If you have adequate knowledge of Norwegian or Sami, you do not need to complete the tuition or take additional tests before you apply for a permanent residence permit.

You must normally have been given an exemption from the municipality where you live. 

Have you passed all four parts of the Norwegian exam at a minimum of level A2?

If you have passed all four parts of the Norwegian exam at a minimum of level A2: oral, listening, reading and written presentation, you do not need to ask the muicipality for an exemption. 

You must hand in documents which shows that you have passed the tests to the police together with your other documents when you apply for citizenship. 

Have you previously been given an exemption from the municipality?

If you have previously been given an exemption from the requirement to complete tuition and pass tests from the municipality, this exemption is also valid for your application for citizenship.

You must hand in the exemption decision to the police when you apply for citizenship.  

If you have not been given an exemption previously you must apply for one now

If you have not passed the tests which are described above, or previously been given an exemption from the municipality, you must apply to the municipality for an exemption before you apply for citizenship. 

You can apply to the municipality for an exemption to the requirement to complete tuition and pass tests if you have

• passed tests that correspond to the Norwegian exam at level A2 or higher, will be considered Norwegian exam 2 or 3, or
• passed the Bergen test written part or Step 3 exam from the university, or
• completed ordinary tuition in Norwegian or Sami in primary/lower secondary school or upper secondary school and been given a final assessment grade, or
• completed Norwegian or Sami studies at a university or university college in Norway or abroad corresponding to 30 credits, or
• met the admission requirement and been offered admission to studies conducted in Norwegian or Sami at a university or university college in Norway.

If you are given an exemption by the municipality, you must hand in the exemption decicion to the police when you apply for a permanent residence permit.  

You do not need  to complete Norwegian language tuition or pass additional tests to be granted Norwegian citizenship if you can document that you have adequate knowledge of the Norwegian or Sami language.

How do you document that you have adequate knowledge?

You have adequate knowledge if you have

• passed all four parts of the Norwegian exam at least level A2: oral, listening, reading and written presentation, or
• passed tests that correspond to the Norwegian exam at level A2 or higher, will be considered Norwegian exam 2 or 3, or
• passed the Bergen test written part or Step 3 exam from the university, or
• completed ordinary tuition in Norwegian or Sami in primary/lower secondary school or upper secondary school and been given a final assessment grade, or
• completed Norwegian or Sami studies at a university or university college in Norway or abroad corresponding to 30 credits, or
• met the admission requirements for studies conducted in Norwegian or Sami at a university or university college in Norway. You meet the admission requirements if you
  • have been offered a place for studies conducted in Norwegian in Norway, or
  • have passed an oral and written Norwegian exam at VG3 (VK2) at a Norwegian upper secondary school, or
  • you have turned 25 and have been given a diploma with "realkompetansevurdering" in Norwegian.

You must hand in documents which shows this to the police together with your other documents when you apply for citizenship. The UDI will decide whether you can be exempted from the requirement because you have adequate knowledge of Norwegian when we process your application for citizenship. 

Have you previously been given an exemption from the municipality?

If you have previously been given an exemption from the requirement to complete tuition and pass tests from the municipality where you live, because you had adequate knowledge of Norwegian, specific rules apply to you. 

• If your first residence permit forming the basis for a permanent residence permit was granted after 1 September 2005, and you have been given an exemption from the municipality, this exemption is also valid for your application for citizenship. You must hand in the exemption decision to the police when you apply for citizenship.  
• If your first residence permit forming the basis for a permanent residence permit was granted before 1 September 2005, and you have been given an exemption from the municipality, this exemption is not valid for your application for citizenship. You must instead document that you have adequate knowledge (see above). 
• If you have right of residence in Norway as an EU/EEA citizen or a family member of an EU/EEA citizen, and you have been given an exemption from the municipality, this exemption is not valid for your application for citizenship. You must instead document that you have adequate knowledge (see above).