Guide: Temporary residence in Norway

Nordic citizens who are travelling to Norway from another Nordic country do not need a residence permit in Norway, but may be asked to provide proof of identity and document their citizenship. Therefore, you must always have a valid proof of identity if you are travelling to Norway.

If you planning to live in the country for more than six months, you must report your relocation to Norway and register in the National Population Register.

Special regulations apply concerning entry to and residence on Svalbard. These are presented in the article below.  

If you are not resident or have a job in Norway, and you are not staying in the country for longer than six months, you are generally not liable for tax in Norway. However, there are exceptions. Contact the Norwegian Tax Administration (Skatteetaten) if you are in any doubt.

You can also find relevant information about tax on the Nordic tax information website, Nordisk eTax. 

If you are a member of a country’s social insurance system, that country’s regulations apply to you in areas such as:

• unemployment benefit
• pension
• sickness benefit
• child benefit
• healthcare services
• parental benefit

In general, you are covered by the social insurance system in the country in which you work. If you are not working, you are generally covered by the social insurance system in the country in which you live. However, in certain situations, there are special regulations. You should therefore contact the social insurance authorities in the country in which you live to find out what applies in your situation.

Everyone staying in Norway is entitled to emergency healthcare. If you are in Norway temporarily, and you become seriously ill or injured, you are entitled to  medical treatment. 

However, even if you are entitled to healthcare services, you must pay a user fee for many of the services. You must also be able to show a national ID card, or you can show the European Health Insurance Card.

If you can prove that you have permanent residence outside Norway or that you are living temporarily in Norway, you can import and temporarily use a foreign-registered car in Norway withiout paying any charges.

If you are planning to travel to Norway with a pet, you should check the regulations before you travel. The requirements regarding taking animals over the border can vary, depending on the country from which you are travelling, the type of animal, the age of the animal, etc. 

You should contact your insurance company to check whether you are insured during your stay in Norway.

If you want to open a bank account in Norway, you must be able to prove your identity. You do this by showing proof of identity and other documentation in a bank. You generally need a Norwegian national identity number (personnummer) or a Norwegian D-number to open a bank account in Norway. 

If you have any questions or have encountered obstacles in another Nordic country, complete our form.

NB. If you have questions about the processing of a particular case, an application, or other personal circumstances, you should contact the relevant agency directly.