Checked 13 October 2026. From statsborgerloven and statsborgerforskriften as shown on lovdata.no on 13 October 2026, HK-dir’s test pages of the same day, and UDI’s test-requirement pages as captured by the Wayback Machine in June 2026 (udi.no blocks automated reads). Laws change; UDI decides every case. Norskprøve dates are HK-dir’s published periods and each municipality chooses whether to run them.
Search for norsk statsborgerskap krav and you get long lists, many of them out of date on the one point that changed most recently: the spoken-Norwegian level. This page gives the requirements for Norwegian citizenship as the law and UDI state them, with the paragraph number beside each, and stays close to two of them, the language level and the test, because those are the two you can prepare for. Nothing here is advice on your case. UDI decides, and its own guide asks more questions than any article can.
Official: statsborgerloven §§ 7 and 8 (lovdata.no); HK-dir for the pass mark.
Norsk statsborgerskap krav: the seven conditions in § 7
Statsborgerloven § 7 gives everyone a right to Norwegian citizenship on application if, at the time of the decision, seven conditions are met. The table follows the law’s own letters.
| Letter | The condition (our translation) | Norwegian wording |
|---|---|---|
| a | Has clarified his or her identity | har klarlagt sin identitet |
| b | Has turned twelve | har fylt tolv år |
| c | Lives in Norway and will go on living there | er og vil forbli bosatt i riket |
| d | Meets the conditions for a permanent residence permit | fyller vilkårene for permanent oppholdstillatelse i utlendingsloven § 62 |
| e | Has eight years of residence in total during the last eleven years, on permits of at least one year | har til sammen åtte års opphold i riket i løpet av de siste elleve årene |
| f | Meets the requirements on spoken Norwegian and a passed statsborgerprøve set out in § 8 | fyller kravene om ferdigheter i norsk muntlig og bestått statsborgerprøve |
| g | Has not been given a penalty, or has served the waiting period after one | ikke er ilagt straff … eller har utholdt karenstid |
Three further points sit in the same paragraph. The applicant has no right to citizenship if fundamental national interests or foreign-policy considerations speak against it. An exhaustive police certificate (uttømmende politiattest) must follow the application, and it also shows matters the applicant is charged with or indicted for (siktet eller tiltalt). And residence during the time an application is being processed counts towards the eight years [official: statsborgerloven § 7]. Lovdata’s own introduction to the law notes that since 2020 a person may take Norwegian citizenship and keep the original one.
Norwegian citizenship checklist (statsborgerloven § 7)
Pick the route that fits you, then tick what you can already document. The list is the law’s own list of conditions; it is a planning aid and not a decision.
From statsborgerloven §§ 7, 8 and 10–16 a and statsborgerforskriften §§ 4-1, 4-2 and 6-1 as shown on lovdata.no on 13 October 2026. Nothing is stored or sent. UDI decides every case and its guide on udi.no asks more detailed questions than this list.
The language requirement: B1 in spoken Norwegian
Statsborgerloven § 8 reads: “Søkere mellom 18 og 67 år skal ha oppnådd minimum nivå B1 på muntlig prøve i norsk og ha bestått statsborgerprøve.” Applicants between 18 and 67 must have reached at least level B1 in an oral test in Norwegian and have passed statsborgerprøven; the 18-year line is counted at the time of application [official]. The B1 level came into force on 1 October 2022. HK-dir’s test pages still carry the notice: “Stortinget har bestemt at kravet til ferdigheter i norsk muntlig heves til nivå B1 for å få norsk statsborgerskap. Endringene trådte i kraft 1. oktober 2022” [official].
Note what the law does not ask for. The requirement is on the oral test only. Norskprøven has four parts (reading, listening, writing and speaking), and for citizenship the law names the spoken part. UDI’s list of approved tests says the same: “the oral test segment of the Norwegian language test (Norskprøven) … with a result of B1 or B2” [official: UDI, capture of 10 June 2026]. UDI also says when the tests must be in hand: you must have passed them “when submitting your documents to the police”.
