Moving to Norway

Planning to move to Norway? This guide puts your first steps in the right order – from the ID check at the tax office to BankID, a GP and Norwegian lessons – and gathers the emergency numbers, agencies, phone lines and city contacts you need when living in Norway as a foreigner.

This guide is for you if you are moving to Norway – for a job, for studies or research, to join a partner or family, to seek protection or to come home after years abroad. Whether you are an EU/EEA citizen who can arrive and start working without a residence permit, or you need a permit from UDI (Utlendingsdirektoratet, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration) before you move to Norway, living in Norway as a foreigner means dealing with the same handful of offices: Skatteetaten (the Norwegian Tax Administration), Politiet (the police), NAV (the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration), a fastlege (regular GP) and your kommune (municipality).

Start by choosing the profile below that fits you best, then read the 15 guides in the series – they go deeper into every step, from permits and tax to schools, housing and staying for good. Use this page as your map. The first table shows the order in which things usually happen, because almost everything hangs on your Norwegian ID number, and the emergency numbers and address book are worth keeping at hand. Every phone number, fee, price and opening hour here comes from an official source checked on 23 September 2026. Where we could not confirm a detail, we send you to the agency’s website rather than guess.

Comparing countries? See how Norway measures up against Sweden and Denmark on jobs, pay and prices: Moving to Scandinavia.

Already living in Sweden or Denmark? Moving or commuting between the Nordic countries has its own rules: Moving within Scandinavia.

Who are you? Choose your guide

Choose what fits you best and get your own step-by-step path, the rules that apply to you and which guides to read.

EU/EEA or Swiss citizen

New for 2026: if you work here, the flat 25% PAYE tax option covers pay under NOK 725,050, and since 1 July 2024 a job lasting over a month must come with a signed contract within 7 days. You need no residence permit, but staying more than 3 months means registering with the police, and staying 6 months or more means reporting your move to get a fødselsnummer (national identity number).

Step	What to do
Report your move and attend an ID check	Staying 6 months or more? Book an appointment with Skatteetaten (Tax Administration) to report your move to Norway. Bring a passport or national ID card; approval gives you a fødselsnummer. – Where: Skatteetaten (Tax Administration)
Register with the police	Staying more than 3 months? Book a police appointment through UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration). In Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim or Stavanger, choose SUA (Service Centre for Foreign Workers). – Where: Politiet (police), booked via UDI
Get a tax deduction card before payday	Without one your employer must deduct 50%. Newcomers join PAYE automatically: a flat 25% on pay under NOK 725,050 in 2026, or 17.4% if you are exempt from national insurance. – Where: Skatteetaten (Tax Administration)
Open a bank account and get BankID	You must be resident and have valid ID plus a Norwegian ID number. Then ask your bank for BankID, or order a MinID activation letter, which arrives by post after a few days. – Where: Your bank
Register with a GP	Registered residents get a fastlege (GP); D-number holders usually don't. A daytime GP visit costs NOK 179, and after NOK 3,278 in user fees in 2026 you get a frikort (exemption card). – Where: Helsenorge (national health portal)
Check National Insurance and child benefit	Working here makes you a member of the National Insurance Scheme. As an EEA citizen working in Norway you may get barnetrygd (child benefit), NOK 2,012 a month per child, even if staying under 12 months. – Where: NAV (Labour and Welfare Administration)
Exchange your driving licence	An EU/EEA licence can be exchanged for a Norwegian one in the same category without new tests. Car and other light categories are then normally valid for 15 years. – Where: Statens vegvesen (Public Roads Administration)

Rules that apply to you
To stay beyond 3 months you must be an employee, self-employed, a service provider, a student or able to support yourself from your own funds.
The registration certificate does not prove your right of residence: keep your employment contract, payslips or study certificate for that.
Looking for work? Register with the police as a job seeker no later than 3 months after arriving.
With an 11-digit fødselsnummer you can get a national ID card (NOK 840 from age 10) at a police passport and ID office; a D-number is not enough.
Household goods owned and used abroad for at least a year enter duty-free if imported within a year of moving; vehicles never do.

Source: UDI, Skatteetaten, Politiet, NAV, Helsenorge, Statens vegvesen, Tolletaten, read 23 September 2026

Nordic citizen

If you work here, two recent rules apply: since 1 July 2024 a job lasting over a month needs a signed contract within 7 days, and in 2026 newcomers can pay a flat 25% PAYE tax on pay under NOK 725,050. You need no permit and no police registration; if you will live here more than 6 months, book an ID check with Skatteetaten (Tax Administration) and submit a change-of-address notification within 8 days of arriving.

Step	What to do
Book an ID check within 8 days	Living here more than 6 months? No later than 8 days after arriving, visit a Skatteetaten office for an ID check and submit a change-of-address notification. Book the appointment first. – Where: Skatteetaten (Tax Administration)
Bring the right ID	A passport or national ID card works. Moving from another Nordic country, you can instead show a valid driving licence plus a dated population-register printout no older than 3 months. – Where: Skatteetaten (Tax Administration)
Get a tax deduction card	You can work without a permit but need a tax deduction card; without one your employer deducts 50%. Newcomers join PAYE: a flat 25% on pay under NOK 725,050 in 2026. – Where: Skatteetaten (Tax Administration)
Open a bank account and get BankID	You must be resident and have valid ID plus a Norwegian ID number. Then ask your bank for BankID, or order a MinID activation letter by post. – Where: Your bank
Register with a GP	Once registered as resident you are entitled to a fastlege (GP) and can change GP up to twice a year. Book or message your GP on Helsenorge (national health portal) after giving Full Access consent. – Where: Helsenorge (national health portal)
Check your National Insurance	Resident membership needs a stay of at least 12 months, and working here makes you a member anyway. The Nordic Convention on Social Security also coordinates your rights. – Where: NAV (Labour and Welfare Administration)
Moving with pets	Dogs and cats travelling only between Norway and Sweden need no rabies vaccination. Dogs coming directly from Finland need no anti-echinococcus treatment. – Where: Mattilsynet (Food Safety Authority)

Rules that apply to you
You do not register with the police and get no registration certificate, unlike other EU/EEA citizens.
Moving house within Norway later? Notify Skatteetaten within 8 days.
Staying under 6 months and not working? Skatteetaten will not issue you an ID number; another agency or company may order one.
Citizenship: apply after 2 years' residence with no need for permanent residence first, or become Norwegian by notification after 7 years (18+).
Holiday: at least 25 working days a year, with holiday pay of at least 10.2% of gross salary (12.5% if you are over 60).

Source: UDI, Skatteetaten, NAV, Arbeidstilsynet, Mattilsynet, Citizenship Act (Lovdata), read 23 September 2026

From the UK

Many Brexit residence cards expire in 2026, and most holders now need to apply for permanent residence or renew their card. The Brexit scheme only covers Britons living here by 31 December 2020, so new arrivals apply under the ordinary rules for non-EU/EEA citizens, such as the skilled-worker permit (NOK 6,300 from 1 April 2026).

