Living in Norway

Coronavirus

You should follow the advice of the Norwegian Government and your local authority. You can also read our Norway travel advice for our latest guidance.

Stay up to date

You should:

• sign up for email alerts on living in Norway
• follow the British Embassy in Norway on Facebook and Twitter

You can also:

• check the Norwegian government advice page
• read the EEA EFTA Separation Agreement

Visas and residency

Check the entry requirements for Norway.

Residency

If you are resident in Norway before the transition period ends on 31 December 2020, you will be able to stay.

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If there are changes to residency applicationregistration processes, we will update this guidance as soon as information is available. You should sign up for updates to this guidance.

UK NationalsNational Support Fund

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In Norway, this practical support is being provided by The AIRE Centre. If you or someone you know may have difficulty completing the paperwork, you can contact them using the details below to discuss how they may be able to help you.

The AIRE Centre

Email: eurobrits@airecentre.org

TheWebsite: AIRE Centre websitewww.airecentre.org

Passports and travel

The rules on travel will stay the same until the transition period ends on 31 December 2020. During this time you can continue to travel to countries in the Schengen area or elsewhere in the EU with your UK passport.

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

You’ll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.

We will update these pages with details of any changes to the rules as soon as information is available. You should sign up for updates to this guidance.

Driving in Norway

Driving licence rules will stay the same until at least 31 December 2020.

You should exchange your UK licence for a Norwegian licence. 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.

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.

Working in Norway

See working in an 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 are resident in Norway on or before 31 December 2020, your right to work will not change as long as you remain resident in Norway.

Education and professional qualifications

Get your UK professional qualifications recognised in Norway before 31 December 2020. For help with this:

• find out where to request recognition of your qualifications on the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT) website
• read the European Commission’s guidance on recognition of professional qualifications

If you hold a professional qualification that has already been recognised by an EEA country, it will still be valid after 31 January 2020.

If you have not had your professional qualifications recognised, you can submit an application under the current rules until 31 December 2020.

Studying in Norway

If you are resident in Norway on or before 31 December 2020, your right to student finance will remain unchanged, as long as you remain resident in Norway.

Healthcare

Social security coordination is covered by the Separation Agreement for those residing in Norway. Current healthcare arrangements will continue to apply in full to UK nationals who are resident in Norway before the transition period ends on 31 December 2020, for as long as they remain in scope of the agreement. This includes students and S1 holders.

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

Read the 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.

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European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are resident in Norway, you must not use an 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

You can also continue to use your EHIC, as you did before, until the transition period ends on 31 December 2020. If you’re travelling to other countries make sure you have comprehensive health insurance.

You should also read guidance on:

• healthcare and studying abroad
• checking your prescriptions are legal in Norway

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.

Money and tax

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Norway to ensure you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief.

Existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Norway have not changed.

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.

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 31 January 2020

Social security co-ordination is covered by the Separation Agreement for those residing in Norway. Current benefit arrangements will continue to apply in full to UK nationals who are resident in Norway before the transition period ends on 31 December 2020, for as long as they reside in an EEA EFTA state (Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway). This includes the right to an uprated UK State Pension.

Benefits

You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.

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 31 January 2020

Social security coordination is covered by the Separation Agreement. Current benefit arrangements will continue to apply in full to UK nationals who are resident in Norway before the transition period ends on 31 December 2020, for as long as they reside in Norway.

Voting

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

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

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

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 travelling with pets across Norwegian borders from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

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.

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.