---
title: Norwegian Citizenship and Permanent Residence — Statsborgerskap and Permanent Oppholdstillatelse
country: norway
service: "citizenship-permanent-residence"
category: immigration
difficulty: complex
estimated_time: "Permanent residence application preparation typically 1–3 months for document gathering and Norskprøve scheduling; UDI processing time varies by case complexity and applicant route. Citizenship by naturalisation follows after the permanent residence stage in the typical pathway; full chronological track from initial arrival to citizenship grant runs eight or more years for most third-country applicants. Statsborgerskap ved melding for Nordic citizens is materially faster — UDI publishes a simplified notification route without a personal-appearance appointment."
cost_range: "Citizenship application fee in NOK for adult naturalisation per UDI's published fee schedule; permanent residence permit fee per UDI's current fee table (verify at application time on UDI's avgift page); ancillary budget covers Norskprøve and Samfunnskunnskap test fees (administered by approved test centres under integreringsloven) and certified translation of foreign civil-status documents."
last_verified: 2026-05-19
canonical: https://publicservices.guide/norway/statsborgerskap-naturalisation-and-permanent-residence-2026/
status: current
confidence: low
tags:
  - immigration
  - citizenship
  - naturalisation
  - statsborgerskap
  - "permanent-residence"
  - oppholdstillatelse
  - udi
  - norskprove
sources:
  - https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/permanent-residence/permanent-residence-permit/
  - https://www.udi.no/en/important-messages/changes-to-the-requirements-for-a-permanent-residence-permit/
  - https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/citizenship/citizenship-for-people-who-hold-a-residence-permit-in-norway/
  - https://www.udi.no/en/word-definitions/dual-citizenship/
  - https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/citizenship/melde-statsborgerskap/
  - https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/citizenship/applying-for-citizenship-for-nordic-citizens/
  - https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/citizenship/notification-of-citizenship-for-those-who-have-previously-been-norwegian-citizens/
  - https://www.udi.no/en/important-messages/change-in-residency-requirement-for-stateless-persons-without-a-permanent-residence-permit-applying-for-norwegian-citizenship/
  - https://www.udi.no/en/important-messages/changed-income-requirement-in-family-immigration-cases/
  - https://www.udi.no/en/word-definitions/social-studies-test-citizenship-test-for-those-who-apply-for-norwegian-citizenship/
  - https://lovdata.no/lov/2005-06-10-51
  - https://lovdata.no/dokument/NLE/lov/2008-05-15-35
  - https://www.regjeringen.no/en/topics/immigration-and-integration/asd/statsborgerloven/id2343481/
  - https://www.regjeringen.no/no/dokumenter/horing-forslag-til-endringer-i-utlendingsloven-og-utlendingsforskriften-krav-om-ferdigheter-i-norsk-muntlig-og-bestatt-prove-i-samfunnskunnskap-for-rett-til-permanent/id3080229/
  - https://www.une.no/en/case-types-and-countries/norwegian-citizenship/
---

# Norwegian Citizenship and Permanent Residence — Statsborgerskap and Permanent Oppholdstillatelse

**Country:** 🇳🇴 Norway  
**Last verified:** 2026-05-19  
**Estimated time:** Permanent residence application preparation typically 1–3 months for document gathering and Norskprøve scheduling; UDI processing time varies by case complexity and applicant route. Citizenship by naturalisation follows after the permanent residence stage in the typical pathway; full chronological track from initial arrival to citizenship grant runs eight or more years for most third-country applicants. Statsborgerskap ved melding for Nordic citizens is materially faster — UDI publishes a simplified notification route without a personal-appearance appointment.  
**Cost:** Citizenship application fee in NOK for adult naturalisation per UDI's published fee schedule; permanent residence permit fee per UDI's current fee table (verify at application time on UDI's avgift page); ancillary budget covers Norskprøve and Samfunnskunnskap test fees (administered by approved test centres under integreringsloven) and certified translation of foreign civil-status documents.