Step	What to do
Brexit-scheme resident? Check your card	Check the expiry date on your residence card now. Most holders need to apply for permanent residence or renew the card; renewing a Brexit-scheme permit is free of charge. – Where: UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration)
Know what your Brexit permit gives you	It runs for up to 5 years, can be renewed and counts towards permanent residence. Family members with EEA-based residence here by 31 December 2020 are covered on the same basis. – Where: UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration)
New arrival: get a job offer and a permit	Apply for a skilled-worker permit with your job offer and proof of qualifications: a degree, at least 3 years of upper-secondary vocational training, or long work experience. Fee: NOK 6,300. – Where: UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration)
Register with the police on arrival	Right after arriving with a permit, book a police appointment through UDI to register and get your residence card. You do not need a separate Skatteetaten (Tax Administration) appointment. – Where: Politiet (police), booked via UDI
Get a tax deduction card	Apply before you start work; without one your employer deducts 50%. Newcomers join PAYE: a flat 25% on pay under NOK 725,050 in 2026 (17.4% if exempt from national insurance). – Where: Skatteetaten (Tax Administration)
Use or exchange your UK driving licence	A UK licence gives you the same rights in Norway as one issued in an EEA country, and the UK is on the list of countries whose licences can be exchanged for a Norwegian one. – Where: Statens vegvesen (Public Roads Administration)
Get qualifications recognised	HK-dir (Directorate for Higher Education and Skills) has handled recognition of foreign education since 1 January 2023. UK-trained health personnel: special rules have applied since 1 December 2023. – Where: HK-dir; Helsedirektoratet (Directorate of Health)

Rules that apply to you
The Brexit scheme covers Britons with EEA-based residence rights in Norway by 31 December 2020 who kept living here; applications had to be made by 31 December 2021.
Frontier workers (working here but living elsewhere at the end of 2020) get one-year permits that do not lead to permanent residence.
Had 5+ years' EEA residence by the end of 2020? Your Brexit permanent permit only lapses after more than 5 consecutive years abroad.
Since 1 September 2026, third-country citizens such as Britons with a fødselsnummer (national identity number) can get a national ID card, at first only in Ski.
Norway has a bilateral social security agreement with the UK.

Source: Immigration Regulations (Lovdata), UDI, Skatteetaten, Politiet, Statens vegvesen, NAV, read 23 September 2026

From the US or elsewhere outside the EU

Two changes to note: from 1 April 2026 a skilled-worker permit costs NOK 6,300, and since 1 July 2024 your employer must give you a signed contract within 7 days if the job lasts over a month. Apply for the permit first: you need a job offer, a degree, 3+ years of vocational training or long experience, and pay no poorer than is normal in Norway.

Step	What to do
Apply for a skilled-worker permit	Send UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration) your job offer, proof of qualifications and any professional licence your job requires. Fee: NOK 6,300. Waiting-time estimates are updated monthly. – Where: UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration)
Register with the police on arrival	Right after arriving, book a police appointment through UDI to register and get your residence card. The card takes at least 20 working days to arrive by post. – Where: Politiet (police), booked via UDI
Watch for your ID-number letter	UDI tells Skatteetaten (Tax Administration) about your permit, and a letter tells you whether you are registered as resident with a fødselsnummer (national identity number). No tax-office visit needed. – Where: Skatteetaten (Tax Administration)
Get a tax deduction card	Without one your employer deducts 50%. PAYE: a flat 25% on pay under NOK 725,050 in 2026. Otherwise you pay 22% on general income plus bracket tax, with a NOK 114,540 personal allowance. – Where: Skatteetaten (Tax Administration)
Open a bank account and get BankID	You must be resident and have valid ID plus a Norwegian ID number. Then ask your bank for BankID; MinID needs an activation letter sent by post. – Where: Your bank
Register with a GP	As a registered resident you are entitled to a fastlege (GP). A daytime visit costs NOK 179; after NOK 3,278 in user fees in 2026 you get a frikort (exemption card). – Where: Helsenorge (national health portal)
Drive legally	Your licence works for 3 months, or 6 with a residence permit and a job contract over 3 months. US licences can be exchanged (you then have 2 years to pass the tests); licences from unlisted countries cannot. – Where: Statens vegvesen (Public Roads Administration)

Rules that apply to you
Ordinary skilled workers have no fixed salary threshold: pay and working conditions must not be poorer than is normal in Norway.
Permits run up to 3 years for degree-level jobs and up to 1 year for vocational jobs; intra-company transfers 2 years at a time, 6 at most.
No general minimum wage: legal minimums apply only in some sectors, such as construction (NOK 264.32 an hour for skilled workers from 15 June 2025).
Dependent family members must apply to NAV (Labour and Welfare Administration) for their own National Insurance membership to get health rights.
Vocational applications with documents from certain countries, including India, Pakistan and Vietnam, get extra checks and can take longer.

Source: UDI, Immigration Regulations (Lovdata), Skatteetaten, NAV, Arbeidstilsynet, Statens vegvesen, read 23 September 2026

Highly qualified specialist

Your route is the skilled-worker permit, which costs NOK 6,300 from 1 April 2026: Norway has no EU Blue Card scheme in its Immigration Regulations. In 2026 the flat 25% PAYE tax only applies if you earn under NOK 725,050, so above that you are taxed under the ordinary rules.

Step	What to do
Apply for the skilled-worker permit	This is the route for highly qualified people. Send UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration) your job offer, degree certificates and any professional licence required. Fee: NOK 6,300. – Where: UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration)
Register with the police on arrival	Book a police appointment through UDI right after arriving to register and get your residence card; no separate Skatteetaten (Tax Administration) appointment is needed. – Where: Politiet (police), booked via UDI
Get a tax deduction card	Apply before your first payday; without one your employer deducts 50%. UDI notifies Skatteetaten of your permit, and a letter tells you whether you are registered as resident. – Where: Skatteetaten (Tax Administration)
Work out PAYE or ordinary tax	PAYE is a flat 25% only if you earn under NOK 725,050 in 2026. Otherwise: 22% on general income, bracket tax up to 17.8% and a 7.6% national insurance contribution on salary. – Where: Skatteetaten (Tax Administration)
Get your degree recognised if needed	HK-dir (Directorate for Higher Education and Skills) has handled recognition of foreign education since 1 January 2023. Not every profession requires it. – Where: HK-dir (Directorate for Higher Education and Skills)
Bank, BankID and a GP	Open a bank account with your Norwegian ID number and passport, then ask for BankID. As a registered resident you are entitled to a fastlege (GP). – Where: Your bank; Helsenorge (national health portal)
Plan for permanent residence	After 3 years you can apply (fee NOK 4,000). Ages 18–67 need A2 oral Norwegian, a social studies test and income of 2.5 G (basic amount), about NOK 341,373, over the last 12 months. – Where: UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration)

Rules that apply to you
Degree-level permits are granted for up to 3 years; intra-company transfers for 2 years at a time, up to 6 years in total.
Bracket tax 2026: 13.7% from NOK 725,051, 16.8% from NOK 980,101 and 17.8% from NOK 1,467,201.
With a skilled-worker permit you can spend up to 15 months abroad in total without losing the right to permanent residence, if at least 8 were for your employer.
There is no general minimum wage; outside a few regulated sectors, pay is agreed individually.
Bringing family: family immigration costs NOK 11,900, and the sponsor normally needs income of at least 3.2 G (about NOK 436,957).

