You must have passed the oral test in Norwegian at level B1 at the minimum, when you apply for Norwegian citizenship.

It is sufficient to have passed the oral test in Norwegian at level A2 at the minimum, if:

• you are a stateless person, or
• your are over 55 years of age and came to Norway on the basis of an application for protection or as a resettled refugee, or
• you are over 55 years of age and receive disability benefits, or
• you applied for Norwegian citizenship before 1 October 2022

Who must have passed the test?

You must have passed the test if you are between 18 and 67 years old when you hand in your application documents to the police.

Have you already passed the test?

If you have already passed a test of this type in when you participated in a training programme in Norwegian and social studies, you are not required to retake the test now. 

If you are not sure if you have passed such a test, please contact the municipality (kommune) where you took the tests.

Do you wish to take the test now?

If you have not already taken the test, you must take it now. 

You will find information about the Norwegian tests on the website of Skills Norway (Kompetanse Norge) (external website).

If you have questions about the test, you must contact Skills Norway (Kompetanse Norge).

Is it possible to be granted an exemption from such a test?

You can ask for an exemption from the requirement to have passed the test if you are in one of these situations:

• You have completed regular primary and lower secondary education in Norwegian or Sámi and received a final assessment grade or an examination grade in the subject (minimum grade 2).  
• You have completed regular upper secondary education and training in Norwegian or Sámi and received a half-year assessment, final assessment grade or examination grade (minimum grade 2). 
• You have completed Module 1 in modular education and vocational training (modulstrukturert fag- og yrkesopplæring (MFY)) and received a certificate of competence showing that the module has been approved. 
• You have completed studies equivalent to 30 credits in Norwegian or Sámi at the university or university college level in Norway or abroad. 
• You meet the entry requirements for studies in Norwegian or Sámi at a university or university college in Norway. For instance, you fulfil the entry requirements if you have:
  • passed the Level 3 (Trinn 3) exam at university
  • reached the age of 25 and have had an assessment of real competence at upper secondary education and training level 3 (VG3) approved 
  • been accepted for a study programme at a university or university college in Norway where the primary language of instruction is Norwegian 
  • completed a study programme instructed in Norwegian
• You are unable to pass the test at the B1 level due to health-related issues or other personal circumstances beyond your control. In such case, you must either pass an A2-level test or be able to document that there are weighty factors preventing you from taking or passing the test at the A2 level. More information about this category of exemption is available here.
• The municipality has granted you an exemption from the Norwegian language training requirement and/or the requirement to have passed an oral Norwegian test. This exception does not apply for those who have used the registration scheme for EU/EEA citizens. This also does not apply for those who were granted a first residence permit that forms the basis for a permanent residence permit prior to 1 September 2005 and who thus are not covered by the Introduction Act or the Integration Act.

UDI cannot make exceptions from the requirement for tests based on other reasons than those listed here. A statement from a school, employer or other authority that you speak good Norwegian is not a basis for exempting you from the requirements.