## Required documents

- **Valid passport or other accepted identity document** *(gyldig pass)*
  - Issuer: Competent national authority of your country of citizenship
  - Required for: All permanent residence and citizenship applications, plus the in-person police appointment for naturalisation cases
  - _Note:_ Identity-uncertainty issues can trigger extended processing and additional documentary demands; carry your original passport plus any prior identity documents from your country of origin
- **Residence-permit history documentation** *(oppholdstillatelseshistorikk)*
  - Required for: Permanent residence (utlendingsloven Chapter 7) and citizenship (statsborgerloven § 7) — documenting the qualifying residence period on permits of at least one year's duration each
  - Includes: All temporary residence permit cards (oppholdskort), residence-permit decision letters from UDI, and any work permit cards
  - _Note:_ EU/EEA nationals must additionally provide documentation of registration under the EU/EEA registration regime (Registreringsbevis) for the qualifying period
- **Folkeregister registration documentation** *(folkeregistrering)*
  - Issued by: Skatteetaten (the Norwegian Tax Administration) on folkeregister registration
  - Required: Confirmation of fødselsnummer or D-nummer, and address registration at a Norwegian address
- **Norskprøve certificate** *(Norskprøvebevis)*
  - Required level for permanent residence: CEFR level set by utlendingsforskriften and listed on UDI's permanent-residence page; current threshold in additional_items
  - Required level for citizenship: CEFR level set by statsborgerloven § 8 and listed on UDI's citizenship page; current threshold in additional_items
  - Administered by: Approved Norskprøve test centres (typically kommunal voksenopplæring centres)
  - _Note:_ Exemptions exist for age above 67, documented health conditions, prior education in Norwegian at primary/secondary/tertiary level with passing grades, and certain other documented grounds
- **Samfunnskunnskap certificate** *(Samfunnskunnskapsbevis)*
  - Required for permanent residence: Samfunnskunnskap test in a language the applicant understands
  - Required for citizenship: Norwegian-language statsborgerprøven OR Norwegian-language samfunnskunnskapsprøven — either satisfies the requirement
  - Administered by: Approved test centres
- **Income or self-sufficiency documentation** *(inntektsdokumentasjon)*
  - Required for: Permanent residence (utlendingsforskriften § 11-11 subsistence floor) and citizenship (statsborgerloven § 7 first paragraph item h)
  - Includes: Pay slips, employment contract, tax records (Skatteetaten), business income statements, pension documentation, or other documented income source
  - _Note:_ Different income thresholds apply at the permanent-residence subsistence stage and at the family-immigration sponsor stage; both are set by utlendingsforskriften and revised periodically. Confirm the applicable threshold on UDI's avgift and income-requirement pages at application time (current family-immigration sponsor threshold listed in additional_items).
- **Permanent residence permit card** *(permanent oppholdskort)*
  - Required for: Citizenship by naturalisation — typically a prerequisite under the statsborgerloven § 7 baseline (with reduced-residence-route exceptions for Nordic citizens, refugees, stateless persons under the current ministerial instruction, and children of Norwegian citizens)
  - _Note:_ EU/EEA nationals with Registreringsbevis under utlendingsloven Chapter 13 follow a parallel path — UDI's citizenship-for-eueea-nationals page sets out the procedural specifics
- **Police certificate of conduct** *(politiattest)*
  - Required for: Citizenship by notification (statsborgerskap ved melding) — specifically for former Norwegian citizens reacquiring under the over-15 rule
  - Issued by: Norwegian police authority (Politiet) and/or the equivalent authority in any country of significant residence
- **Certified translations** *(autorisert oversettelse)*
  - Required for: Civil-status documents (birth, marriage, name-change) not in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, or English
  - Issued by: Statsautorisert translatør (state-authorised translator)

## Costs

- **Adult citizenship by naturalisation (statsborgerskap for voksne) — application fee:** 6500 NOK — Avgift: 6 500 kr — UDI's published statutory application fee for adult naturalisation. Children's applications carry a separate (lower) fee per UDI's fee schedule.
- **Permanent oppholdstillatelse (permanent residence permit) — application fee:** 5900 NOK — Permanent residence permit application fee per UDI's avgift page; verify the current published figure at application time as fees are revised by regulation.
- **Citizenship by notification (statsborgerskap ved melding) — Nordic-citizen route:** 0 NOK — waived if Applicant is a citizen of Denmark, Sweden, Finland, or Iceland eligible under § 20 of statsborgerloven — The Nordic-citizen notification route is fee-exempt under current UDI guidance — the simplified notification submission does not carry the adult-naturalisation fee. Verify on UDI's melde-statsborgerskap page at application time.
- **Norskprøve (Norwegian language oral test) — test fee (optional):** 1100 NOK — waived if Applicant qualifies for exemption (age, health, prior Norwegian-language education, or other documented grounds) — Test fee varies by test centre; verify the current figure with your local kommune or approved Norskprøve provider. Applicants entitled to opplæring under integreringsloven may have the test fee covered by their kommune.
- **Samfunnskunnskap (social studies test) — test fee (optional):** 700 NOK — waived if Applicant qualifies for exemption or is entitled to free testing via integreringsloven opplæring — Samfunnskunnskap fee varies by test centre and kommune. At the permanent residence stage the test may be taken in any language the applicant understands; at the citizenship stage the Norwegian-language statsborgerprøven (or the Norwegian-language samfunnskunnskapsprøven) is required.
- **Certified translation of foreign civil-status documents (optional):** 1500–5000 NOK — waived if Documents already in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, or English — Birth certificates, marriage certificates, and name-change documents from countries other than Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, or Iceland typically require certified translation by a statsautorisert translatør. Range varies by document length and language pair.

## Steps

### 1. Confirm Your Procedural Route

- Identify whether you fall under the naturalisation track (statsborgerskap by application, the dominant route for foreign residents who have first obtained permanent oppholdstillatelse), the notification track (statsborgerskap ved melding, available to Nordic citizens, former Norwegian citizens reacquiring, and certain children of Norwegian parents), or the automatic acquisition route by birth or descent (out of scope for this guide).
- If you are a citizen of Denmark, Sweden, Finland, or Iceland, the notification route under § 20 of statsborgerloven is materially simpler — UDI's melde-statsborgerskap page sets out the seven-year continuous-residence requirement and the criminal-record condition. Alternatively the application route is available to Nordic citizens with as little as two years' residence but requires the full naturalisation procedure.
- If you are a former Norwegian citizen, check eligibility for the reacquisition-by-notification route on UDI's notification-for-previously-Norwegian page.
- If you are a stateless person without a permanent residence permit, check UDI's current important-messages page for the operational status of the three-year residence rule under the Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion's instruction to UDI.

> **Tip:** The two-track regime (permanent residence then citizenship) is sequential for most foreign residents — confirm before committing to a Norskprøve and Samfunnskunnskap schedule which stage you are at, since the level required differs.