Where other pages get this wrong
The spoken-Norwegian level for citizenship is B1, and it has been since 1 October 2022.
Commonly published instead: A2, which was the level before that date and is still the level UDI asks for a permanent residence permit.
Statsborgerloven § 8 says “minimum nivå B1 på muntlig prøve i norsk”. A2 survives for citizenship in the cases UDI lists: stateless applicants, applicants over 55 who came on a protection basis or as resettled refugees, applicants over 55 on disability benefit, and applications made before 1 October 2022. The regulation (§ 4-1) also sets A2 for those exempted from B1 for special health reasons or personal circumstances under letter g.
Who is exempt from the oral test
Statsborgerforskriften § 4-1 lists who is exempt from the requirement to master spoken Norwegian. The applicant must be able to document one of these.
| Letter in § 4-1 | Exemption (our translation) | Still needs A2 oral? |
|---|---|---|
| a | A final or exam grade of 2 or higher in Norwegian or Sami from grunnskolen | No |
| b | A half-year assessment, final grade or exam grade of 2 or higher in Norwegian or Sami in upper secondary education | No |
| c | Completed studies in Norwegian or Sami at university or college level, in Norway or abroad, equal to 30 credits | No |
| d | Meets the entry requirement for studies in Norwegian or Sami at a university or college in Norway | No |
| e | Came to Norway on an application for protection or as a resettled refugee, and has turned 55 | Yes |
| f | Receives disability benefit and has turned 55 | Yes |
| g | Special health reasons, or personal circumstances outside the person’s control, make it impossible to pass a Norwegian test at B1 or higher | Yes |
| h | Has a decision exempting him or her from the duty to take the final test in Norwegian under the introduction or integration Act | No |
| i | Is stateless | Yes |
The last column comes from the paragraph’s closing sentence: an applicant exempted under letters e, f, g or i must still reach at least A2 in the oral test, “med mindre det foreligger tungtveiende årsaker”, unless weighty reasons mean the person should be released from the language requirement altogether [official: § 4-1]. UDI’s exemption page adds detail on what counts as documentation, for example that a vocational certificate alone is not enough for the school-grade exemptions [official: UDI, capture of 16 June 2026].
Taking the oral part of norskprøven
| Item | What HK-dir says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Levels you can register for | A1–A2, A2–B1 or B1–B2. In the oral test you can get a better result than the level you registered for; in the writing test you cannot. | HK-dir, Meld deg på |
| How it runs | Two candidates registered at the same level take the test together, with an examiner who asks the questions and a sensor who assesses. Three tasks at A2–B1 and B1–B2, four at A1–A2. | HK-dir, page for test centres |
| Length | The 2026 regulations say “25 til 30 minutter”; the page for test centres, updated 7 October 2026, says “20–25 minutter”. We print both. | Reglement 2026, point 3.1; Innhold i prøvene |
| How often | Most municipalities hold norskprøven four times a year. Not every centre runs every period. | HK-dir, Når er prøven? |
| Next periods | Winter 2026: registration 26–30 October, tests 30 November–4 December, results 7 January 2027. Spring 2027: registration 25–29 January, tests 8–12 March, results 6 April. Summer 2027: registration 12–16 April, tests 18–28 May, results 19 June. | HK-dir, Når er prøven? |
| Fee | Set by the municipality: from 400 kroner or more for one part to 2,500 kroner or less for the whole test. | HK-dir, Meld deg på |
| Where | Only in Norway, at a test centre. “Norskprøven kan ikke tas i utlandet.” | HK-dir, Meld deg på |
| Retakes | You can take one or more parts again to improve; the latest and best result stands on the certificate. Not the same part twice in one test period. | HK-dir, Les om prøven; FAQ |
| Dialect | You may use dialect in the oral test. | HK-dir, FAQ |
Registration for norskprøven is open for five days only, Monday morning to Friday night, about five weeks before the test [official: HK-dir]. For a winter 2026 sitting that window is Monday 26 October at 09:00 to Friday 30 October at 23:59. Miss it and the next oral test is in March 2027, with a result on 6 April. Statsborgerprøven has no such national calendar: each test centre sets its own dates.
