Living in Norway

Stay up to date

TheGet UKready isfor leavingBrexit theon EU.31 October 2019. This page tells you how to prepare for Brexit and it will be updated if anything changes.changes, including if a deal is agreed

You should:

• sign up for email alerts on living in Norway
• followyou can also keep up to date by following the British Embassy in Norway on Facebook and Twitter

You can also:

• check the Norwegian government advice page on Brexit
• read the EEA EFTA Separation Agreement which will apply if there’s no deal
• read the EEA EFTA Citizens’ Rights Agreement which will apply if there’s no deal

Visas and residency

Check the 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 a UDI application form and book an appointment. You must bring the completed 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 on the UDI website.

If you’re in Norway to work, at your registration appointment you’ll need to show :

• your completed application form
• valid ID card or passport
• an employment certificate completed by your employer (ansettelsesbevis) or an employment contract

If you’re in Norway to study, at your registration appointment you’ll need to show:

• your completed application form
• valid ID card or passport
• confirmation of admission to an approved educational institution
• private health insurance or an European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
• a personal declaration stating that you can financially support yourself

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 more on the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration website.

Visas and residency after Brexit

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Passports and travel

You can apply for or renew your British passport from Norway.

See our travel advice for Norway and sign up for up-to-date information on local laws and customs, safety and emergencies.

Passports and travel after Brexit

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Driving in Norway

You should exchange your UK licence for a Norwegian licence.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 the UK remains 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:

• driving licence exchange and renewal
• what you need to drive abroad
• road travel in Norway
• foreign driving licences in Norway by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration

Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Norway

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.

Driving after Brexit

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Healthcare

Make sure you are correctly registered for healthcare as a resident in Norway.

Read the NHS 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.

State healthcare: S1

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.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are resident in Norway, you must not use a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the UK to access healthcare in Norway.

When you travel from Norway for a temporary stay in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, you can use an EHIC to access state-provided healthcare in that country. During that short stay:

• the EHIC covers treatment that is medically necessary until your planned return home
• an EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance
• for more information you can read our travel advice pages and advice on foreign travel insurance

If you are a student, read the NHS 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.

Healthcare after Brexit

The UK has reached an agreement with the EEA EFTA states on citizens’ rights if there’s no deal. The deal protects the rights of UK nationals living in the EEA EFTA states and will allow them to continue living their lives broadly as they do now.

Social security coordination is covered by the Separationcitizens’ Agreementrights agreements for those residing in Norway. Current healthcare arrangements will continue to apply in full to UK nationals who are resident in Norway before theBrexit end of the implementation period for as long as they remainreside in scopeNorway. of the agreement. This includes students and S1 holders.

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Money and tax

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:

• tax if you leave the UK to live abroad
• tax on your UK income if you live abroad
• paying income tax in Norway
• Norwegian Tax Administration

We recommend you get professional advice on paying tax in Norway. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Norway.

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.

National Insurance

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 you are employed or self-employed in the EU or EEA and you have a UK-issued A1/E101 form, you will remain subject to UK legislation until the end date on the form.

If the end date on your form is after 31 October 2019, you should contact the relevant EU, EEA or Swiss authority to confirm whether you need to start paying social security contributions in that country after 31 October, as well as UK National Insurance contributions.

Find out more about social security contributions after a no-deal Brexit.

Money and tax after Brexit

Brexit will not change existing double-taxationdouble taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Norway. Send your questions about double-taxationdouble taxation to the relevant tax authority.

If there’s no deal, it may become more expensive to use your UK bank card in Norway. Read our guidance using a bank card, insurance or other financial services after the UK leaves the EU.

Pensions

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:

• your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Contact the International Pension Centre to claim
• your pension from the Norwegian Pension Department, if you have worked in Norway
• pensions from working abroad, if you have worked in other EU countries

Life certificates for UK State Pensions

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.

Pensions after Brexit

The UK government will continue to pay State Pension, child benefits and disability benefits to those eligible in the EU after Brexit. Read guidance on benefits and pensions if there is no deal.

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Benefits

You may still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in Norway. You can:

• read our guidance on which benefits you can claim if you live, move or travel abroad
• use our tool to check which benefits you can claim while abroad

Many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid to you if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.

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.

Benefits after Brexit

The UK government will continue to pay State Pension, child benefits and disability benefits to those eligible in the EU after Brexit.

Read the guidance on benefits and pensions if there’s no deal.

Social security coordination is covered by theour Separationcitizens’ Agreement.rights agreements in both a deal and no-deal Brexit. Current benefit arrangements will continue to apply in full to UK nationals who are resident in Norway before theBrexit end of the implementation period, for as long as they reside in Norway.

Voting

You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:

• check if you are able to vote
• register as an overseas voter if you would like to vote

If you’re resident in Norway, you can vote in local elections.

Births, deaths and getting married

If your child is born in Norway you will need to register the birth abroad.

If someone dies in Norway you can:

• read our guidance on what to do after someone dies abroad
• find English-speaking funeral directors in Norway
• read our bereavement information for Norway

Find out how you can get married abroad.

You may also need:

• English-speaking lawyers in Norway
• English-speaking translators and interpreters in Norway
• notary services for Norway

Accommodation and buying property

Read our guidance on buying a property abroad.

Pets

For travel to EEA and 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 must visit your vet to get a pet passport.

Read guidance on travelling with pets after Brexit and see further advice about travelling with pets across Norwegian borders from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

For moving pet horses and other equines read guidance on export horses and ponies: special rules.

Emergencies

Norway’s emergency numbers are:

• 110 for fire brigade
• 112 for police
• 113 for ambulance
• 120 for emergency at sea

If you’re the victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact the British Embassy Oslo.

Returning to the UK

Tell the UK and Norwegian authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.

You should read our guidance on:

• access to benefits and services in the UK if there’s a no deal
• bringing your family to the UK
• access to higher education, 19+ further education and apprenticeship funding
• importing vehicles back to the UK
• bringing your pet back to the UK
• checking your tax status after returning to the UK

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.

Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, tax, access to services and bringing family members.

Disclaimer

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.