_Links:_
- [UDI — Citizenship for people who hold a residence permit in Norway](https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/citizenship/citizenship-for-people-who-hold-a-residence-permit-in-norway/)
- [UDI — Notification of Norwegian citizenship for Nordic citizens](https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/citizenship/melde-statsborgerskap/)
- [UDI — Notification of citizenship for those who have previously been Norwegian](https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/citizenship/notification-of-citizenship-for-those-who-have-previously-been-norwegian-citizens/)

### 2. Build Qualifying Residence on Permits That Form the Basis

- Maintain continuous lawful residence on a permit type that can form the basis for permanent residence — typically work permits (including the skilled-worker route under utlendingsloven § 23), family permits, and certain protection-based permits. Check UDI's permanent-residence eligibility page for the route-by-route specifics, since not every residence permit type qualifies.
- Track absences carefully: absences from Norway during the qualifying period are limited by utlendingsforskriften and UDI guidance, and exceeding the limits can reset the qualifying clock.
- Maintain the conditions of the underlying permit (employment, family relationship, study enrolment, or other) throughout the qualifying period — a lapse in the underlying conditions can break the chain that leads to permanent residence.
- For applicants on family-immigration permits, note that the family-permit sponsor's income requirement (the reference-person income threshold) has been raised under utlendingsforskriften — current threshold expressed in basic amounts (G) of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme. See the additional-items section and UDI's family-immigration income-requirement page for the current applicable figure. The family-permit income threshold gates the initial family permit and therefore indirectly affects the start of the permanent-residence clock for family migrants.

> **Tip:** Permanent residence and citizenship eligibility are assessed under utlendingsloven and statsborgerloven respectively — both Acts cross-reference utlendingsforskriften (the Immigration Regulation) and statsborgerforskriften (the Citizenship Regulation) for the operational detail. Cite the statutory provision (e.g., utlendingsloven § 62 for permanent residence; statsborgerloven § 7 for citizenship) in correspondence with UDI to anchor your case.

_Links:_
- [Lovdata — Statsborgerloven (Lov om norsk statsborgerskap)](https://lovdata.no/lov/2005-06-10-51)
- [Lovdata — Utlendingsloven (Lov om utlendingers adgang til riket og deres opphold her)](https://lovdata.no/dokument/NLE/lov/2008-05-15-35)

### 3. Take the Norskprøve and Samfunnskunnskap Tests *(Norskprøve / Samfunnskunnskap)*

- Register for the Norskprøve (Norwegian-language oral test) at a kommunal or approved test centre. The level required at the permanent-residence stage is one CEFR level lower than the level required at the citizenship stage — confirm with UDI which test result you need for the application you are submitting.
- Register for the Samfunnskunnskap (social-studies) test. At the permanent-residence stage the test may be taken in a language the applicant understands; at the citizenship stage the Norwegian-language version (statsborgerprøven or the Norwegian-language samfunnskunnskapsprøven) is required, and either satisfies the citizenship knowledge requirement.
- Check eligibility for opplæring under integreringsloven (the Integration Act, LOV-2020-11-06-127). Many residents on permits derived from asylum, family reunification with a refugee, and some work permits have the right and obligation to attend Norwegian-language and Samfunnskunnskap training through their kommune — which typically means the test fee is covered.
- Plan timing carefully: capacity at approved test centres is a binding constraint at some times of year, and the test result must be in hand before the police appointment for the application.

> **Tip:** Exemptions from the Norskprøve and Samfunnskunnskap requirement include documented health conditions, age above 67, documented prior education in Norwegian at primary, secondary, or tertiary level with passing grades, and certain other documented grounds. If you may qualify for an exemption, gather the supporting documentation before applying.

_Links:_
- [UDI — Apply for a permanent residence permit](https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/permanent-residence/permanent-residence-permit/)
- [UDI — Changes to the requirements for a permanent residence permit](https://www.udi.no/en/important-messages/changes-to-the-requirements-for-a-permanent-residence-permit/)

### 4. Apply for Permanent Oppholdstillatelse

- Once the qualifying residence period is complete and the Norskprøve and Samfunnskunnskap tests are passed (or exemption documented), submit the permanent residence application via UDI's online application portal.
- Pay the permanent residence permit application fee per UDI's current avgift page; the fee is paid online at the time of submission.
- Book an appointment with the police (or with a service centre — for some routes the Service Centre for Foreign Workers (SUA) handles the appointment) to lodge biometric data and original documents.
- Bring to the appointment: passport (or other identity document accepted by UDI), residence-permit history documentation, employment or income documentation, the Norskprøve certificate, the Samfunnskunnskap certificate, and any other documents specified in UDI's appointment confirmation.
- After the appointment, await UDI's decision. UDI may issue a komplettering request (request for additional documentation) — respond promptly via the online portal.

> **If this fails:** The Norskprøve and course-completion alternatives required for permanent residence are set by UDI under utlendingsforskriften and change periodically. UDI assesses the application against the rules in force at the date of the police appointment — verify the currently-required CEFR level and any course-completion alternative on UDI's permanent-residence page before scheduling testing (current threshold listed in additional_items).

_Links:_
- [UDI — Apply for a permanent residence permit](https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/permanent-residence/permanent-residence-permit/)

### 5. Apply for Statsborgerskap

- Once the citizenship residence-period threshold is complete (the general case is set by statsborgerloven § 7 first paragraph item e, or the applicable reduced-residence variant), and the Norskprøve at the citizenship-stage CEFR level set by statsborgerloven § 8 and statsborgerprøven (or Norwegian-language samfunnskunnskapsprøven) are passed, submit the naturalisation application via UDI's online portal.
- Pay the adult naturalisation application fee in NOK per UDI's published fee schedule (figure listed in the costs section and on UDI's avgift page).
- Book an appointment with the police to lodge biometric data and supporting documentation. Bring: passport, permanent residence permit, residence-permit history documentation, income or self-sufficiency documentation, the Norskprøve certificate at the citizenship-stage level, and the statsborgerprøven (or samfunnskunnskapsprøven) certificate.
- Await UDI's decision. If UDI requests additional documentation, respond promptly via the online portal.
- If the application is refused, the refusal letter sets out the appeal deadline and procedure. UDI first reviews the appeal; if UDI does not reverse, the case is forwarded to UNE (Utlendingsnemnda) for independent decision.

