Tuition in the Norwegian language and tests for people applying for citizenship
The applicant is the person who wishes to become a Norwegian citizen
Which group do you belong to?
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Nordic nationals
You must understand the Norwegian or Sami language.
For Nordic nationals, it will be sufficient documentation if, for example, your employer confirms that you understand Norwegian or Sami.
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EU/EEA nationals who have used the registration scheme
If you have used the registration scheme for EU/EEA nationals, you must
- have completed 300 hours of tuition in the Norwegian language with an approved provider (external website) or be able to document that you have adequate knowledge of the Norwegian or Sami language, and
- have passed an oral Norwegian test at a minimum of level A2, or meet the conditions to get an exemption, and
- have passed a test in social studies in Norwegian or the “citizenship test", or meet the conditions to get an exemption
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EU/EEA nationals, first residence permit before 1 September 2005
If your first residence permit forming the basis for a permanent residence permit was granted before 1 September 2005, you must
- have completed 300 hours of tuition in the Norwegian language with an approved provider (external website) or be able to document that you have adequate knowledge of the Norwegian or Sami language, and
- have passed an oral Norwegian test at a minimum of level A2, or meet the conditions to get an exemption, and
- have passed a test in social studies in Norwegian or the “citizenship test", or meet the conditions to get an exemption
-
EU/EEA nationals, first residence permit between 1 September 2005 and 1 January 2012
If your first residence permit forming the basis for a permanent residence permit was granted between 1 September 2005 and 1 January 2012, you must
- have completed 250 hours of tuition in the Norwegian language with an approved provider (external website) and 50 hours of tuition in social studies with an approved provider (external website) or be able to document that you have adequate knowledge of the Norwegian or Sami language, and
- have passed an oral Norwegian test at a minimum of level A2, or meet the conditions to get an exemption, and
- have passed a test in social studies in Norwegian or the “citizenship test", or meet the conditions to get an exemption
You do not need to complete the hours of tuition in Norwegian and social studies if
- you hold a permanent residence permit (or settlement permit, as it was previously called) and have completed tuition in the Norwegian language and social studies in order to be granted this permit
Please note! You must still have passed the tests.
You do not need to complete the hours of tuition in Norwegian and social studies or pass the two tests if
- the municipality has previously granted you an exemption from the Norwegian language tuition requirement, either because you have adequate Norwegian language skills or because of illness (in that case, you must enclose a copy of the municipality's decision).
Please note! If you have only been given an exemption from the tuition in social studies, you are not exempted from the requirement to have completed tuition in Norwegian and social studies, or from the requirement to have passed an oral Norwegian test.
-
EU/EEA nationals, first residence permit after 1 January 2012
If your first residence permit forming the basis for a permanent residence permit was granted after 1 January 2012, you must
- have completed 550 hours of tuition in the Norwegian language with an approved provider (external website) and 50 hours of tuition in social studies with an approved provider (external website) or be able to document that you have adequate knowledge of the Norwegian or Sami language and
- have passed an oral Norwegian test at a minimum of level A2, or meet the conditions to get an exemption, and
- have passed a test in social studies in Norwegian or the “citizenship test", or meet the conditions to get an exemption
You do not need to complete the hours of tuition in Norwegian and social studies if
- you hold a permanent residence permit (or settlement permit, as it was previously called) and have completed tuition in the Norwegian language and social studies in order to be granted this permit
Please note! You must still have passed the tests.
You do not need to complete the hours of tuition in Norwegian and social studies or pass the two tests if
- the municipality has previously granted you an exemption from the Norwegian language tuition requirement, either because you have adequate Norwegian language skills or because of illness (in that case, you must enclose a copy of the municipality's decision).
Please note! If you have only been given an exemption from the tuition in social studies, you are not exempted from the requirement to have completed tuition in Norwegian and social studies, or from the requirement to have passed an oral Norwegian test.
