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How to Apply for Norwegian Citizenship

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The number of Indians who were awarded Norwegian citizenship doubled in 2017 as compared to 2016. There are a number of reasons for this. Norway is a small Scandinavian country but offers great educational prospects, jobs in the petroleum, energy and shipping industries, a high standard of living and a high happiness index.

Norway is also one of the safest countries in the world.  The only flip side to getting a Norwegian visa that you can no longer hold an Indian visa as Norway does not offer dual citizenship.

Norwegian Citizenship

Criteria for Norwegian Citizenship

To apply for citizenship in Norway you will need to meet the following criteria:

  • The applicant should be a resident of Norway and hold a valid resident permit
  • The applicant should have stayed in Norway for at least 7 years. In the case of the applicant being married to a Norwegian citizen, he or she should have stayed I Norway for at least 3 years.
  • The applicant must have completed 300 hours of Norwegian language tuition
  • The applicant should have a clean criminal record
  • The applicant must be of sane mind and good character
  • The applicant must pass an exam about Norwegian societal norms

How to Apply

The application for Norwegian citizenship is available online at the UDI website. The form may be filled in by the applicant or by someone else on his or her behalf. Once the application is submitted, an appointment will be scheduled for the applicant to present his or her documents. An application fee of NOK 3700 will have to be paid at this time by debit or credit card. Applicants under the age of 18 years are exempt from this fee. Originals and 2 photocopies of all the required documents should be carried for your appointment. This includes:

  • Signed cover letter received after submitting the application
  • The applicant’s current passport
  • Birth Certificate
  • Marriage Certificate if applicable
  • List of entries and exits from Norway
  • Tax returns filed while staying in Norway
  • NOC from the Police
  • Certificate of having passed the social studies test
  • Certificate of having passed the language test
  • Permanent Residency Permit

It can take up to 8months for these documents to be processed. The applicant will then be given a promise of Norwegian citizenship. This is valid for 1 year during which time the applicant must give up his or her earlier citizenship. Once citizenship is granted, the applicant may choose to participate in a citizenship ceremony and can apply for a Norwegian passport.

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