Source: Immigration Regulations (Lovdata), UDI, Skatteetaten, HK-dir, NAV, read 23 September 2026

Researcher or PhD student

Self-funded researchers from outside the EU/EEA pay NOK 5,400 for a researcher permit in 2026, but that permit does not count towards permanent residence. If you are employed in Norway, the skilled-worker permit for degree-level jobs runs up to 3 years and costs NOK 6,300 from 1 April 2026.

Step	What to do
Choose the right permit	Employed by a Norwegian institution: apply for a skilled-worker permit (degree level, up to 3 years). Funded by your own means: apply for the researcher permit to do research at a university, institute or similar. – Where: UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration)
EU/EEA researcher? Register instead	No permit needed. Staying over 3 months, register with the police via UDI; staying 6 months or more, report your move to Skatteetaten (Tax Administration) to get a national identity number. – Where: Politiet (police); Skatteetaten
Non-EU/EEA: register on arrival	Right after arriving, book a police appointment through UDI to register and get your residence card. – Where: Politiet (police), booked via UDI
Sort out your tax	Guest lecturers and experts pay tax to Norway. If taxed as an ordinary foreign worker you can use PAYE: 25% on pay under NOK 725,050 in 2026. ID-check steps differ for stays under or over 14 days. – Where: Skatteetaten (Tax Administration)
Check national insurance	Stays of at least 12 months make you a resident member. You may be exempt from national insurance contributions, but you must document this to NAV (Labour and Welfare Administration). – Where: NAV (Labour and Welfare Administration)
Get your degree recognised if needed	HK-dir (Directorate for Higher Education and Skills) has handled recognition of foreign education since 1 January 2023. – Where: HK-dir (Directorate for Higher Education and Skills)
Bringing family	Family immigration costs NOK 11,900 in 2026. If you hold the self-funded researcher permit, your family can be exempted from the usual sponsor income requirement. – Where: UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration)

Rules that apply to you
The self-funded researcher permit lets you work part-time and in holidays, without the 20-hour weekly cap that applies to students.
Guest lecturers also pay Norwegian tax on income earned abroad, unless a tax treaty limits Norway's right to tax it.
As an employee you get at least 25 working days' holiday a year and holiday pay of at least 10.2% of gross salary.
Since 1 July 2024, a job lasting over a month must come with a signed written contract within 7 days of starting.
Resident members of National Insurance can stay abroad for up to 12 consecutive months and keep their membership.

Source: Immigration Regulations (Lovdata), UDI, Skatteetaten, NAV, HK-dir, Arbeidstilsynet, read 23 September 2026

Student

In 2026 a study permit for non-EU/EEA students costs NOK 5,400, and at public universities only EU/EEA and Swiss degree students study without tuition fees. Non-EU/EEA students may work 20 hours a week in term and full-time in holidays, but the permit does not count towards permanent residence.

Step	What to do
Non-EU/EEA: get admission, then a permit	You need full-time admission to a university, university college or vocational college. Apply to UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration) and show you can support yourself, e.g. from savings or a grant. – Where: UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration)
Non-EU/EEA: register on arrival	Book a police appointment through UDI right after arriving to get your residence card. With a study permit for over 9 months you get a fødselsnummer (national identity number). – Where: Politiet (police), booked via UDI
EU/EEA: register with the police	Studying and living here more than 3 months? Book via UDI; in Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim or Stavanger choose SUA (Service Centre for Foreign Workers). – Where: Politiet (police), booked via UDI
EU/EEA: report your move	Staying 6 months or more? Book an appointment with Skatteetaten (Tax Administration) to report your move to Norway and get a fødselsnummer. – Where: Skatteetaten (Tax Administration)
Working alongside your studies	Get a tax deduction card first; without one your employer deducts 50%. Newcomers join PAYE, a flat 25% on pay under NOK 725,050 in 2026. Non-EU/EEA students: 20 hours a week in term. – Where: Skatteetaten (Tax Administration)
Open a bank account and get BankID	You must be resident and have valid ID plus a Norwegian ID number. Then ask your bank for BankID; MinID needs an activation letter sent by post. – Where: Your bank
Rent safely	A depositum (deposit) can be at most 6 months' rent and must go into a separate account in your name. In student housing it can be agreed that the interest goes to the landlord. – Where: Forbrukerrådet (Consumer Council)

Rules that apply to you
A study permit is only for full-time study, and it does not count towards permanent residence.
Only students registered as resident get a fastlege (GP); with just a D-number you usually won't.
Every foreign student who takes a job can find their workplace rights at Arbeidstilsynet (Labour Inspection Authority).
Bergen: Skyss (the local public transport operator) gives students 40% off single, 24-hour, 7-day and 30-day tickets.
Trondheim: since 1 September 2026, the one-zone 30-day ticket from AtB (the local public transport operator) is NOK 160 cheaper for students, as a temporary cut.

Source: UDI, Immigration Regulations (Lovdata), Skatteetaten, Oslo kommune, Forbrukerrådet, Skyss, AtB, read 23 September 2026

Joining a partner or family

In 2026 the family immigration fee is NOK 11,900, and the person in Norway normally needs income of at least 3.2 times the basic amount (G), about NOK 436,957 since G rose on 1 May 2026. For children, from 1 August 2026 under-18s are exempt from health co-payments and pupils in grades 1–3 get 12 free hours of SFO (school out-of-hours care) a week.

Step	What to do
Check that you can apply	Spouses, cohabitants and children are the usual applicants; parents of children in Norway, fiancé(e)s, foster children and full siblings may also apply. – Where: UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration)
Check the sponsor's income	The person in Norway must show future income of at least 3.2 G and have reached the same level on their last tax settlement. Some are exempt, such as the spouse or children of someone granted refugee status. – Where: UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration)
Apply online and book your appointment	Complete the application on UDI's website and pay online: NOK 11,900 in 2026, half for children under 18. Then attend an appointment at a VFS Global application centre. – Where: UDI; VFS Global
Collect your residence card	Once your permit is granted, meet the police to get your residence card; it takes at least 20 working days to arrive by post. – Where: Politiet (police)
Claim child benefit	If the whole family lives here and will stay over 12 months, apply for barnetrygd (child benefit): NOK 2,012 a month per child under 18, from 1 February 2026. – Where: NAV (Labour and Welfare Administration)
Kindergarten and school	A barnehage (kindergarten) place costs at most NOK 1,200 a month. School is compulsory once a child has been here 3 months, and grades 1–3 get 12 free SFO hours a week. – Where: Your kommune (municipality)
Register with a GP	Each family member registered as resident is entitled to a fastlege (GP). From 1 August 2026, under-18s pay no user fees for services under the exemption-card scheme. – Where: Helsenorge (national health portal)

Rules that apply to you
A housing requirement applies only in a few special cases, not to family immigration in general.
Renewing before your permit expires costs NOK 4,400 instead of NOK 11,900.
Applicants from Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and sub-Saharan Africa (except South Africa) may need a DNA test; it is free, but you pay travel and accommodation.
Family members of non-EU/EEA workers must apply to NAV for their own National Insurance membership to get health rights.
EEA citizens working in Norway may get child benefit even if their stay is shorter than 12 months.

