to be implemented autumn 2024.
2022-03-11 08:00
Important information in the Working in Norway, and National insurance sections if you work in Norway, even it if it is for an employer based in the UK.
2022-01-01 07:00
Visas and residency guidance updated, following the 31 December 2021 residency deadline for people with rights under the UK-EEA EFTA Separation Agreement.
2021-03-03 10:26
Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines
2021-02-10 14:09
Visa and residency section updated with additional guidance on how to get the new residence card and healthcare section updated on how to get a Norwegian EHIC.
2020-11-12 08:57
Entry requirements updated on re-entering Norway and how to apply for a residence certificate.
2020-09-07 14:09
Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021
2020-07-22 15:16
Visas and residency section updated to include information about the new residency permit
2020-06-11 14:11
Visas and residency section updated to include information about how to access the UK National Support Fund for those who may find it harder to complete their residency applications.
2020-01-23 18:06
Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity and how to get your professional qualifications recognised if the UK leaves the EU with a deal
2019-10-21 08:45
Brexit update: check you have correct documentation for travelling – see the passports and travel section for further information
2019-06-03 16:39
EU Exit update: added information to Passports and travel after the UK leaves the EU and Returning to the UK sections