Norwegian Citizenship: Requirements & How to Apply in 2025

Why Get Norwegian Citizenship?

Norwegian citizenship gives you:

• The right to vote in all elections
• A Norwegian passport – one of the strongest passports in the world
• Full diplomatic protection abroad
• You can never be expelled from Norway
• Access to certain government positions
• Since 2020: the right to hold dual citizenship

Requirements for Norwegian Citizenship

1. Age

You must be at least 12 years old to apply on your own. Parents can apply on behalf of younger children.

2. Identity

Your identity must be documented and verified. You need a valid passport from your country of origin.

3. Residency in Norway

You must have lived in Norway for a minimum period:

4. Permanent residence permit

You must hold a permanent residence permit (permanent oppholdstillatelse) or meet the criteria for one. EU/EEA citizens must have permanent right of residence.

5. Language and social studies

You must have completed:

• 300 hours of Norwegian language training or passed the Norwegian language test at level A2 or higher
• The social studies test (samfunnskunnskap) – or completed 50 hours of social studies training

6. No criminal record (clean record requirement)

Criminal convictions can delay or prevent citizenship. The waiting period depends on the severity:

• Minor offenses: 2 year waiting period
• More serious crimes: 5–10+ years
• Very serious crimes may permanently disqualify you

7. Financial independence

You should not have received social assistance (sosialhjelp) in the 12 months before applying. Regular NAV benefits like unemployment or sick pay are generally fine.

How to Apply

Step 1: Check your eligibility

Use UDI's citizenship eligibility checker at udi.no to verify you meet the requirements.

Step 2: Apply online

Submit your application through UDI's online portal.

Step 3: Gather documents

Required documents typically include:

• Valid passport (original)
• Proof of residency in Norway (from the Population Register)
• Language test results or course certificate
• Social studies certificate
• Tax returns showing financial history
• Police clearance from countries you've lived in

Step 4. Pay the fee

Application fee: NOK 4,200 (2025 — check udi.no for current fees).

Step 5: Wait for processing

Processing time is typically 6–12 months.

Step 6: Citizenship ceremony

Once approved, you will be invited to a citizenship ceremony in your municipality. Attendance is mandatory for applicants over 18.

Dual Citizenship in Norway

Since January 1, 2020, Norway allows dual citizenship. This means:

• You do not need to renounce your original citizenship
• You can hold Norwegian citizenship alongside any other citizenship
• Your children can inherit both citizenships

Children and Citizenship

Children born in Norway

Children born in Norway to foreign parents do not automatically become Norwegian citizens. At least one parent must be a Norwegian citizen.

Applying for children

Parents can include children under 18 in their own citizenship application or apply separately. Children who have lived in Norway for a certain period may have simplified requirements.

Losing Norwegian Citizenship

You can lose your citizenship if:

• You voluntarily acquire another citizenship and apply to give up Norwegian citizenship
• Your citizenship was granted based on false information (can be revoked)
• Note: since 2020, getting another citizenship no longer automatically costs you Norwegian citizenship

Have questions about your path to Norwegian citizenship? Ask our AI legal assistant – free and confidential.