Source: Immigration Regulations (Lovdata), UDI, NAV, Udir, Helsenorge, read 23 September 2026

Refugee or protection status

As of 9 April 2026, men aged 18 to 60 can no longer be granted temporary collective protection in Norway. To apply for protection (asylum) you must be in Norway or at the Norwegian border; once you are granted protection, the introduksjonsprogrammet (introduction programme) helps you learn Norwegian and move quickly into work or education.

Step	What to do
Apply for protection	You must be in Norway or at the Norwegian border; Norwegian authorities cannot help you travel here. UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration) decides your application. – Where: UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration)
While you wait	You can apply for a temporary work permit. Adults in a reception centre must attend Norwegian and social studies classes. In Oslo, a valid asylum-seeker ID gives free travel in Ruter's (Oslo public transport) Zone 1. – Where: UDI; your reception centre
Get health care	Everyone living in Norway is entitled to emergency care; call 113 when life is in danger. Asylum seekers with a D-number are entitled to a fastlege (GP), unlike most D-number holders. – Where: Helsenorge (national health portal)
Join the introduction programme	Newly arrived refugees and reunited family who need basic qualification take part. It lasts up to 12 months with upper-secondary education or higher; other tracks run for up to 2–5 years. – Where: Your kommune (municipality)
Receive the introduction benefit	Full-rate adults get 2 times the basic amount (G) a year, about NOK 273,098 in 2026. Under-25s get 2/3 if not living with parents, or 1/3 if they do. – Where: Your kommune (municipality)
Start Norwegian classes	Your municipality must offer Norwegian and social studies training within 3 months of registering you as resident. Social studies is 75 hours; Norwegian lasts up to 18 months or 3 years, depending on your schooling. – Where: Your kommune (municipality)
Children and school	School becomes compulsory after 3 months in Norway, and introductory classes can last up to 2 years. Child benefit is NOK 2,012 a month per child from 1 February 2026. – Where: Your kommune; NAV (Labour and Welfare Administration)

Rules that apply to you
Protection can be granted if you are persecuted, or fear persecution or inhumane treatment, in your home country.
Spouses, partners and children of someone with refugee status are exempt from the future-income rule; the fee is NOK 7,800 until the sponsor has permanent residence.
Recognised refugees can apply for citizenship after 7 of the last 10 years' residence, instead of the usual 8 of 11.
Ukrainian driving licences stay valid in Norway as long as Norway offers temporary collective protection to Ukrainians.
Since 1 September 2026, holders of a residence card and a fødselsnummer (national identity number) can get a national ID card, at first only in Ski.

Source: UDI, IMDi, Integration Act and Immigration Regulations (Lovdata), NAV, Helsenorge, Ruter, read 23 September 2026

Returning Norwegian

Buying a home? Lending rules amended on 31 December 2024 require at least 10% equity and a stress test at an interest rate of at least 7%, and total debt may not exceed 5 times income. If you were registered as emigrated and will stay 6 months or more, report your move back to Skatteetaten (Tax Administration); your fødselsnummer (national identity number) stays the same for life.

Step	What to do
Report your move back	Registered as emigrated and staying 6 months or more? Book an appointment with Skatteetaten to report a move to Norway. Processing takes 2–25 weeks, depending on your documents. – Where: Skatteetaten (Tax Administration)
Bring your belongings duty-free	Goods owned and used abroad for at least a year are duty-free if imported for personal use within a year of moving. Declare them on form RD0030; vehicles are never exempt. – Where: Tolletaten (Norwegian Customs)
Rejoin National Insurance	You are a resident member again if you will stay at least 12 months. A social security agreement may make up for too short a period of residence in Norway. – Where: NAV (Labour and Welfare Administration)
Renew your passport or ID card	Use the police service for Norwegian citizens. From 1 January 2026 a passport (16+) or national ID card (10+) costs NOK 840; both at the same appointment cost NOK 1,340. – Where: Politiet (police)
Exchange a foreign driving licence	Licences from the USA, Canada, Australia and a few other countries can be exchanged, with no deadline after you move back; you then have 2 years to pass the required tests. – Where: Statens vegvesen (Public Roads Administration)
Claim child benefit	Barnetrygd (child benefit) is NOK 2,012 a month per child under 18 from 1 February 2026, if the whole family lives here and will stay over 12 months. – Where: NAV (Labour and Welfare Administration)
Bringing a non-EU/EEA partner	Your partner applies for family immigration (NOK 11,900 in 2026). You normally need income of at least 3.2 times the basic amount (G), about NOK 436,957. – Where: UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration)
Get foreign qualifications recognised	HK-dir (Directorate for Higher Education and Skills) has handled recognition of education taken abroad since 1 January 2023. – Where: HK-dir (Directorate for Higher Education and Skills)

Rules that apply to you
Dual citizenship has been allowed since 1 January 2020; if you have taken another citizenship, you must report it so the National Population Register is updated.
Working abroad for a Norwegian employer? You can keep National Insurance membership for up to 12 consecutive months abroad if the employer pays contributions.
Home loans may not exceed 90% of the property's value; loans without repayment (interest-only) are capped at 60%.
Startlån (start-up loan) for first-time buyers in participating municipalities: at least 5% equity, and the loan runs for 10 years.
Household goods imported more than a year after your move need a separate application for assessment.

Source: Skatteetaten, Tolletaten, NAV, Politiet, Statens vegvesen, Lending Regulation (Lovdata), Husbanken, read 23 September 2026

Starting a business or self-employed

Since 1 October 2024 shops selling to consumers must in most cases accept cash, and from 15 June 2026 a minimum wage applies in the car industry for the first time. From outside the EU/EEA you need a self-employed permit (NOK 6,300 from 1 April 2026), which requires skilled-worker qualifications and a business that can support you.

