There are different requirements for the social studies test (test on knowledge of Norwegian society)

  • You must pass the citizenship test (statsborgerprøven) or the social studies test (prøve i samfunnskunnskap) in Norwegian to meet the requirement for Norwegian citizenship.
  • You must pass the social studies test in a language of your choice to meet the requirement for a permanent residence permit.

If you do not have a permanent residence permit when you apply for Norwegian citizenship, you must meet the test requirements under both the rules for Norwegian citizenship and the rules for a permanent residence permit. It is therefore not sufficient to have passed only the citizenship test.

You can meet the requirement for the test on knowledge of Norwegian society for both Norwegian citizenship and a permanent residence permit if one of the following applies to you:

  • You have passed the social studies test in Norwegian.
  • You have passed the citizenship test and the social studies test in a language of your choice.
  • You have a grade of 2 or higher in social studies from primary/lower secondary school (final grade or exam grade).
  • You have a grade of 2 or higher in social studies from upper secondary education (half-year assessment, final grade, or exam grade).
  • You have completed and passed studies in social sciences that provide knowledge about Norway at the university or university college level, equivalent to a minimum of 10 ECTS credits (studiepoeng).
  • You have completed studies in Norwegian or Sami at the university or university college level in Norway and have received “vekttall” or ECTS credits (studiepoeng) from the study program.
  • You have a decision from the municipality granting an exemption from the obligation for training or the test in social studies.
  • You have only passed either the citizenship test or the social studies test in a language other than Norwegian, but can document that you are unable to pass the other test due to health, personal, or other compelling reasons.
  • You can document that you cannot pass either the citizenship test or the social studies test due to health, personal, or other compelling reasons.

Cases where you only meet the requirements for citizenship, but not for a permanent residence permit:

  • You have passed the citizenship test, but you have not passed the social studies test.
  • You have a final grade or exam grade of 2 or higher in social studies from preparatory adult education (forberedende opplæring for voksne – FOV). This only grants an exemption from the citizenship test, but not from the requirement for the social studies test that applies to a permanent residence permit.

Cases where you only meet the requirements for a permanent residence permit, but not for Norwegian citizenship:

  • You have passed the social studies test in a language other than Norwegian, but not the citizenship test.
  • You have had the subject social studies approved through a formal assessment of prior learning (realkompetansevurdering). This only grants an exemption from the requirement for the social studies test that applies to a permanent residence permit, but not from the requirement of passing the citizenship test that applies to obtaining Norwegian citizenship.