Up in the northern hemisphere, expats have sought after Norway’s scenic and picture-perfect landscapes which include green plains, majestic mountain peaks, thick forests and numerous fjords. The country also boasts of some of the world’s modern structures that boast of cutting-edge engineering. Foreigners settling in Norway will find that it’s cold first of all, but secondly it’s an expensive place to liv in. Although, the quality of life is good, as necessary amenities like healthcare, is subsidized by the government. Relocating to Norway? Or simply just a ski trip, have a look at our handy guide.
- Expat Clubs
- Schools
- Local News Sources
- Country Information
- Resident and Work visa information
- How to get a driving license
- Where to live and about the accomodation types
- Healthcare information including Hospitals and Insurance
American Women's Club of Oslo
The American Women's Club of Oslo is one of many American women's organizations around the world that make up the Federation of Women's Clubs Overseas, or FAWCO. FAWCO is an international network of over 70 American Women's Clubs which represent over 16,000 women in over 30 countries.
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.awcoslo.org
ACCN-American Coordinating Council of Norway
The ACCN provides a network of American and American-Norwegian groups in Norway.
Address: Postboks 5064, Majorstua, N-0303 Oslo
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.accn.no
Association of International and Business Women of Norway
AIPBW is a non-profit networking organization that unites, supports and promotes the interests of international professional and business women in Norway.
Address: Postboks 6825, Rodeløkka, 0504 Oslo, Norway
Website: www.aipbw.no
Drammen Expats - Yahoo Group
Discussion and Social Group for English speakers moving to or living in Drammen, Norway.
Website: groups.yahoo.com/group/Drammen_Expats
New to Oslo - Yahoo Group
Discussion group for English speakers living in Oslo, Norway.
Website: groups.yahoo.com/group/New_To_Oslo
Stavanger Expats - Yahoo Group
Discussion group for English speakers in Stavanger, Norway. Includes access to information about social functions, a chat room for the "locals", information about living in Stavanger (including links) and informative polls. Approx. 600 members, new members welcome!
Website: groups.yahoo.com/group/stavanger_expats
Sørlandet Expats - Yahoo Group
Discussion group for English speakers living in, moving to, or just interested in Sorlandet (Kristiandsand, Lillesand, Grimstad, Arendal, etc) Norway.
Website: groups.yahoo.com/group/sorlandet_expats
Trondheim Expats - Yahoo Group
Discussion group for English speakers moving to or living in Trondheim, Norway.
Website: groups.yahoo.com/group/trondheim_expats
International School of Stavanger
ISS provides an internationally-accredited university prep curriculum:
· Primary and Middle School: Cross-cultural curriculum with features from European and North American systems
· High School: International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) for grades 9-10 and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) for grades 11-12
Curriculum: International Baccalaureate
Address: Treskeveien 3, 4043 Hafrsfjord, Norway
Tel: +(47) 51 55 43 00
Fax: +(47) 51 55 43 01
Website: www.isstavanger.no
British International School
The British International School of Stavanger was founded in 1977 and has facilities for 550 pupils. The school is situated at Gausel 8 km south of the city of Stavanger.
Curriculum: British
Address: Gauselbakken 107, 4032 Stavanger, Norway
Tel: +47 51 95 02 50
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.biss.no
Skagerak International School
Skagerak Gymnas was founded in 1991 by a group of enthusiastic individuals and companies from Sandefjord led by Elisabeth Norr. They believed there was a need to offer a non-selective alternative to the Norwegian state education system. The school established itself quickly in the revamped shipbuilding premises on Framnesveien 7 at Framnes. The founders were committed to making the school a centre of educational excellence. When the school introduced the IB Diploma Programme (DP) it phased out the second and third years of the Norwegian national curriculum and changed its name to Skagerak International School. By October 1992 it was an authorised IB World School offering the DP.
Curriculum: International Baccalaureate
Address: Framnesveien 7, 3222 Sandefjord, Norway
Tel: +47 33 45 65 20
Fax: +47 33 45 65 01
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.skagerak.org
Norway Post
The Norway Post is the most comprehensive English language newssite on Norwegian affairs on the www. They cover news relating to Norway, domestic and/or international.
Website: www.norwaypost.no
The Local
Thelocal.no provides news and information from Norway for the English speaking reader. In addition, the website has sections dedicated to local weather and English speaking jobs.
Website: www.thelocal.no
Location: Europe
Capital City: Oslo
Other Important Cities:
Currency: Norwegian krone
Language: Norwegian Bokmal, Norwegian Nynorsk
Calling Code: +47
Internet TLD: .no
Electricity: Norway runs on 230V 50Hz. One of the energy producers and distributors in the country is the state-owned Statkraft.
Address: Lilleakerveien 6, Lilleaker
Tel: +47 24 06 70 00
Fax: +47 24 06 70 01
Website: www.statkraft.com
Emergency Numbers:
Ambulance: 113
Fire: 110
Police: 112
Country Information
en.wikipedia.org
embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-in/norway
Residents Visa and Work Permit information
As part of the Schengen territories, nationals from certain countries including the EU and the US may enter and stay visa free in Norway for up to 90 days. Other nationals will have to arrange for a Schengen visa through a Norwegian embassy or consulate in their home or host country.