Step	What to do
Non-EU/EEA: apply for a self-employed permit	You must be needed to run the business, have skilled-worker qualifications and a sound economic basis, and the business must be properly licensed. Apply to UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration). – Where: UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration)
Show the business can support you	Your living costs must essentially be covered by the business. UDI states a minimum income of NOK 310,070 a year before tax for self-employed people. – Where: UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration)
EU/EEA: register, no permit needed	Being self-employed gives you a right of residence. Staying over 3 months, register with the police via UDI; in Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim or Stavanger choose SUA (Service Centre for Foreign Workers). – Where: Politiet (police), booked via UDI
Meet your registration duties	All foreign businesses in Norway have registration obligations. Skatteetaten (Tax Administration) explains them for both sole proprietorships and foreign companies working here. – Where: Skatteetaten (Tax Administration)
Handle VAT	If you have VAT-taxable turnover in Norway, you follow the same VAT rules as Norwegian businesses. – Where: Skatteetaten (Tax Administration)
Hiring staff	Pay employer's national insurance contributions on salary and holiday pay, make sure staff have tax deduction cards, and submit the a-melding (employer's pay report). – Where: Skatteetaten (Tax Administration)
File your tax return	Sole proprietors submit the skattemelding (tax return) online by 31 May. National insurance on business income is 10.8% in 2026, and PAYE cannot be used with Norwegian business income. – Where: Skatteetaten (Tax Administration)

Rules that apply to you
The self-employed permit is tied to your specific business, but unlike student and researcher permits it counts towards permanent residence.
No general minimum wage: sector rates apply, such as cleaning at NOK 236.54 an hour (18+) and construction at NOK 264.32 for skilled workers.
Car industry from 15 June 2026: from NOK 208.00 an hour for adult helpers to NOK 237.00 for skilled workers with a year's practice.
Since 1 July 2024 staff need a signed contract within 7 days if the job lasts over a month; overtime pays at least 40% extra.
Hiring out labour? Both the client and the contractor have employer obligations under the Tax Payment Act.

Source: Immigration Regulations (Lovdata), UDI, Skatteetaten, Arbeidstilsynet, NAV, read 23 September 2026

The 15 guides

Move

1. Part 1Moving to Norway
2. Part 2Work permit or EU registration
3. Part 3Fødselsnummer or D-number
4. Part 6Working in Norway
5. Part 7Skattekort, PAYE and the tax return

Live

1. Part 4BankID in Norway
2. Part 5Renting in Norway
3. Part 8Healthcare in Norway
4. Part 10Kindergarten and school in Norway
5. Part 11Learn Norwegian in Norway
6. Part 12Driving licence in Norway
7. Part 13Electricity contracts in Norway

Settle

1. Part 9NAV and Norway's National Insurance
2. Part 14Everyday Norway
3. Part 15Permanent residence in Norway and Norwegian citizenship

Norway in numbers

Official statistics, fetched from the source. Each figure shows where it comes from and which period it covers.

Figure	Latest	Source and period
Population	5.64 million	Statistics Norway (SSB), end of Q2 2026
Size of the economy (GDP)	€470 billion	Eurostat, 2025
GDP per person	$94,594	World Bank, 2025
GDP growth	+1.6%	Eurostat, Q2 2026 vs a year earlier
Unemployment	4.5%	SSB Labour Force Survey, seasonally adjusted, 15–74, Aug 2026
Employment rate (age 20–64)	79.3%	Eurostat, Q2 2026
Inflation	3.3%	SSB, CPI 12-month change (calculated from the index 103.5 vs 100.2), Aug 2026
Central bank rate	4.25%	Norges Bank policy rate, 22 Sep 2026
Median monthly pay	55,800 NOK	SSB, median monthly earnings, all employees, 2025
Price level (EU = 100)	134	Eurostat, 2024
Born abroad	18.7%	Eurostat, 1 January 2025
€1 buys	10.80 NOK	European Central Bank, 22 September 2026

Source: Eurostat, World Bank, European Central Bank and the national statistics office and central bank, read 23 September 2026.

Pros
The highest incomes: median disposable income €41,923 – and 49% above the EU average even after adjusting for prices (Eurostat, 2025).
The lowest unemployment of the three: 4.2% in July 2026 (Eurostat).
The richest per person: GDP of $94,594 per resident (World Bank, 2025).
Housing and energy prices at the EU average – price level 99.9 (Eurostat, 2024).

Cons
The highest inflation and interest rate of the three: 3.2% (HICP, August 2026) and a central bank rate of 4.25% (Norges Bank) – loans cost more.
The most expensive food: 31% above the EU average (Eurostat, 2024).
Eating out costs 40% more than the EU average (Eurostat, 2024).
The slowest growth of the three: +1.6% in Q2 2026 (Eurostat) and 1.1% in 2025 (World Bank).

Your first steps in Norway, in order

Step	What	Where	Typical time
1	Check your right to stay. EU/EEA citizens can stay up to three months without any formalities and need no residence permit to work – but if you work in that time you still need a Norwegian ID number and a tax deduction card. Citizens of other countries need a residence permit to work in Norway or to stay more than 90 days.	UDI – apply online at udi.no	EU/EEA: up to 3 months with no formalities. Permits: UDI publishes estimated waiting times online, updated once a month.
2	EU/EEA citizens staying more than three months: register with the police. To stay longer you must be working, self-employed, a service provider, a student or able to support yourself. The registration certificate confirms that you are registered, not that you have a right of residence. Permit holders: attend your police appointment to get your residence card.	Register at udi.no; the police book and hold the appointment	Job seekers from the EU/EEA register no later than 3 months after arriving. Residence card: at least 20 working days from the police appointment, by post.
3	Report your move to Norway if you will stay six months or more. Once the move is approved you get a fødselsnummer (national identity number, 11 digits). With a residence permit you usually do not report it yourself – UDI notifies Skatteetaten. Nordic citizens do not report the move in the same way.	Skatteetaten – folkeregisteret (the National Population Register). Online if you already have an electronic ID	2 to 25 weeks, depending on whether you sent all the documentation.
4	Attend the ID-kontroll (ID check) in person. Bring your passport; EU/EEA/EFTA citizens can bring a passport or national ID card. Your identity is then marked “Checked” in the register.	One of 42 selected tax offices – book an appointment, there is no walk-in service	See the agency's website
5	Apply for a skattekort (tax deduction card) if you work. If you have no Norwegian ID number, Skatteetaten gives you a D-nummer (D-number) automatically. Without a tax deduction card, your employer must deduct 50 per cent of your pay. Newcomers join the PAYE scheme automatically.	Skatteetaten (skatteetaten.no)	Generally up to 5 days; often longer for foreign workers, partly because of the ID check.
6	Open a bank account. You must be resident in Norway and have a passport or national ID card plus a Norwegian ID number – a fødselsnummer or a D-number.	A bank of your choice	Ask your bank
7	Get an electronic ID – usually BankID or MinID – to log in to public services. You need a Norwegian ID number first; a D-number is enough for many services, including creating an electronic ID.	BankID: your bank. MinID: order an activation letter, sent to your address in the register	MinID: the letter arrives by post after a few days. BankID: ask your bank.
8	Optional: apply for a national ID card without travel rights – valid as ID inside Norway, not for travel. You need an 11-digit fødselsnummer; a D-number is not enough. NOK 840 from age 10, NOK 510 under 10, paid at the appointment – not with Vipps.	A police passport and ID office – book first. Citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA/EFTA: only Politiets publikumssenter i Ski from 1 September 2026	See the agency's website
9	Get a fastlege. Everyone registered as resident in a Norwegian municipality has the right to a GP; with only a D-number you are normally not entitled. You can change GP up to twice per calendar year.	Helsenorge (helsenorge.no); questions about GP registration: +47 23 32 70 00	See the agency's website
10	Check your place in folketrygden (the National Insurance Scheme), which underpins NAV’s benefits. Need work? Register as a jobseeker – online with an electronic ID, or in person at your local NAV office.	NAV (nav.no) or your local NAV office	Membership starts from your date of entry if you stay, or plan to stay, at least 12 months. Jobseekers confirm every 14 days.
11	Start learning Norwegian. If you have a right or duty to Norwegian training, the municipality must offer you a place. EU/EEA citizens living here under EEA rules pay for their courses.	Your kommune; the tests are run by HK-dir	A place no later than 3 months after you are registered as resident in the municipality (if you have the right or duty).

