Questions and answers

• How do I submit new documentation?

  If you have new documentation which is important for your application, you can send it to UDI.

• What happens to my application while I wait?

  1. Once you have submitted your application documents to the police, your case will be forwarded to UDI. The time this takes differs according to which police district you live in. You can ask the police how long it will take. When UDI receives your application, you will be notified by email or SMS. 
  2. The application is now waiting to be processed by UDI. Every month you will receive a confirmation by email or SMS which shows that your application is still in the queue.
  3. Some applications are automatically processed, without a case officer considering the case. You can read more about automatic processing of applications for Norwegian citizenship.
  4. Most applications are still processed by a case officer. If this is the case with your application, it does not mean that there is anything wrong with it. It just means that UDI has not managed to process the entire application automatically.
     Application processing by a case officer may entail that you will have to wait longer for an answer, but the application will be processed as soon as it is your turn. Please go to our guide to waiting time for applications for Norwegian citizenship for more information.
  5. When UDI has made a decision, we will notify you. If you have given someone power of attorney, the person will always be notified, and must inform you.

• How long do I have to wait for an answer to my application?

  Please go to our guide to waiting time for citizenship applications.

• What do I need to remember after I have handed in my application?

  Please renew your permit if you do not hold a permanent residence permit.

  • Your residence permit must be valid both when you apply for Norwegian citizenship and throughout the period when your application is being processed.
  • Applying for Norwegian citizenship does not mean that you have a valid permit to stay in Norway. If you do not have a permanent residence permit, it is therefore very important that you renew the residence permit you have in the normal manner no more than one month before it expires. 
  • If you do not hold a valid residence permit when UDI is making a decision in your case, you risk having your application rejected.

  Please notify us if you change your postal address.

  In order for your decision to reach you as quickly as possible, it is important that you notify us if you change your postal address from the one found in your application.

  Please notify us if your situation changes

  You must notify UDI if something happens that may have a bearing on your application for Norwegian citizenship.

  This could for example be that

  • you plan to travel abroad, for example to work or study
  • you no longer live with or are married to the person named as your cohabitant/spouse in your application.

• How will I receive a reply to my application?

  • Once your application has been considered, we will send you a letter. If you have a digital mailbox, you will receive the letter right away.
  • If you do not have a digital mailbox, you will receive the letter by post two weeks after your application has been considered. Please ensure that your name is on your letter box.
  • If you have authorised someone to represent you in your case, or if you have a lawyer, this person will be notified and must then inform you. It is important that you read the letter and the decision carefully.

• Can I request priority?

  Very few applications can be prioritised. To request priority, you must send us

  • a detailed explanation
  • documentation, for example a medical certificate

  You cannot request priority by phone, chat or email.

  Visit our Can I request priority-page?-page and choose the alternative that best describes your situation for more information about priority.

• What do I have to do if I move before my application is processed?

  You are registered in the National Population Register

  You have to report your new address to the National Population Register (external website) as soon as you know you will be moving. UDI automatically receives your new address from the register.

  You are in Norway, but not registered in the National Population Register

  If you are in Norway, and you move before your application has been processed, you must notify the police of your move no later than one week after you have moved. You can notify the police where you are moving to, or where you lived before.

  You are abroad

  If you are abroad, and you move before UDI has processed your application, you must notify the embassy or consulate where you submitted your application. If you fail to do this, you risk not receiving the answer to your application. 

• Can I travel abroad after I have become a Norwegian citizen, if I have not yet received my Norwegian passport?

  It may take some time to receive your Norwegian passport after you have been granted citizenship.

  When you are granted Norwegian citizenship, your residence card will no longer be valid even if the card has not yet expired. If you have a passport from another country, but do not have your Norwegian passport, be aware that it may be difficult to document that the visa rules that apply to Norwegian citizens also apply to you.

  There is usually no passport control between Schengen countries.

  When you re-enter Norway, you may have to document that you have legal residency in Norway at the border control. People with passports from outside the EU/EEA usually document this with a valid residence card.

  If you travel without a Norwegian passport or Norwegian ID card, you may experience problems at the border control into Schengen/Norway, or at an ID check in another Schengen country. In other words, you may have difficulties re-entering Norway after your stay abroad.

  What happens if I am abroad when I am granted my Norwegian citizenship?

  Suppose you are granted Norwegian citizenship while being abroad. In this case, you should be prepared to answer questions when entering Norway about why you are still travelling with documents other than a Norwegian passport. You will then need to explain that you became a Norwegian citizen while abroad and, therefore, have not had the opportunity to get a Norwegian passport.

• How can I withdraw my application and get a refund of my fee?

  The application fee can only be refunded if you have not yet attended your appointment to hand in the application in person. If you have sent an application where you only need to upload the application documents electronically, you cannot get the fee refunded after you have uploaded the documents.   

  If you want your application fee refunded, you must contact the police district or the embassy responsible for your application. UDI cannot assist you with reimbursement. 

  If you have already handed in your application in person but wish to withdraw it (even if you will not be reimbursed), you must notify us in writing. You can write a short letter explaining that you wish to withdraw your application. The letter must be signed by you, the applicant. You must send the letter electronically. When we receive the information that you want to withdraw your application, we will dismiss the case and send you a written confirmation.

• I have submitted a notification of Norwegian citizenship for Nordic citizens without a requirement to attend an appointment with the police. What happens to the notification while I wait?

  • After you have submitted your notification of Norwegian citizenship, there is nothing more you need to do.
  • You will be notified by e-mail or SMS when UDI processes your notification of Norwegian citizenship for Nordic citizens. 
  • You can read about waiting times for applications for citizenship here.
  • In some very rare cases, UDI may need more information before we can process a notification of Norwegian citizenship for Nordic citizens. In such a case, UDI will contact you. You will also be notified if any of the documents you have sent us will need to be uploaded again.