> **Tip:** Reduced-residence routes (Nordic citizens, refugees, stateless persons, spouse/partner of a Norwegian citizen, children of Norwegian citizens) are processed under different statutory provisions — cite the applicable provision (e.g., statsborgerloven § 12 for spouse/partner) in the application and supporting cover letter so the assessing case officer correctly routes the case.

_Links:_
- [UDI — Apply for Norwegian citizenship](https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/citizenship/citizenship-for-people-who-hold-a-residence-permit-in-norway/)
- [UDI — Norwegian citizenship test and social studies test](https://www.udi.no/en/word-definitions/social-studies-test-citizenship-test-for-those-who-apply-for-norwegian-citizenship/)

### 6. Submit Notification (Statsborgerskap ved Melding) — Nordic Citizens Only

- Nordic citizens (Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland) with at least seven years' continuous residence in Norway may submit a simplified online notification of Norwegian citizenship without an in-person police appointment. UDI's published wording is: 'Nordic citizens can submit a simplified notification of Norwegian citizenship online without having to book an appointment with the police.'
- Confirm eligibility: continuous residence in Norway for the past seven years, current residence in Norway at the time of notification, and no sentence of imprisonment or other deprivation of liberty during the past seven years (UDI's wording: 'you must not have been sentenced to imprisonment or other forms of deprivation of liberty, or to a reaction for a criminal offence that is not deemed to be punishment, for example transfer to psychiatric care or enforced care').
- Submit the notification via UDI's online notification portal. The notification route is fee-exempt under current UDI guidance.
- UDI confirms the notification and registers Norwegian citizenship — the simplified procedure does not require the Norskprøve, the statsborgerprøven, or the in-person police appointment.

> **Tip:** If you do not yet have seven years' continuous residence but already have two years' residence, the alternative is the application route for Nordic citizens — faster on the residence-period threshold but requiring the full naturalisation procedure including the Norskprøve and the citizenship test. Choose the route that fits your situation.

_Links:_
- [UDI — Notification of citizenship for Nordic citizens (melde-statsborgerskap)](https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/citizenship/melde-statsborgerskap/)
- [UDI — Applying for citizenship for Nordic citizens](https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/citizenship/applying-for-citizenship-for-nordic-citizens/)

### 7. Receive the Decision and Move to Next Steps

- UDI issues the decision in writing via the online portal. A grant of permanent oppholdstillatelse takes effect on the decision; a grant of statsborgerskap takes effect on the decision and you are a Norwegian citizen from that date.
- A refusal sets out the legal basis, the appeal deadline (typically three weeks), and the procedure for lodging an appeal. UDI first reviews the appeal; if UDI does not reverse the refusal, the case is forwarded to UNE (Utlendingsnemnda) for independent decision.
- After a citizenship grant, apply for a Norwegian passport at Politiet (the Norwegian Police) and update the National Population Register (folkeregisteret) records with Skatteetaten.
- If you held another nationality at the time of the Norwegian grant, check the law of that other state — Norway permits dual citizenship under current law, but the country of your existing nationality may not, and your existing citizenship may be lost at the moment of the Norwegian grant by operation of the other country's law.

> **Tip:** A grant of Norwegian citizenship under current dual-citizenship rules does not require you to renounce other nationalities — this differs from the pre-2020 regime under which most naturalising foreign citizens were required to renounce. Plan the practical consequences with reference to the other country's nationality law.

_Links:_
- [UNE — Norwegian citizenship case-types and decisions](https://www.une.no/en/case-types-and-countries/norwegian-citizenship/)

## FAQ

### Does Norway permit dual citizenship?

Yes. From 1 January 2020, statsborgerloven was amended to permit dual citizenship — applicants for Norwegian citizenship are not required to renounce other nationalities, and a Norwegian citizen who acquires another nationality is not required to relinquish norsk statsborgerskap. Before this amendment, Norway operated a single-citizenship rule under which Norwegian citizens acquiring foreign nationality typically lost their Norwegian citizenship, and naturalising foreign citizens were typically required to renounce their prior nationality. Two practical caveats: (i) the 2020 change is not retroactive — persons who lost Norwegian citizenship before the amendment must affirmatively notify UDI under the reacquisition-by-notification route to regain it; (ii) Norwegian law cannot override foreign law — if the country of your existing citizenship does not permit dual nationality, you may still lose that citizenship at the time of your Norwegian naturalisation, a matter governed by the other state's law. Source: UDI dual citizenship guidance, accessed 2026-05-19.

### What is the Norskprøve level required for permanent residence versus citizenship?

The two tracks have different language thresholds. For applications for permanent oppholdstillatelse where the appointment with the police is on or after 1 September 2025, the applicant must pass an oral Norwegian language test at CEFR level A2 and a Samfunnskunnskap (social-studies) test in a language the applicant understands; these requirements apply to applicants aged 18 to 67. For citizenship by naturalisation, the Norwegian-language oral test is required at CEFR level B1 (one level higher than the permanent-residence threshold), and the applicant must additionally pass the Norwegian-language statsborgerprøven (citizenship test) or the Norwegian-language samfunnskunnskapsprøven — either is accepted. The B1 citizenship-stage language requirement has been in force since 1 October 2022. Exemptions exist for documented health conditions, applicants over 67, applicants with prior education in Norwegian, and certain other documented grounds. Source: UDI permanent-residence and citizenship pages, accessed 2026-05-19.

