Where to move to in Norway?

My inbox is currently flooded with inquiries about moving to Norway which I haven’t been able to get time to address and so I decided it was easiest to do it in one blog post.

I’m not an expert on the best way to move to Norway however, I do realize that it’s sometimes more enjoyable to hear from people who actually live in Norway rather than just searching on Google for details about life in Norway even if the results lead to a very scary site (unless Google led you here Oh, hey! ).

I’ve lived in Norway for more than seven years, which means I’ve been through a number of different phases of the transition into Norway process. I can remember what it was when I first moved to Norway it was so exciting as well as overwhelming, when the excitement slowed down, and living in such a costly country was a bit scary. And the way I now love Norway so much!

In all honesty, this article is actually an answer to all the questions regarding immigrating to Norway that I’ve received from people since I came into Norway myself, as I’ve been in your shoes too! If you’re looking to learn more about when you move from the US to Norway (especially coming from the US) Here’s how the details:

Transferring from the US to Norway after leaving the US How do you allowed to legally reside within Norway in the capacity of an American citizen?

Oh, I’m so sorry that I’m not able to be of more assistance However, I’m an Norwegian citizen, and so the move to Norway was a breeze for me.

My mother is an Norwegian citizen, and my birthplace was in the U.S., I was born with dual citizenship.

There are a few situations in which Norwegians can be dual citizens – typically when you are an Norwegian citizen or a citizen of a different country, in addition to Norway you must sacrifice one of them – however being born a dual-national can be a loophole.

If I were not an Norwegian (or EU) citizen and I didn’t have a Norwegian passport, the process of making the move to Norway is a lot more difficult.

However, I do know a few people who chose to move into Norway out of the US and it has turned out very well for them. One of them came first as a student, and later was offered a job and two others arrived as tourists and soon discovered work in their respective fields. It’s possible!

And I also have a friend who is one American woman who obtained an entry visa after marrying an Norwegian and a Norwegian, so there’s the possibility of that.

The one thing that everyone who has decided to move to Norway shares is their determination. There’s plenty of paperwork, stress as well as questions and confusion that must be overcome during the process however if you truly would like to move to Norway it is important to not give up. Moving to a different country isn’t easy, although in certain ways Norway is a more convenient place to settle in because the language isn’t difficult to master (at at least for English people) and there are plenty of jobs available, in other ways Norway is a tiny population, so it’s quite odd to be a stranger in this country.

Norwegians tend to be very similar, which makes it difficult to be on the outside while looking in.

It’s not easy initially to meet people and feel member of the group however once you have done it, you’ll feel like a part of something that is a wonderful feeling. I’ve never felt so part of a community in any other country that I’ve lived in like I do in Norway. It’s an amazing feeling.

The specifics of moving into Norway from a non-EU/EEA country will be determined by the country you are a citizen of (find more details here) However, you’ll need to apply for a residence permit which falls under one of the following groups: family migration, study immigration, work, au pair and permanent residence.

Family immigration basically allows someone who is working within Norway the ability to take their children or spouse here with their family members. If you have an extended family member who lives in Norway but not in Norway, you won’t be able to obtain an Norway residency permit from them. If you’re an adult though you have a parent who lives in Norway, you can only be granted an residence permit if you are able to prove that you earn an amount that is deemed to be a base.

In most cases, if you are coming as a worker immigration applicant to Norway it is necessary to have a job before arriving in Norway (though typically, people arrive in Norway with tourist visas, and quickly land an employment prior to the time their visa runs out). The type of residence permit you’ll need to apply for will be contingent on the country you’re from and your particular skills and nature of the work you’ll be doing in Norway.

To be able to obtain a study permit to Norway you must have been admitted to an academic program that is full-time (longer than three months) and also prove that you have sufficient funds to sustain yourself (I believe it’s about 100,000 NOK per year). If you’re granted a study permit, you’ll be able to work up to 20 hours per week during your studies (and all-time during the time between classes).

There are a variety of methods to get permanent residence in Norway However, you’ll need to have an entry permit to stay in Norway for at least three years and demonstrate an acceptable degree of Norwegian knowledge and language. No, the three years of being a student won’t be considered a permanent residence requirement Unfortunately.

Many of the people I met in Trondheim were au pairs with special residence permits. It is only possible to get an au pair permit if you are between the ages of 18 to 30, you aren’t allowed to be married to a child, and you must prove that you’ll likely return to your country of origin after having completed your time as an au pair.

There are rules specifically for asylum applicants in Norway.

Because Norway isn’t a member of the EU Do I require an additional visa to travel into Norway in the capacity of an EU citizen?

All you need to do is get an employment within the first six months of residing in Norway (and it seems that even that rules are a bit lax). In addition, since Norway belongs to the EEA and is an EU citizen, you are eligible for any job you want, regardless of the field you work in.

I relocated to Norway with my ex-boyfriend that has become an EU citizen or was prior to Brexit. While certain things such as opening an account with a bank were impossible for him prior to he landed a job in Norway and settling here, the majority of the time it was a breeze for him. If you have any specific questions regarding the process of moving into Norway in the capacity of an EU citizen, I’d love to answer them!

I have many friends with EU citizens, and the most difficult thing for them was learning Norwegian. Once you’ve mastered the basics of Norwegian you ought to at the very least be able to find an employment at a supermarket in Norway, since Norwegians don’t generally like these kinds of jobs. In the time I worked in the supermarket in Norway the majority of other employees were foreigners, with the exception of the managers. It was kind of humorous and gave an enjoyable feeling of belonging.