Tax at a glance for 2026

Item	2026	What it means for you
Skatt på alminnelig inntekt (tax on general income)	22%	A flat tax on your income after deductions, split into 8.25% to the state, 11.35% to the municipality and 2.40% to the county – the same in every municipality, including Oslo. In the tiltakssonen (incentive zone: Finnmark and seven municipalities in northern Troms) the rate is 18.5%, and a Finnmark allowance of up to NOK 45,000 applies.
Trinnskatt (bracket tax)	0% up to NOK 226,100	Paid on top of the 22%, on gross personal income such as salary, pension and benefits
Bracket tax, step 1	1.7%	On income from NOK 226,101 to NOK 318,300
Bracket tax, step 2	4.0%	On income from NOK 318,301 to NOK 725,050
Bracket tax, step 3	13.7%	On income from NOK 725,051 to NOK 980,100
Bracket tax, step 4	16.8%	On income from NOK 980,101 to NOK 1,467,200
Bracket tax, step 5	17.8%	On income from NOK 1,467,201
Trygdeavgift (National Insurance contribution)	7.6% of salary	For ages 17 to 69; 5.1% if you are under 17 or over 69. Nothing is charged below NOK 99,650 of personal income, and the contribution can never exceed 25% of the amount above NOK 99,650.
Personfradrag (personal allowance)	NOK 114,540	Given automatically against general income; reduced proportionally if you are resident for only part of the year
Minstefradrag (minimum standard deduction)	46% of salary, up to NOK 95,700	Deducted from salary income automatically; for pension income it is 40%, up to NOK 75,400
Frikort (tax-free card)	NOK 100,000	You can earn up to this amount in a year without tax being withheld
PAYE (Pay As You Earn, kildeskatteordningen)	25% flat, or 17.4% if you are exempt from Norwegian National Insurance contributions	For foreign workers who earn less than NOK 725,050 in 2026 (NOK 697,150 in 2025). You join automatically when you first apply for a tax deduction card, and get no tax return – just a PAYE tax receipt the following year. You can opt out until 31 December three years after the income year, but then cannot rejoin for that year.
Skattemelding (tax return)	Deadline 30 April	You can apply for a 30-day extension, but must do so by 30 April. Sole proprietors: 31 May.

The Relocate in Europe salary calculator applies these 2026 rates to your own salary.

Emergency and health numbers

Number	For what
112	Police emergencies. The call is free of charge.
110	Fire and rescue, answered by the regional 110 control centres (110-sentralene).
113	Medical emergencies: accidents, serious illness or other life-threatening situations – “when there is danger to life”.
116 117	Legevakt (out-of-hours medical service), when your GP is unavailable and it cannot wait. Open 24 hours a day; your call is forwarded to the nearest legevakt. Helsenorge writes it as +47 116 117.
116 111	Emergency helpline for children and young people.
02800	Police, non-emergency. You are put through to the police district you are calling from. From abroad: +47 02800.
+47 23 32 70 00	Veiledning helsenorge.no (Guidance Helsenorge): general questions about GP registration, Monday to Friday 08:00–15:30.

The address book

Grouped by what you need. Numbers are written as each agency publishes them, with +47 only where the agency itself gives it. Websites are plain domain names – type them into your browser. Where we could not verify a phone number, visiting address or opening hour, the cell says “See the agency’s website”.

Residence and identity

Agency	What you use it for	Phone	Website	Visit / service office
UDI – Utlendingsdirektoratet (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration)	Residence permits for work, study and family, EU/EEA registration, protection, permanent residence and citizenship. Online: My page, appointment booking and document checklists	See the agency's website	udi.no	After you apply at udi.no, the police book and hold your in-person appointment. Family immigration: an appointment at a VFS Global application centre
Skatteetaten and folkeregisteret (Norwegian Tax Administration and National Population Register)	Reporting a move to Norway, fødselsnummer and D-number, ID checks, tax deduction card, PAYE and tax return. Live chat and the login portal Min side (My page); ordinary email is not accepted	800 80 000 (free). From abroad: +47 22 07 70 00, at normal call rates. Weekdays 09:00–15:00	skatteetaten.no	ID checks at 42 selected tax offices – appointment only, no walk-in service. Post: Skatteetaten, Postboks 9200 Grønland, 0134 Oslo
Politiet (Norwegian Police)	Appointments for EU/EEA registration and residence permits; passports and the national ID card (NOK 840 from age 10, NOK 510 under 10). Pay by bank card, credit card, cash, Google Pay or Apple Pay – not Vipps or invoice	Emergency: 112. Non-emergency: 02800; from abroad +47 02800	politiet.no	Passport and ID offices – at least one in every police district. Book first; change or cancel with a one-time code sent by SMS. ID card for citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA/EFTA: from 1 September 2026 only at Politiets publikumssenter i Ski, with more offices planned by the end of 2026
SUA – Servicesenter for utenlandske arbeidstakere (Service Centre for Foreign Workers), Oslo	Joint in-person help from the police, Skatteetaten and Arbeidstilsynet (with UDI) for foreign workers, self-employed people and employers. sua.no lists general information desks only in Oslo, Stavanger and Trondheim, and no office in Kirkenes	None – SUA gives no guidance by phone or email	sua.no (also in Polish, Lithuanian, Romanian and Russian)	Schweigaards gate 17. Information desk: Monday and Friday 12:00–15:00, Tuesday to Thursday 09:00–12:00; no appointment needed
SUA Stavanger	The same joint service, in person	None – SUA gives no guidance by phone or email	sua.no	Lagårdsveien 46. Information desk: Tuesday and Thursday 09:00–11:00 and 12:00–14:30 (it was closed on 22 September 2026)
SUA Trondheim	The same joint service, in person	None – SUA gives no guidance by phone or email	sua.no	Holtermanns veg 1. Information desk: Monday to Friday 09:00–11:30 and 12:30–15:00
SUA Bergen	Arbeidstilsynet only – Bergen has no general SUA information desk	None – SUA gives no guidance by phone or email	sua.no	Nonnesetergaten 4, limited weekly hours (closed 10–21 September 2026)