### Did the Norskprøve level for permanent residence change recently?

Yes. Before 1 September 2025, applicants for permanent oppholdstillatelse could satisfy the language and Samfunnskunnskap requirement by either completing the required course OR passing the test; the oral Norwegian level required was CEFR A1. From 1 September 2025, the course-completion path was removed in favour of a pass-the-test regime, and the oral Norwegian floor was raised one CEFR level to A2. The Samfunnskunnskap test may still be taken in any language the applicant understands. The amendment originated in a consultation hearing published by the Ministry of Justice (Justis- og beredskapsdepartementet) on regjeringen.no (hearing id3080229) and was finalised with force from 1 September 2025. Source: UDI important-message on changes to permanent residence permit requirements + regjeringen.no consultation hearing id3080229, accessed 2026-05-19.

### How many years of residence are needed for permanent residence in Norway?

The general rule under utlendingsloven Chapter 7 is three or five years of continuous residence in Norway on a permit basis that can form the basis for permanent residence. Three years applies in particular to work permits (including skilled-worker permits), family permits with a Norwegian or Nordic-citizen reference person, and certain protection-based permits. Five years applies in particular to family permits where the reference person is not Norwegian or Nordic-citizen. The exact qualifying period is determined by which sub-provision of utlendingsloven forms the basis of the current residence permit — UDI's permanent residence page sets out the route-by-route specifics. Beyond the residence-period requirement, the applicant must demonstrate self-sufficiency, pass the Norskprøve at the required CEFR level, pass the Samfunnskunnskap test, hold a clean criminal record (subject to karenstid), and continue to satisfy the conditions of the underlying residence permit at the time of the permanent-residence decision.

### How many years of residence are needed for citizenship by naturalisation?

The general rule under statsborgerloven § 7 first paragraph item (e) is eight of the past eleven years on residence permits of at least one year's duration each. Several reduced-residence routes operate alongside this general rule: spouses, registered partners, and cohabitants of Norwegian citizens may apply under § 12 with at least five years' residence in the past ten years plus a combined residence and marriage period totalling at least seven years; refugees have a reduced requirement of seven of the past ten years; stateless persons with sufficient income may apply with six of the past ten years; stateless persons without a permanent residence permit may currently apply after three years under UDI's instruction effective from 17 March 2025. Children of Norwegian citizens have a separate two-year continuous-residence route under the notification regime. The Norskprøve B1 requirement, statsborgerprøven (or Norwegian-language samfunnskunnskapsprøven), karenstid, and self-sufficiency conditions all apply alongside the residence requirement.

### I am a citizen of Denmark, Sweden, Finland, or Iceland. What is the procedure for me?

Nordic citizens have two procedural routes that other applicants do not. The notification route (statsborgerskap ved melding) under § 20 of statsborgerloven allows Nordic citizens who have lived in Norway continuously for the past seven years and currently reside in Norway to submit a simplified online notification without an in-person police appointment; UDI's published wording is: 'Nordic citizens can submit a simplified notification of Norwegian citizenship online without having to book an appointment with the police.' The criminal-record condition for the notification route is: no sentence of imprisonment or other deprivation of liberty, and no sentence to a reaction for a criminal offence not deemed to be punishment (for example transfer to psychiatric care or enforced care) during the past seven years. The alternative — the application route — is available to Nordic citizens with as little as two years' residence, but follows the full naturalisation procedure including the language and citizenship-test requirements. The notification route trades a longer residence threshold for a substantially simpler procedure. Source: UDI melde-statsborgerskap page and UDI Nordic-citizen application page, accessed 2026-05-19.

### I lost my Norwegian citizenship when I acquired another nationality. How can I get it back?

Former Norwegian citizens can reacquire citizenship under the notification regime. UDI's published wording for those who were Norwegian by birth is: 'If you became a Norwegian citizen when you were born, you must have stayed in Norway for a total of six months before you turned 22.' The notification route is open to persons who lost Norwegian citizenship by acquiring another nationality under the pre-2020 single-citizenship rule, or who failed to renounce a prior citizenship by the UDI-mandated deadline before that change. Applicants over 15 must not have been charged or indicted for a criminal offence which can lead to a prison sentence in the period since they lost Norwegian citizenship — a police certificate is required. The dual-citizenship amendment effective from 1 January 2020 did not automatically restore lost citizenship — affected persons must affirmatively notify UDI under this regime. Source: UDI notification for those previously Norwegian, accessed 2026-05-19.

### What is the rule for stateless persons applying for citizenship?

Stateless persons have two distinct routes. Stateless persons with sufficient income may apply under the long-standing statsborgerloven regime with six of the past ten years' residence in Norway. Stateless persons without a permanent residence permit may currently apply for Norwegian citizenship after three years of residence, even without first obtaining permanent residence, under a UDI instruction effective from 17 March 2025. UDI's published wording is: 'A stateless person can now apply for Norwegian citizenship after three years, even if they do not have a permanent residence permit.' This three-year rule operates by ministerial instruction from the Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion to UDI, not by statute — which means it can be reversed by a future ministerial instruction without going through the Stortinget. The three-year rule departs from the previous practice under which stateless persons were required to meet the five-year residency requirement for a permanent residence permit before applying for Norwegian citizenship. Source: UDI important-message on change in residency requirement for stateless persons, accessed 2026-05-19.