If you are looking to get to be a top-level employee it is essential to master Norwegian. The good thing is that Norwegian is intended to be among the most simple languages for English natives to master. The grammar is simple and easy to learn and the vocabulary is quite easy to master.

The most difficult thing is that Norway has a variety of local dialects, and they may differ widely. As my Norwegian friends from Telemark claim, sometimes Norwegians from Oslo do not understand what they say , even when they’re all Norwegians!

What can I do to find an employment opportunity in Norway?

In the process of moving to Norway I was told two things about getting jobs in Norway It’s all about networking , and it’s much easier to find work in villages or small towns. It’s true that Dan as well as me found jobs thanks to someone who had has read my blog. And we ended up spending many years in a small town that was in the middle of the wilderness.

It’s really apparent that meeting people and asking questions (or even hanging out in places where you might want to work in, such as bars or restaurants) is the most effective way to find a job in Norway. Of course, that requires a basic understanding of Norwegian and luckily, basic Norwegian skills aren’t difficult to master. After just five months in Norway Dan was proficient enough in Norwegian to be able to work in the supermarket, as well. Norwegian is the only foreign language he’s picked up.

If you’re willing to take on any kind of work and are willing to apply for every job that is available, finding work in Norway isn’t all that hard for you.

In actual fact, I would suggest that if you speak some Norwegian and you’re completely flexible about where you’d like to reside and the kind of work you’d like to perform, it should not be a problem to find work in Norway in any way. It seems that supermarkets across Norway are always looking for new employees! As long as you’re not located in a large city or in a college area because those students always are the ones to be hired for supermarket jobs.

Where can you move to in Norway is the most desirable place to reside in Norway

Of course, this is entirely up to individual preference, but as I mentioned, it will be much more easy to find jobs in small towns or villages as opposed to say Oslo. Additionally, the costs of living in smaller towns is much lower than those in cities.

According to what I’ve heard, Oslo is among the most difficult places to get a job as an immigrant, even though Oslo also has the highest number of immigrants, while in smaller towns, there could be only a handful of foreigners. Personally, I see this as a positive thing however, as at least for me , it’s been more easy to get settled into small towns as opposed to Trondheim which was where I was tempted simply hang out with fellow foreigners and speak only English. Actually, I speak less Norwegian when I’m living within Tromso as I used to back when I lived in the small town of Trondheim.

Are Norway really a wonderful location to live in? Do I need to move to Norway?

Many people have asked me this question and it’s a difficult question to be able to

The answer for me to that is yes. I am happy being a part of Norway.

There’s a lot to love about living in Norway. It’s gorgeous, the government isn’t terrible, but it’s not a total disaster If you’re content to begin with low skilled work , then the salaries are insanely high, and Norwegian people tend to be nice to one another.

I’m not saying that I’ve did not think I would enjoy working in a grocery store however, having relaxed managers, coworkers whom I consider family, and the most hospitable customers helped me to appreciate being in the mountainous regions of Norway. Additionally, Norway is an extremely safe location to live in.

The cost of education is not a problem in Norway and I was able to quickly go back to school to earn a master’s degree without incurring any debt. I’ve also enjoyed a great experience in the health care system here. As a person from the US I believe that my standard of living in Norway is much higher than that of the US.

However, I also can imagine that Norway isn’t for everyone.

Norwegian people are a unique group, and I believe the way of life in Norway can be uncomfortable or even frustrating for some people. The weather may not appeal to you if do not like snow. Getting things accomplished here requires a amount of perseverance and patience. It can be extremely difficult to obtain an answer to issues related to important things such as visas, taxes, and so on.

It may take some time to feel a part of the Norwegian community, because Norwegians are typically timid and reserved. They aren’t likely assistance with your needs or even approach you for a chat about anything, but know that if you require assistance with someone, Norwegians will do almost everything for you when you ask. It’s true that Norwegians are awestruck when they can provide assistance, but they’re not willing to help until you make an inquiry. Therefore, just inquire!

If you’re in a town that is small, it could feel as if everyone has been friends for a long time, and probably have. It can be difficult to be an outsider since everyone has their own group of buddies. However, if you decide to join clubs or activities, you will be able to begin to meet individuals.

When I first moved into Mosjoen located in the northern part of Norway it took me a solid year to establish relationships with people. The people were a bit slow to talk about their lives and I really needed to put in the effort to make plans with them and start to feel like a part in their life. I also took part in a dance class and yoga class to try to meet new people. It was an arduous process, however Norwegians are very proud to be part of a community seriously and I eventually began to feel that I truly felt at home in Norway.

Personally, I think it’s worth it, however many people may not. Actually, I’ve received many posts on my blog written by long-term expats who truly dislike Norway (I think they’re living in the country because of their families? ) So I think it’s safe to say Norway isn’t suitable for all.

If you are a lover of nature and peace and don’t mind cold, are a sucker for boiling potatoes and tinned fish and are able to be patient and patient, then by all means moving to Norway is a good option!

I am extremely fortunate to be able to be a resident here. being a resident of Norway has provided me with an incredible sense of security. It’s not just an extremely safe place generally however, once you’re a resident here, it’s as if you’re being taken by the hand of. Education and health care is freeand even untrained jobs pay well and if you’re willing to do the effort to learn the language, you’ll be able to enjoy an enjoyable life in the country.