Important Documentation

Bring your and your family’s important documents with you in your hand luggage when you move to Norway. These documents include:

• Passports
• Relevant visas
• Marriage, cohabitation and birth certificates
• Diplomas and degrees
• Bank records
• Medical records and vaccination history
• Children’s curricula and education history
• Tax and insurance records
• Work offer/work contract from your employer

Do not pack them in your suitcase or in your shipment. You will need them to complete the work and residence permit application when you arrive in Norway. If they are not in Norwegian or English, you would have to have them translated. This might be easier (and cheaper) to do in your home country.

Medical Requirements

Bring your and your family’s medical records and if required, medical supplies for 3 months. If you or your family members are undergoing medical treatment and need special medication, your doctor should verify this. The letter should contain the patient’s name, date of birth and a Latin description of status/treatment and medication used.

Norway has strict laws which restricts you to bring medication into the country. Prescription drugs and larger quantities require a statement from a doctor. Small quantities and a limited choice of remedy products are available at the local pharmacies. Foreign prescriptions are not accepted.

If you need to follow up on a treatment when you arrive in Norway and do not have a Norwegian social security number yet, you may contact the local hospital’s Emergency Room (legevakt) or a private general practitioner and make an appointment.

Learn more about the Norwegian Health Care system here.

Vehicles

The main rule is that cars that are to be used in Norway must be registered in the Central Register of Motor Vehicles and that taxes must be paid. Subject to more detailed conditions, some exceptions apply to the temporary import and use of foreign-registered vehicles in Norway.

Should you be on a temporary stay in Norway for 1 year and you are able to prove it, it is possible for you to use your foreign-registered vehicle in Norway without any registration. You will need to apply for permission to use your foreign-registered car for the second year.

If your stay in Norway will be longer than 2 years, you will need to import your foreign-registered vehicle.

You can find more information here.

Pets

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority supervises the live animals that are imported into Norway. It is important that animals that are introduced into the country do not bring with them infectious diseases.

Travelling with your pets to Norway

Leash laws for dogs in Norway
– loosely translated from “Informasjon om lokal forskrift til lov om hundehold”

There is a national leash law that requires all dogs to be leashed while in public outdoor areas from 1 April to 20 August. This is to ensure that the dogs cannot hunt or harm eggs or the young of cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, deer, horses or other wildlife. Otherwise, a dog can run free only if in a designated dog park, fenced in on its owner’s property.

However, dogs in active service are exempt from these laws. Punishment in breach of these laws can include fines or imprisonment up til one month. Be sure to pick up after your dog in public places.

For Young Children

When you arrive in Norway you should carry your children’s favourite toys and loveys to assist the adjustment. You will not regret it. If your children are very young, bring the child bed/crib too and the push chair/stroller. Car seats are mandatory and difficult to rent on arrival in Norway. Children should be seated in a carrier or portable child restraint seat approved to the European ECE R44-03 standard. More information on Road Safety for Children here.

Mobile Phones

Mobile phone providers do not offer subscriptions immediately to newcomers. You will need a Norwegian Personal Number to sign up for a subscription (however, some retailers do offer prepaid SIM cards even to customers without Norwegian personal numbers).  Be sure to bring your passport  for identification purposes.

You can buy new phones at market price (which can be a very expensive purchase, especially if you have to buy one just when you arrive). So if you can, buy an unlocked quad-band/Europe capable phone before you get to Norway.  Also if possible, get a smart phone. There are many useful applications which can be downloaded on your smartphone such as maps, transport schedules and guides, weather information, etc.