### Is the social-studies test (Samfunnskunnskap) the same as the citizenship test (statsborgerprøven)?

No — but they are related, and either satisfies the citizenship-stage knowledge requirement. The Samfunnskunnskap test is the social-studies test required at the permanent-residence stage; at that stage it may be taken in any language the applicant understands. The statsborgerprøven is the Norwegian-language citizenship test required at the naturalisation stage. UDI guidance specifies that an applicant for citizenship satisfies the requirement by passing EITHER the statsborgerprøven OR the Norwegian-language samfunnskunnskapsprøven — not both. The Norwegian-language requirement at the citizenship stage is what distinguishes the citizenship-stage knowledge test from the permanent-residence-stage test, which may be taken in a language the applicant understands. Source: UDI citizenship-for-residents and citizenship-test pages, accessed 2026-05-19.

### Are there any imminent statutory changes to citizenship requirements I should plan for?

As of the time of writing (May 2026), no statutory amendment to statsborgerloven has been enacted that would change the residence period, the Norskprøve level required at the citizenship stage, or introduce a categorical bar on naturalisation for persons with a criminal record. The most recent statsborgerloven amendment on lovdata.no is LOV-2024-12-20-81 (20 December 2024), which modified § 2 (definitions) and § 29 b (transitional provisions) only — it does not affect § 7 (residence period) or § 8 (language). The Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) has publicly proposed a package consisting of an extension of the residence requirement from eight to ten years, an uplift of the Norwegian-language level from CEFR B1 to B2, and a categorical bar for criminally-convicted applicants. As of May 2026 this is a political proposal — it has not been adopted by the Stortinget, has no force date, and has no Prop. L number. Plan under the rules currently in force; monitor regjeringen.no for the Ministry of Justice and lovdata.no for any future amendment. Source: lovdata.no statsborgerloven page + UDI citizenship guidance, accessed 2026-05-19.

### What happens if I have a criminal record?

Both the permanent-residence and citizenship tracks impose a karenstid (waiting period) when the applicant has been sentenced to a punishment that triggers the schedule. The waiting period extends the residence-period clock by an amount that depends on the gravity of the offence and the length of sentence imposed. UDI maintains a separate karenstid schedule mapping sentence length and offence category to additional waiting time. For minor offences with short suspended sentences the waiting period may be a matter of months; for serious offences with multi-year prison sentences the waiting period can extend for many years. The karenstid is added to the underlying residence-period requirement — so an applicant whose criminal record would otherwise have triggered eligibility now must wait for the karenstid to expire before the residence-period clock is recognised as complete. UDI's wording: 'If you have been convicted of a criminal offence or sentenced to compulsory psychiatric treatment or care, you may have to wait longer before being granted permanent residence.' Source: UDI permanent residence and citizenship guidance, accessed 2026-05-19.

### What is the role of UNE in this process?

UNE (Utlendingsnemnda — the Immigration Appeals Board) is the independent appeals body that hears appeals against UDI refusals. If UDI refuses your permanent residence or citizenship application, the refusal letter sets out an appeal deadline (typically three weeks) and the procedure for lodging an appeal. UDI itself first reviews the appeal; if UDI does not reverse the refusal, the case is forwarded to UNE for independent decision. UNE publishes its own caseload statistics, summarised decisions, and country-of-origin information on its website. UNE's role is distinct from a court — it is an administrative appeals body — but a UNE decision can subsequently be challenged in the ordinary administrative courts. Source: UNE Norwegian-citizenship case-types page, accessed 2026-05-19.

## Local tips

- Norway operates a two-track regime for long-term migrants: permanent oppholdstillatelse (permanent residence permit) first, then statsborgerskap (citizenship by naturalisation). Most applicants must hold permanent residence before becoming eligible for citizenship — but several routes (Nordic citizens, refugees, stateless persons under the current ministerial instruction, and former Norwegian citizens reacquiring) compress or bypass this sequence.
- UDI (Utlendingsdirektoratet, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration) is the deciding authority for both permanent residence and naturalisation. UNE (Utlendingsnemnda, the Immigration Appeals Board) hears appeals against UDI refusals.
- Norway permits dual citizenship under current law — applicants are not required to renounce other nationalities to become Norwegian. Whether the country of your existing nationality permits dual citizenship is a separate question governed by that other country's law, not Norway's.
- The Norwegian-language oral test (Norskprøve) is administered at certified test centres throughout Norway. The level required at the permanent-residence stage is one CEFR level lower than the level required at the citizenship stage. Plan test scheduling well in advance — capacity at test centres can be a binding constraint.
- Samfunnskunnskap (the social-studies test) is taken in a language the applicant understands for permanent residence, but in Norwegian for citizenship — the citizenship-stage version is termed statsborgerprøven and an applicant satisfies the requirement with either the statsborgerprøven or the Norwegian-language samfunnskunnskapsprøven.
- Carence periods (karenstid) apply when an applicant has a criminal record. The waiting period extends the eligibility clock by an amount that depends on the gravity of the offence and the length of sentence — UDI maintains a separate karenstid schedule that should be consulted before applying.

