Norwegian Nationality Law - Naturalisation As A Norwegian Citizen

Naturalisation As A Norwegian Citizen

Generally, it is possible to naturalise as a Norwegian citizen after residing in Norway seven years over the last ten years, if the applicant qualifies for permanent residence and does not have a criminal record.

Exceptions:

• Applicants with a criminal record must wait a further "quarantine" period dependent on the crime committed before being granted citizenship.
• Citizens of other Nordic Council countries may naturalise after only a two-year residence.
• The spouses, homosexual partners in civil unions, and non-married cohabitant partners of Norwegian citizens may naturalise as quickly as four years. The requirement is that they have resided in Norway at least three years of the last ten and that the number of years resident and the number of years married, taken together cumulatively, equals at least seven.
• The children (under the age of 18 years) of citizens of other Nordic Council countries may automatically receive naturalisation with their parents. The children of citizens naturalised from other countries may themselves receive citizenship if they have resided in Norway for the last two years.
• Former Norwegian citizens may naturalise after one year's residence during the last two years.

From 1 September 2008 an applicant for Norwegian citizenship must also give evidence of proficiency in either the Norwegian or Sami language, or give proof of having attended classes in Norwegian for 300 hours, or meet the language requirements for university studies in Norway (i.e., demonstrate proficiency in one of the Scandinavian languages).

A naturalised Norwegian citizen is generally expected to prove they have lost or renounced any former citizenship(s).