Money, work and social insurance

Agency	What you use it for	Phone	Website	Visit / service office
NAV (Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration)	Membership of the National Insurance Scheme, unemployment and sickness benefit, family benefits, pensions, EU/EEA social security coordination and registering as a jobseeker. A chatbot answers around the clock and can connect you to an adviser on weekdays 09:00–15:00	+47 55 55 33 33 – press 9 for English. Weekdays 09:00–15:00. International line (social security rights across borders): +47 21 07 37 00. Wage Guarantee Scheme, for wages owed when an employer becomes insolvent: +47 22 82 20 00	nav.no	Your local NAV office – register as a jobseeker there in person if you have no electronic ID
Lånekassen – Statens lånekasse for utdanning (Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund)	Student loans and grants. You sign agreements in Dine sider (Your Pages) with BankID or another electronic ID. No customer email – log in to write. Applications that need a case officer currently take 7 weeks	+47 21 49 60 00. Weekdays 09:00–15:00; the wait is usually shortest 09:00–12:00	lanekassen.no	See the agency's website. Post: Lånekassen, P.O. Box 450 Alnabru, 0614 Oslo
Arbeidstilsynet (Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority)	Your rights and duties at work under the Working Environment Act, and reporting an occupational accident. Answers in English, Polish, Romanian and Russian as well as Norwegian	+47 73 19 97 00. Option 1, rights questions: weekdays 08:30–11:00. Option 2, switchboard, and option 3, accidents: weekdays 08:00–15:45. Adviser chat: weekdays 12:00–14:00	arbeidstilsynet.no	At SUA, which it staffs together with the police and Skatteetaten (see Residence and identity)

Health and safety

Agency	What you use it for	Phone	Website	Visit / service office
113 – medisinsk nødtelefon (medical emergency number)	Accidents, serious illness or other life-threatening situations	113	helsenorge.no	Emergency line – call
116 117 – legevakt (out-of-hours medical service)	When your GP is unavailable and the matter cannot wait	116 117 (+47 116 117), 24 hours a day	helsenorge.no	Your nearest legevakt – the call is forwarded there
Helsenorge (the Norwegian health service’s patient portal)	Appointments, prescriptions, patient records and your health rights as a foreigner in Norway. Booking, e-consultations and prescription renewal with your GP need “Full Access” consent in your Helsenorge settings	Veiledning helsenorge.no (Guidance Helsenorge): +47 23 32 70 00, Monday to Friday 08:00–15:30	helsenorge.no	Your fastlege
110 – brann (fire) and 112 – politi (police)	110: fire and rescue, handled by the 110 control centres. 112: police emergencies	110; 112 (free of charge)	dsb.no (110); politiet.no (112)	Emergency lines – call
DSB – Direktoratet for samfunnssikkerhet og beredskap (Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection)	Fire and electrical safety, hazardous substances and Nødnett, the emergency communication network – plus advice on being ready to manage on your own for at least a week in a crisis	+47 33 41 25 00. Reporting serious incidents, around the clock: +47 482 12 000	dsb.no	See the agency's website. Post: P.O. box 2014, 3103 Tønsberg

Moving goods, cars and pets

Agency	What you use it for	Phone	Website	Visit / service office
Tolletaten (Norwegian Customs)	Household goods can come in free of duty and tax if you lived abroad continuously for at least a year and owned and used them there, and bring them in no later than one year after moving. Declare them on form RD0030 with an inventory list. Vehicles are not covered: importing a car means 25% VAT, a greenhouse gas tax and a one-off registration tax. No Norwegian ID number? Apply for a TRK-number	+47 22 86 03 12. Private individuals: Monday to Friday 09:30–14:30. Chat: weekdays 08:00–11:00 and 12:30–15:15 (Thursdays until 13:30)	toll.no	See the agency's website. Online contact forms for private individuals
Statens vegvesen (Norwegian Public Roads Administration)	Exchanging a foreign driving licence and registering a vehicle. Manage licence and vehicle matters in the e-service Your Page	+47 22 07 30 00, Monday to Friday 09:00–14:00. Traffic control centres, to report dangers such as flooding or objects on the road: +47 22 175 175	vegvesen.no	Trafikkstasjon (driver and vehicle licensing office) – book online first; walk-ins are not accepted
Mattilsynet (Norwegian Food Safety Authority)	Rules for bringing dogs, cats and ferrets – microchip and rabies vaccination, and for dogs from the EU an echinococcus (tapeworm) treatment before entry – and food safety	+47 22 40 00 00, weekdays 09:00–11:00 and 12:00–14:30. Urgent matters out of hours, such as suspected serious contagious animal disease: the same number, then follow the voice instructions	mattilsynet.no	See the agency's website. Post: Mattilsynet, Felles postmottak, Postboks 383, 2381 Brumunddal; send sensitive documents through eDialog

Education and qualifications

Agency	What you use it for	Phone	Website	Visit / service office
HK-dir – Direktoratet for høyere utdanning og kompetanse (Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills)	Recognition of foreign education – it took over recognition of foreign higher education from NOKUT on 1 January 2023 – and the tests in Norwegian, social studies and the citizenship test	Switchboard: 55 30 38 00, 09:00–15:00. Recognition of foreign education: 21 49 56 09, Tuesday and Thursday 12:00–14:00. Tests: 40 63 17 35, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 10:00–12:00 and 12:30–14:30	hkdir.no; test candidates: prove.hkdir.no	See the agency's website. Post: P.O. Box 1093, 5809 Bergen
IMDi – Integrerings- og mangfoldsdirektoratet (Norwegian Directorate for Integration and Diversity)	Runs Ny i Norge (New in Norway), the official newcomer portal with practical information from Norwegian authorities. Some content from workinnorway.no, which closed on 2 March 2026, has moved there	+47 24 16 88 00	imdi.no; nyinorge.no	Tollbugata 20, 0152 Oslo, and Kongens gate 60, 8514 Narvik

Your rights

Agency	What you use it for	Phone	Website	Visit / service office
Forbrukerrådet (Norwegian Consumer Council)	Advice and guidance as a consumer – renting and deposits, electricity contracts, broadband and mobile. It gives advice but does not decide disputes	23 400 500. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 09:00–14:00; Wednesday 09:00–11:00	forbrukerradet.no	No in-person visits at its office in Fred Olsens gate 1, 0152 Oslo – use the phone or the online contact form, which is also where complaints go