-
EU/EEA nationals who hold work permits as skilled workers or self-employed persons, or family members of such nationals
If you were granted your first permit as a skilled worker or self-employed person before 1 September 2005, or if you have been granted family reunification with such a national and your first residence permit forming a basis for permanent residence was granted before this date, you must
- have completed 300 hours of tuition in the Norwegian language with an approved provider (external website) or be able to document that you have adequate knowledge of the Norwegian or Sami language, and
- have passed an oral Norwegian test at a minimum of level A2, or meet the conditions to get an exemption, and
- have passed a test in social studies in Norwegian or the “citizenship test", or meet the conditions to get an exemption
If you belong to one of these groups and your first permit was granted after 1 September 2005, you must- have completed 250 hours of tuition in the Norwegian language with an approved provider (external website) and 50 hours of tuition in social studies with an approved provider (external website) or be able to document that you have adequate knowledge of the Norwegian or Sami language, and
- have passed an oral Norwegian test at a minimum of level A2, or meet the conditions to get an exemption, and
- have passed a test in social studies in Norwegian or the “citizenship test", or meet the conditions to get an exemption
You do not need to complete the hours of tuition in Norwegian and social studies if
- you hold a permanent residence permit (or settlement permit, as it was previously called) and have completed tuition in the Norwegian language and social studies in order to be granted this permit
Please note! You must still have passed the tests.
You do not need to complete the hours of tuition in Norwegian and social studies or pass the two tests if
- the municipality has previously granted you an exemption from the Norwegian language tuition requirement, either because you have adequate Norwegian language skills or because of illness (in that case, you must enclose a copy of the municipality's decision).
Please note! If you have only been given an exemption from the tuition in social studies, you are not exempted from the requirement to have completed tuition in Norwegian and social studies, or from the requirement to have passed an oral Norwegian test.
-
Nationals of countries outside the EU/EEA are who have a residence card for family members of EU/EEA nationals
If you are a national of a country outside the EU/EEA who have a residence card for family members of EU/EEA nationals you must
- have completed 300 hours of tuition in the Norwegian language with an approved provider (external website) or be able to document that you have adequate knowledge of the Norwegian or Sami language, and
- have passed an oral Norwegian test at a minimum of level A2, or meet the conditions to get an exemption, and
- have passed a test in social studies in Norwegian or the “citizenship test", or meet the conditions to get an exemption
-
Nationals of countries outside the EU/EEA who hold work permits as skilled workers or self-employed persons, or family members of such nationals
If you were granted your first permit as a skilled worker or self-employed person before 1 September 2005, or if you have been granted family reunification with such a national and your first residence permit forming a basis for permanent residence was granted before this date, you must
- have completed 300 hours of tuition in the Norwegian language with an approved provider (external website) or be able to document that you have adequate knowledge of the Norwegian or Sami language, and
- have passed an oral Norwegian test at a minimum of level A2, or meet the conditions to get an exemption, and
- have passed a test in social studies in Norwegian or the “citizenship test", or meet the conditions to get an exemption
If you belong to one of these groups and your first permit was granted after 1 September 2005, you must- have completed 250 hours of tuition in the Norwegian language with an approved provider (external website) and 50 hours of tuition in social studies with an approved provider (external website) or be able to document that you have adequate knowledge of the Norwegian or Sami language, and
- have passed an oral Norwegian test at a minimum of level A2, or meet the conditions to get an exemption, and
- have passed a test in social studies in Norwegian or the “citizenship test", or meet the conditions to get an exemption
You do not need to complete the hours of tuition in Norwegian and social studies if
- you hold a permanent residence permit (or settlement permit, as it was previously called) and have completed tuition in the Norwegian language and social studies in order to be granted this permit
Please note! You must still have passed the tests.
You do not need to complete the hours of tuition in Norwegian and social studies or pass the two tests if
- the municipality has previously granted you an exemption from the Norwegian language tuition requirement, either because you have adequate Norwegian language skills or because of illness (in that case, you must enclose a copy of the municipality's decision).