## Sources

- [UDI — Apply for a permanent residence permit](https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/permanent-residence/permanent-residence-permit/) — accessed 2026-05-19 — _T1_ — Canonical English-language reference for the permanent oppholdstillatelse application. General residence requirement: three or five years of continuous residence in Norway on a permit basis that can form the basis for permanent residence (three years for work permits, family permits with Norwegian or Nordic-citizen reference persons, and certain protection grounds; five years for family permits with non-Norwegian/non-Nordic reference persons). Self-sufficiency: 'Adults must earn minimum NOK 325,400 in the past year' as the subsistence floor under utlendingsforskriften § 11-11. Language and social-studies: 'You must have passed an oral Norwegian language test at level A2 or higher, or qualify for an exemption' applies post-1-September-2025; the Samfunnskunnskap test 'in a language you understand' is required for applicants aged 18 to 67. Criminal record: 'If you have been convicted of a criminal offence or sentenced to compulsory psychiatric treatment or care, you may have to wait longer before being granted permanent residence' — karenstid schedule applies.
- [UDI — Changes to the requirements for a permanent residence permit](https://www.udi.no/en/important-messages/changes-to-the-requirements-for-a-permanent-residence-permit/) — accessed 2026-05-19 — _T1_ — Enacted from 1 September 2025. UDI's published wording: 'If your appointment with the police is on or after 1 September, you must pass an oral Norwegian language test at level A2 and a social studies test in a language you understand. These requirements apply to everyone aged 18 to 67.' Pre-1-September-2025 regime required oral Norwegian at A1; the course-completion alternative is removed. 'From 1 September 2025, you will no longer be required to complete courses in Norwegian and social studies to qualify for a permanent residence permit.' The Samfunnskunnskap test may be taken in any language the applicant understands; the Norwegian-language requirement for the social-studies test appears only at the citizenship stage.
- [UDI — Citizenship for people who hold a residence permit in Norway](https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/citizenship/citizenship-for-people-who-hold-a-residence-permit-in-norway/) — accessed 2026-05-19 — _T1_ — Canonical English-language reference for the citizenship-by-naturalisation pathway. General residence under statsborgerloven § 7 first paragraph item (e): 'eight of the past eleven years' on residence permits 'of at least one year's duration each.' Reduced residence: spouse or registered partner of a Norwegian citizen (§ 12) 'at least five years during the last ten years' plus combined residence and marriage totalling 'at least seven years'; refugees 'seven of the past ten years'; stateless persons with sufficient income 'six of the past ten years'; children of Norwegian citizens (ages 2-18) 'continuously for the past two years' with absences capped at two months per calendar year; children 12+ applying independently 'five of the past seven years.' Norwegian-language requirement under § 8 second paragraph: 'You must have passed an oral test in Norwegian at level B1 or qualify for an exemption.' Citizenship test: 'Have passed the Norwegian citizenship test or qualify for an exemption' — UDI guidance specifies the Norwegian-language samfunnskunnskapsprøven is an accepted alternative.
- [UDI — Dual citizenship](https://www.udi.no/en/word-definitions/dual-citizenship/) — accessed 2026-05-19 — _T1_ — Dual citizenship enacted from 1 January 2020. UDI's published wording: 'From 1 January 2020, it is allowed to have one or more citizenships in addition to a Norwegian citizenship.' The 2020 change is not retroactive: 'If you lost your Norwegian citizenship because you became a national of another country, make sure that this is registered in the National Population Register.' Practical limit: 'Even so, if the country you are a citizen of now does not allow that you have more than one citizenship, you can still lose this citizenship when you become a Norwegian citizen.' No category-based exception under Norwegian law.
- [UDI — Notification of Norwegian citizenship for Nordic citizens](https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/citizenship/melde-statsborgerskap/) — accessed 2026-05-19 — _T1_ — Statsborgerskap ved melding for Nordic citizens under statsborgerloven § 20. UDI's published wording: 'you must have lived in Norway continuously for the past seven years, and you must be resident in Norway when you submit the notification. That means you cannot have lived abroad during the previous seven years.' Criminal-record condition: 'During the last seven years, you must not have been sentenced to imprisonment or other forms of deprivation of liberty, or to a reaction for a criminal offence that is not deemed to be punishment, for example transfer to psychiatric care or enforced care.' Procedural advantage: 'Nordic citizens can submit a simplified notification of Norwegian citizenship online without having to book an appointment with the police.'
- [UDI — Applying for citizenship for Nordic citizens](https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/citizenship/applying-for-citizenship-for-nordic-citizens/) — accessed 2026-05-19 — _T1_ — Alternative application route for Nordic citizens. UDI's published wording: 'If you are a Nordic citizen over the age of 12 and you have lived in Norway for the last two years, you can apply for Norwegian citizenship.' Trade-off: shorter residence requirement (two years) at the cost of the full naturalisation procedure including the Norskprøve and statsborgerprøven.
- [UDI — Notification of citizenship for those who have previously been Norwegian](https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/citizenship/notification-of-citizenship-for-those-who-have-previously-been-norwegian-citizens/) — accessed 2026-05-19 — _T1_ — Reacquisition-by-notification route for former Norwegian citizens. UDI's published wording: 'If you became a Norwegian citizen when you were born, you must have stayed in Norway for a total of six months before you turned 22.' Criminal-record condition for applicants over 15: 'in the period since you lost your Norwegian citizenship, you cannot have been charged or indicted for a criminal offence which can lead to a prison sentence.' Police certificate required. The 2020 dual-citizenship amendment did not automatically restore lost Norwegian citizenship — affected persons must affirmatively notify UDI under this regime to reacquire.