The test requirement: statsborgerprøven
The second half of § 8 is a passed statsborgerprøve. It is a 60-minute test on a test centre’s computer, in Norwegian at level A2, with 36 three-option tasks of which 32 count, and you pass with 24 correct [official: HK-dir]. HK-dir, the Directorate for Higher Education and Skills, makes the test for the Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion. How the pass mark works, the pass rate and a short test of your own are in statsborgerprøven pass mark, pass rate and why people fail.
Statsborgerforskriften § 4-2 lists who does not need statsborgerprøven. Again the applicant must be able to document one of these.
| Letter in § 4-2 | Exemption (our translation) |
|---|---|
| a | Passed the test in social studies in Norwegian under the integration Act or the introduction Act |
| b | A final or exam grade of 2 or higher in samfunnsfag from grunnskolen |
| c | A half-year assessment, final grade or exam grade of 2 in samfunnskunnskap in upper secondary education (the regulation’s wording) |
| d | Completed and passed studies in social science that give knowledge about Norway, at university or college level, of at least 10 credits |
| e | Admitted to and has completed studies in Norwegian or Sami at university or college level in Norway; as documentation, the regulation says it is enough to show credits from studies in Norwegian or Sami |
| f | Special health reasons, other weighty reasons, or personal circumstances outside the person’s control make it impossible to pass the test |
| g | Has a decision exempting him or her from the duty to take the final test in social studies |
Letter a is the one most applicants meet without knowing it, and the one most often misread. It covers samfunnskunnskapsprøven only if it was taken in Norwegian. The difference between the two tests, and a tool that tells you which one you need, is in statsborgerprøven vs samfunnskunnskapsprøven. Under § 4-3 a citizen of another Nordic country who understands Norwegian or Sami is exempt from both requirements in § 8.
Residence time: the routes that shorten eight years
Letter e, eight years in the last eleven, is the main rule. The law then sets out other routes. Each row is one paragraph of statsborgerloven; the checklist tool above carries the same text.
| Route | Residence the law asks for | Paragraph |
|---|---|---|
| Main rule | 8 years in total in the last 11 | § 7 e |
| Sufficient income in the last tax year (at least 3 G) | 6 years in total in the last 10 | § 10; forskriften § 6-1 |
| Arrived in Norway before turning 18 | 5 years in total in the last 7 | § 11 |
| Married to, partner of or cohabitant with a Norwegian citizen, shared home | At least 5 years in the last 10, and residence plus marriage time of at least 7 years | § 12 |
| Residence permit as a refugee | 7 years in total in the last 10 | § 16 a |
| Citizen of another Nordic country | The last 2 years | § 13 |
| Right of residence under the EEA or EFTA rules | The last 3 years with a right of residence; only letter d is lifted | § 14 |
| Stateless, 18 or over | The last 3 years | § 16 |
| Former Norwegian citizen | The last 2 years | § 15 |
Except for the Nordic and EEA rows, the years must be on residence permits each valid for at least one year. The curriculum itself teaches the short version: the lesson “Regler for opphold” says that after six, seven or eight years one can apply for Norwegian citizenship [official: samfunnskunnskap.no]. How UDI counts gaps between permits and time abroad is set out in chapter 3 of the regulation and on UDI’s pages, and it is detailed enough that you should use UDI’s own calculator rather than a table like this one.
On cost: statsborgerforskriften § 15-2, as shown on Lovdata on 13 October 2026, sets the fee for processing an application for Norwegian citizenship at kr 6,500 [official]. We could not read UDI’s live fee page from our side, so check the amount on udi.no before you pay. The test fees are separate and are set by each municipality: 300 to 1,800 kroner for statsborgerprøven, and from 400 kroner for one part of norskprøven [official: HK-dir].
An order of work that fits the rules
From today to a complete application
- Read your route in the checklist and write down the date on which your residence time is complete.
- Count back from that date. The oral norskprøve runs in fixed periods and its result takes about three weeks; statsborgerprøven’s certificate comes by post 2–4 weeks after the test.