Please note! If you have only been given an exemption from the tuition in social studies, you are not exempted from the requirement to have completed tuition in Norwegian and social studies, or from the requirement to have passed an oral Norwegian test.
-
Nationals of countries outside the EU/EEA, first residence permit before 1 September 2005
If your first residence permit forming the basis for a permanent residence permit was granted before 1 September 2005, you must
- have completed 300 hours of tuition in the Norwegian language with an approved provider (external website) or be able to document that you have adequate knowledge of the Norwegian or Sami language
- have passed an oral Norwegian test at a minimum of level A2, or meet the conditions to get an exemption, and
- have passed a test in social studies in Norwegian or the “citizenship test", or meet the conditions to get an exemption
-
Nationals of countries outside the EU/EEA, first residence permit between 1 September 2005 and 1 January 2012
If your first residence permit forming the basis for a permanent residence permit was granted between 1 September 2005 and 1 January 2012, you must
- have completed 250 hours of tuition in the Norwegian language with an approved provider (external website) and 50 hours of tuition in social studies with an approved provider (external website) or be able to document that you have adequate knowledge of the Norwegian or Sami language
- have passed an oral Norwegian test at a minimum of level A2, or meet the conditions to get an exemption, and
- have passed a test in social studies in Norwegian or the “citizenship test", or meet the conditions to get an exemption
You do not need to complete the hours of tuition in Norwegian and social studies if
- you hold a permanent residence permit (or settlement permit, as it was previously called) and have completed tuition in the Norwegian language and social studies in order to be granted this permit
Please note! You must still have passed the tests.
You do not need to complete the hours of tuition in Norwegian and social studies or pass the two tests if
- the municipality has previously granted you an exemption from the Norwegian language tuition requirement, either because you have adequate Norwegian language skills or because of illness (in that case, you must enclose a copy of the municipality's decision).
Please note! If you have only been given an exemption from the tuition in social studies, you are not exempted from the requirement to have completed tuition in Norwegian and social studies, or from the requirement to have passed an oral Norwegian test.
-
Nationals of countries outside the EU/EEA, first residence permit after 1 January 2012
If your first residence permit forming the basis for a permanent residence permit was granted after 1 January 2012.
- have completed 550 hours of tuition in the Norwegian language with an approved provider (external website) and 50 hours of tuition in social studies with an approved provider (external website) or be able to document that you have adequate knowledge of the Norwegian or Sami language
- have passed an oral Norwegian test at a minimum of level A2, or meet the conditions to get an exemption, and
- have passed a test in social studies in Norwegian or the “citizenship test", or meet the conditions to get an exemption
You do not need to complete the hours of tuition in Norwegian and social studies if
- you hold a permanent residence permit (or settlement permit, as it was previously called) and have completed tuition in the Norwegian language and social studies in order to be granted this permit
Please note! You must still have passed the tests.
You do not need to complete the hours of tuition in Norwegian and social studies or pass the two tests if
- the municipality has previously granted you an exemption from the Norwegian language tuition requirement, either because you have adequate Norwegian language skills or because of illness (in that case, you must enclose a copy of the municipality's decision).
Please note! If you have only been given an exemption from the tuition in social studies, you are not exempted from the requirement to have completed tuition in Norwegian and social studies, or from the requirement to have passed an oral Norwegian test.
Exemptions because of health reasons or other weighty reasons
If you are unable to complete the Norwegian language tuition within three years, we will consider whether to grant you an exemption from the requirement to have completed the tuition. We will also consider whether to grant you an exemption from the requirement to have passed the test.
When can you be granted an exemption?
- If you are seriously or chronically ill. You must document your illness by means of a medical certificate.
- If there are other weighty (serious and important) reasons. Exemptions are only granted in exceptional circumstances. You must document why it would be unreasonable not to grant you an exemption.