Cities

Agency	What you use it for	Phone	Website	Visit / service office
Oslo kommune (City of Oslo)	Municipal services, your bydel (borough) and the English newcomer site Welcome to Oslo	21 80 21 80 – the contact centre, which also connects you to the 15 borough administrations	oslo.kommune.no	See the agency's website
Bergen kommune (City of Bergen)	Municipal services and the English page New in Bergen	55 56 55 56, 08:00–15:00	bergen.kommune.no	Innbyggerservice (citizen service centre), Kaigaten 4, 08:00–15:00. City hall: Rådhusgaten 10, 5020 Bergen
Trondheim kommune (City of Trondheim)	Municipal services; an English contact page with phone, chat, email and visiting options	72 54 00 00, Monday to Friday 08:00–15:30	trondheim.kommune.no	Public Service Desk at Bytorget, Erling Skakkes gate 14, and a service point in City Hall, Munkegata 1 – both Monday to Friday 08:00–15:30
Stavanger kommune (City of Stavanger)	Municipal services; an Information in English section with translated guidance and a link to apply for kindergarten	51 50 70 90, Monday to Friday 08:30–15:00, also during school holidays	stavanger.kommune.no	Olav Kyrres gate 23

The four biggest cities

Oslo

Population	Public transport	Universities	Nearest airport	Newcomer service
729,437 at the end of the second quarter of 2026 (Statistics Norway, SSB, table 01222)	Ruter. Adult 30-day ticket, zone 1: NOK 655 – cut from NOK 805 on 3 May 2026	University of Oslo (UiO), OsloMet, BI Norwegian Business School, the Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO), Høyskolen Kristiania and Noroff, among others	Oslo Airport (OSL), Gardermoen	Welcome to Oslo on oslo.kommune.no, in English; SUA information desk, Schweigaards gate 17

Oslo has 15 bydeler: Alna, Bjerke, Frogner, Gamle Oslo, Grorud, Grünerløkka, Nordre Aker, Nordstrand, Sagene, St. Hanshaugen, Stovner, Søndre Nordstrand, Ullern, Vestre Aker and Østensjø. In Gamle Oslo, which covers Tøyen and Grønland, the family health hub Tøyenhelsa H32 at Hagegata 32 brings together services for pregnant women, children, young people and parents. Since 1 September 2026, Grünerløkka, Gamle Oslo and Sagene have shared TryggEst, a local contact point if you are worried that an adult is being subjected to violence, abuse or neglect. Across the city, food waste goes in green bags and plastic packaging in purple bags.

Bergen

Population	Public transport	Universities	Nearest airport	Newcomer service
295,009 at the end of the second quarter of 2026 (SSB, table 01222); the municipality’s own facts page says 295,426	Skyss – buses and Bybanen (Bergen Light Rail). Adult 30-day ticket, one zone: NOK 700, prices valid from 1 May 2026	University of Bergen (UiB)	Bergen Airport (BGO), Flesland – Bybanen Line 1 runs to the city centre	New in Bergen on bergen.kommune.no; Innbyggerservice, Kaigaten 4

Bergen has eight bydeler: Arna, Årstad, Åsane, Bergenhus, Fana, Fyllingsdalen, Laksevåg and Ytrebygda. The city was founded more than 900 years ago, and because it lies between seven mountains it rains on average 200 days a year, so a good raincoat earns its place. Bergen has no general SUA information desk – only Arbeidstilsynet has a location at SUA here.

Trondheim

Population	Public transport	Universities	Nearest airport	Newcomer service
218,787 at the end of the second quarter of 2026 (SSB, table 01222)	AtB. Adult 30-day ticket, one zone: NOK 649 in 2026. From 1 September 2026 AtB cut the one-zone price by NOK 160 and calls the cut temporary	NTNU (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)	Trondheim Airport (TRD), Værnes – the Værnesekspressen bus runs to the city centre	Trondheim kommune’s English contact page; Public Service Desk at Bytorget; SUA information desk, Holtermanns veg 1

We could not verify a neighbourhood guide on Trondheim kommune’s own website, so we leave out district facts here. The municipality’s English contact page lists two numbers to remember: 02800 (the police) for child-care emergencies and 116 117 for the municipal out-of-hours medical service.

Stavanger

Population	Public transport	Universities	Nearest airport	Newcomer service
151,761 at the end of the second quarter of 2026 (SSB, table 01222)	Kolumbus. Adult 30-day ticket: from NOK 550	University of Stavanger (UiS)	Stavanger Airport (SVG), Sola	Information in English on stavanger.kommune.no; SUA information desk, Lagårdsveien 46

As in Trondheim, we could not verify district facts on the municipality’s own website. Most of stavanger.kommune.no is in Norwegian, with machine translation, but the Information in English section covers the basics – including a link for kindergarten applications.

Embassies in Norway

Your embassy issues passports, registers births and helps in an emergency. These are the embassies most people moving to Norway need – 44 countries. Addresses, phone numbers and e-mails were read on each embassy’s official website or the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ diplomatic list on 23 September 2026. Most consular services are by appointment only – book before you go.

Good to know

Book before you go. Skatteetaten’s tax offices see you by appointment only, the police passport and ID offices need a booking, and Statens vegvesen’s trafikkstasjoner do not accept walk-ins. SUA’s information desk in Oslo needs no appointment – but SUA gives no help by phone or email – and Forbrukerrådet does not receive visitors at all.

Your number decides what you can do. A D-number gives you access to most services in Norway, a fødselsnummer to all of them, and you need one or the other to open a bank account or get an electronic ID. After an ID check, your identity is marked as “Checked” in folkeregisteret – a status that public and private organisations using the register can see, and one that can affect your access to some services. A D-number becomes inactive five years after it was assigned, and you must reactivate it, often with an ID check, before you can get a new tax deduction card.

Calling and writing. Skatteetaten’s 800 80 000 is free; from abroad you call +47 22 07 70 00 at normal rates. At NAV, press 9 for the English menu. Arbeidstilsynet answers in English, Polish, Romanian and Russian, and sua.no is available in six languages. Several agencies do not take ordinary email: you write to Skatteetaten through Min side and to Lånekassen through Dine sider, after logging in.

Health care costs a little. In 2026 a standard daytime GP consultation costs NOK 179, or NOK 301 in the evening. Once you have paid NOK 3,278 in approved user fees in a year, you get an exemption card and stop paying user fees for the rest of that year. Since 1 August 2026, everyone under 18 is exempt. Children get free public dental care, except braces, while adults generally pay for the dentist themselves.

Names, pages and dates change. workinnorway.no closed on 2 March 2026, and some of its content now lives on nyinorge.no, IMDi’s newcomer portal. HK-dir took over recognition of foreign higher education from NOKUT on 1 January 2023. Since 1 September 2026 the police also issue the national ID card to citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA/EFTA, at first only in Ski. And check which year a tax page shows: when we looked, Skatteetaten’s English pages for the personal allowance and the minimum standard deduction still gave 2025 figures, such as NOK 108,550 – the 2026 personal allowance is NOK 114,540.

Relocate in Europe provides general information, not legal or financial advice. Numbers, prices and opening hours were checked on 23 September 2026 – check with the agency before you visit.