- [UDI — Change in residency requirement for stateless persons](https://www.udi.no/en/important-messages/change-in-residency-requirement-for-stateless-persons-without-a-permanent-residence-permit-applying-for-norwegian-citizenship/) — accessed 2026-05-19 — _T1_ — Ministerial instruction effective from 17 March 2025. UDI's published wording: 'A stateless person can now apply for Norwegian citizenship after three years, even if they do not have a permanent residence permit.' Source of authority: 'On 17 March 2025, UDI received instructions from the Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion' — the operative source is a ministerial instruction (rundskriv), not a statute amendment. Previous rule: 'UDI required stateless persons to meet the five-year residency requirement for a permanent residence permit before applying for Norwegian citizenship.' New rule: 'do not need to meet the five-year residency requirement but must meet the three-year requirement.' Durability caveat: ministerial instructions can be reversed by a future minister without going through the Stortinget.
- [UDI — Changed income requirement in family immigration cases](https://www.udi.no/en/important-messages/changed-income-requirement-in-family-immigration-cases/) — accessed 2026-05-19 — _T1_ — Enacted from 1 February 2025. UDI's published wording: 'Starting from 1 February 2025, the income requirement for the reference person in family immigration cases increases from 2.7 basic amounts (G) to 3.2 G' and 'NOK 416 512 per year pre-tax.' Mechanism: the income requirement is expressed as a multiplier of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme basic amount (G — grunnbeløp), adjusted annually. The multiplier was raised from 2.7 to 3.2; the underlying basic amount is recalibrated each 1 May. Application timing: applies to applications registered from 1 February 2025. Statutory basis: utlendingsforskriften family-immigration sub-provisions (§ 10-8 et seq.). Indirect effect on the permanent residence track: higher threshold can delay initial permit grant, thereby delaying the start of the three-year permanent-residence clock for family migrants.
- [UDI — Citizenship test and social studies test](https://www.udi.no/en/word-definitions/social-studies-test-citizenship-test-for-those-who-apply-for-norwegian-citizenship/) — accessed 2026-05-19 — _T1_ — Either the Norwegian citizenship test (statsborgerprøven) or the Norwegian-language samfunnskunnskapsprøven satisfies the citizenship-stage knowledge requirement. The Norwegian-language version is required at the citizenship stage (in contrast to the permanent-residence stage, where the Samfunnskunnskap test may be taken in any language the applicant understands).
- [Lovdata — Statsborgerloven (LOV-2005-06-10-51)](https://lovdata.no/lov/2005-06-10-51) — accessed 2026-05-19 — _T1_ — Canonical statutory text of the Norwegian Nationality Act. § 7 sets the general naturalisation criteria including the eight-of-the-past-eleven-years residence requirement. § 8 sets the Norwegian-language and Samfunnskunnskap requirements. § 12 sets the spouse / registered partner / cohabitant route. § 20 sets the Nordic-citizen notification route. §§ 14-21 set the notification regime for children of Norwegian citizens and for former Norwegian citizens reacquiring. Most recent amendment LOV-2024-12-20-81 modified § 2 (definitions) and § 29 b (transitional provisions) only — does not affect § 7 (residence period) or § 8 (language).
- [Lovdata — Utlendingsloven (LOV-2008-05-15-35)](https://lovdata.no/dokument/NLE/lov/2008-05-15-35) — accessed 2026-05-19 — _T1_ — Canonical statutory text of the Norwegian Immigration Act. Chapter 7 (§§ 62 et seq.) governs permanent oppholdstillatelse. Chapter 6 (§ 46 et seq.) governs family immigration including parents and full siblings as eligible categories (subject to the minimum age and 'loneliness criterion' conditions). Chapter 13 governs EU/EEA registration.
- [Regjeringen.no — Norwegian Nationality Act topic page](https://www.regjeringen.no/en/topics/immigration-and-integration/asd/statsborgerloven/id2343481/) — accessed 2026-05-19 — _T1_ — Ministry of Justice topic page covering statsborgerloven and its administration. Confirms ministerial responsibility for the Nationality Act and provides the policy overview of recent amendments including the 2020 dual-citizenship amendment and the 2022 B1 Norwegian-language amendment under Prop. 98 L (2019-2020).
- [Regjeringen.no — Consultation hearing on permanent-residence Norwegian-language and Samfunnskunnskap requirements](https://www.regjeringen.no/no/dokumenter/horing-forslag-til-endringer-i-utlendingsloven-og-utlendingsforskriften-krav-om-ferdigheter-i-norsk-muntlig-og-bestatt-prove-i-samfunnskunnskap-for-rett-til-permanent/id3080229/) — accessed 2026-05-19 — _T1_ — Ministry of Justice consultation hearing (hearing id3080229) on the statutory amendment to utlendingsloven and utlendingsforskriften that introduced the post-1-September-2025 oral Norwegian level A2 requirement and the Samfunnskunnskap test as a pass-the-test regime (replacing the previous course-completion alternative). Originated the policy chain finalised with force from 1 September 2025.
- [UNE — Norwegian citizenship case-types and decisions](https://www.une.no/en/case-types-and-countries/norwegian-citizenship/) — accessed 2026-05-19 — _T1_ — UNE (Utlendingsnemnda — Immigration Appeals Board) is the independent appeals body for UDI refusals. Appeals against UDI permanent residence and citizenship refusals are first reviewed by UDI; if not reversed, the case is forwarded to UNE for independent decision. UNE publishes caseload statistics, summarised decisions, and country-of-origin information.

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Verification pending — see the canonical page for the latest trust state.
Canonical: https://publicservices.guide/norway/statsborgerskap-naturalisation-and-permanent-residence-2026/