Information services for freedom of movement in the Nordic Region

These information services provide support and information and help create reassurance for individuals and businesses wishing to move between the Nordic countries and who need assistance in finding information about rules and contact points with public authorities. The services promote mobility through informative websites, personalised assistance, and information activities. Through their day-to-day contact with residents, the information services also serve as a first point of contact for identifying potential obstacles to freedom of movement, as they work on an ongoing basis to identify and analyse the challenges and potential obstacles to freedom of movement that Nordic residents encounter when exercising their right to free movement.   

Info Norden is the Nordic Council of Ministers’ digital information service. The service is run by a team of eight based at Nordic institutions in Denmark, Finland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Åland, and forms part of the Secretariat for the Freedom of Movement Programme in the Nordic Region.

Info Norden is aimed at individuals and provides personal guidance on working, moving, studying, and starting or running a business in the Nordic Region. Info Norden aims for users to primarily find answers to their questions on the Info Norden website, which is available in the main Nordic languages and in English. Personal contact with residents primarily takes place via a web form. Info Norden maintains regular contact with authorities, ministries, embassies, and other stakeholders in order to promote freedom of movement in the Nordic Region.

Grensetjänsten Norge–Sverige is a cross-border regional information service aimed at individuals and businesses seeking information about moving, working, studying, or establishing a business between Norway and Sweden. The service is located at the Morokulien Infocenter, situated right on the border between Sweden and Norway. Grensetjänsten’s website provides cross-border-adapted information in two languages – in Norwegian about Sweden-related matters, and in Swedish about Norway-related matters. Residents and businesses receive answers to their questions via the website and through personal guidance at the information centre. Grensetjänsten runs two simplification groups, one for individuals and one for businesses. Potential obstacles to freedom of movement and mobility challenges that could be eased through co-operation between authorities and simplification measures are addressed within these groups.

Grensetjänsten Sverige-Finland-Norge is a cross-border regional information service aimed at individuals and businesses seeking information about moving, working, studying, or establishing a business between Finland, Norway, and Sweden.  The service has three offices – one in Torneå/Haparanda, Sweden/Finland, one in Skibotn in Storfjord, Norway, and one in Alta, Norway. The Gränstjänsten Sverige-Finland-Norge website is aimed at both individuals and businesses. It provides cross-border-adapted information in Finnish, Norwegian, and Swedish. Residents and businesses receive answers to their questions via the website, via a chatbot, and through personal guidance at the information offices. 

Øresunddirekt is a cross-border regional information service for individuals and businesses seeking information about moving, working, studying, or establishing a business between Denmark and Sweden. Øresunddirekt consists of an information centre in Malmö – Øresunddirekt Sweden – and a web editorial office in Copenhagen – Øresunddirekt Denmark. Although the operations share a common brand, they are organisationally separate and partly funded by different financiers. Øresunddirekt’s websites are aimed at both individuals and businesses. The websites provide cross-border-adapted information in two languages – in Swedish about Denmark-related matters, and in Danish about Sweden-related matters. The website for individuals is also available in English. Residents and businesses receive answers to their questions via the website and through personal guidance at the information centre.