For expats to stay in Norway for an extended period, they will need a residence permit. These can be issued on the basis of family immigration or work immigration. For work immigration, there are several more options including skilled workers: expats who have completed higher education or have completed vocation training. To be able to apply, an expat must already have a job offer from a Norwegian company.
The Norwegian government has set up a web service to assist in application process: www.udi.no
Seeking accommodations in Norway is relatively easy and pain-free as supply is adequate. There are flats, apartments and houses available. However, foreigners will find that the rental prices are steep - a single bedroom apartment start at $1,200 per month. In the case of employed expats, most employers will include housing allowance in their employees’ contracts to alleviate this.
Would-be-tenants would have to sign-up during a property showing and wait to be contacted. This is the longer route, but ensures that future tenants are able to make an impression with the owner. Most expats would go to real estate agencies to cut the search and wait time, for a fee.
Leases run for a year and are renewable. Deposits are made up of 2 or 3 months’ rent, which is refundable. The leasing process is straightforward as long as both parties agree to the terms and conditions. Backing out once the lease has been finalized will result to penalties.
Expats from the west or any other countries with customary spacious housing will find that Norwegian configuration is small and at times cramped. Furnished and unfurnished units are available, which vary in rental price.
Expats may use their domestic license in the country for up to three months. After which it must be exchanged. However, Norway maintains exchange agreements to only a few countries: Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Israel, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, South Korea and the US. Nationals from these countries may exchange their licenses and get a Norwegian equivalent after passing a practice test. This process should be done within the first year of residency in the country.
Documents required:
- Driving License application form
- Original driving license
- An authorised translation of the driving license if it is not written in English, French or German
- Approved picture ID
- Residence permit
- A document that confirms when you moved to Norway
- from the Norway’s Vegvesen, the roads and transport authority:
Within two years, expats will be asked to take mandatory training in First Aid, Safety and Skid Pan, and Night Driving. When the two year period has passed and the expat has not exchanged their license, they will have to apply as a first-time applicant; they will have to enroll at a driving license program and pass both practical and theoretical tests. For practical information about licenses and driving in Norway please visit Vegvesen site: www.vegvesen.no/en
Norway has one of the world’s best medical care facilities and services, in both public and private institutions. The public healthcare is subsidized by the government, which gives citizens and residents nominal to cost-free services (depending on the medical case). Meanwhile private care is costlier.
In the public system, patients normally pay fees after visiting. But once they’ve paid a certain amount, they will be given a frikort or a free card which waives medical fees for the rest of the year. GPs are assigned per municipality; expats registeredd in the Folkeregister will be assigned one. Expat are required to contribute to the NIS, or the Norwegian Insurance Scheme, specifically those who have worked for more than a year.
Private healthcare is also preferred by expats, but it is generally to beat the queue buildup in private hospitals.
Insurance Companies
Norweigian Social insurance Scheme
Address: P.O. Box 8138 Dep, N-0033 Oslo
Tel: + 47 21 07 37 00
Telefax: + 47 21 07 37 01
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.regjeringen.no/upload/ASD/Dokumenter/2014/Veiledere_brosjyrer/The_norwegian_social_insurance_scheme_web.pdf and www.nav.no
Hospitals
Oslo University Hospital
Oslo University Hospital is a highly specialised hospital in charge of extensive regional and local hospital assignments and the provision of high quality services for the citizens of Oslo. The hospital also has a nationwide responsibility for a number of national and multi-regional assignments and has several national centres of competence.
Address (Rikshospitalet): Sognsvannsveien 20, 0372 Oslo
Address (Ulleval Hospital): Kirkeveien 166, 0450 Oslo
Address (Radium Hospital): Ullernchausseen 70, 0379 Oslo
Address (Aker Hospital): Trondheimsveien 235 05
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.oslo-universitetssykehus.no
University Hospital of North Norway
University Hospital of North Norway provides security to the resident population, thousands of visitors and the many professionals who reside in the north.
Tel: +47 91 50 77 66
Website: www.unn.no
St. Olavs Hospital
St. Olav is the local Hospital for the population of Sør-Trøndelag with 302,000 inhabitants, but has several regional and national tasks for the population in the three counties of Møre and Romsdal, Sør-Trøndelag and Nord-Trøndelag with a total of 695,000 inhabitants. Most of the hospital business is located in Trondheim.
Address: Postbox 3250 Sluppen, NO-7006 Trondheim, Norway
Tel: +47 72 57 30 00
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.stolav.no
Volvat Mediskinske Senter AS – Hamar
Address: Vanbgsveien 121, Hamar, 2318 Norway
Tel: +47 62 553 550
Fax: +47 62 553 560
Website (Norwegian): www.volvat.no