- Register for the oral norskprøve in the five-day window. Register at B1–B2 only if you are near B2: in the oral test you can score above the level you chose, so A2–B1 can still give B1.
- Book statsborgerprøven at a test centre in your county once you have read all 13 topics; the test centre sets the date.
- Keep both certificates. UDI wants the tests passed when you hand your documents to the police.
- Order the exhaustive police certificate close to the application, since it must follow the application.
The third point rests on HK-dir’s rule that an oral result can be higher than the level registered for. Which level to register at is our suggestion, not HK-dir’s.
Practise it, don't just read it
Half of § 8 is a knowledge test you can practise for today.
One practice quiz is live on the exam page: 12 questions in Norwegian on Demokratiet i Norge, three options each, with the reason for every answer in English. None of its questions is repeated in this article.
The whole curriculum on seven pages
The test requirement is the part of this list you can finish in a few evenings.
The Statsborgerprøven Revision Kit is a seven-page PDF in English, built on the same lessons of samfunnskunnskap.no (57 by our count), with the Norwegian word you will meet in the test printed beside each fact, a Norwegian–English word list, a list of traps and a 20-question self-test. Page 1 is free to read in full. It is a revision aid, not an official document, and it does not replace the lessons.
Frequently asked questions
What level of Norwegian do I need for citizenship?
At least B1 in the oral part of a Norwegian test, if you are between 18 and 67 when you apply. This has applied since 1 October 2022. The law does not ask for a level in reading, listening or writing.
Is A2 still enough for Norwegian citizenship?
Only in listed cases. UDI names stateless applicants, applicants over 55 who came on a protection basis or as resettled refugees, applicants over 55 on disability benefit, and applications made before 1 October 2022. The regulation also sets A2 for people exempted from B1 on health or personal grounds under § 4-1 g.
Which test do I have to pass besides the language test?
Statsborgerprøven, or samfunnskunnskapsprøven taken in Norwegian. Some school grades and university credits also exempt you, under statsborgerforskriften § 4-2.
Do I need the tests if I am over 67?
Section 8 of the Act puts both test requirements on applicants between 18 and 67. Confirm your own case with UDI.
How long must I have lived in Norway?
Under the main rule, eight years in total during the last eleven, on permits of at least one year. Other routes ask for six, seven or five years, and Nordic citizens need the last two.
Can I keep my other citizenship?
Lovdata’s introduction to the Act notes that since 2020 it has been allowed to take Norwegian citizenship and keep the original one. Whether your other country allows it is a question for that country.
Can I take norskprøven outside Norway?
No. HK-dir says norskprøven A1–B2 can only be taken in Norway, at a test centre. A few centres accept candidates who live abroad.
When is the next norskprøve?
The winter 2026 period is 30 November to 4 December, with registration from 26 to 30 October and results on 7 January 2027. The next is 8 to 12 March 2027.
How much does the citizenship application cost?
Statsborgerforskriften § 15-2, as shown on Lovdata on 13 October 2026, sets the processing fee at 6,500 kroner. Check UDI’s fee page for the current amount.
Does a degree taught in English at a Norwegian university exempt me?
The exemptions in the regulation are tied to studies in Norwegian or Sami, or to social-science studies that give knowledge about Norway. A degree taught in English is not named. Ask UDI about your documents.
When must the tests be passed?
UDI says you must have passed them when you submit your documents to the police.
More in this series
- Statsborgerprøven or samfunnskunnskapsprøven: which one you take
- Statsborgerprøven pass mark, pass rate and why people fail (10-question mini test)
- Statsborgerprøven pensum: all 13 topics and 57 lessons, with a tracker
- Norwegian citizenship test in English: what is allowed, plus 15 practice questions
- Norskprøve B1 muntlig: example tasks, A2 and B1 model answers, practice timer
- Norskprøve skriftlig A2–B1: sample texts with marking, word counter and checklist
- Norskprøve B2: who needs it (studies, authorisation, citizenship) and how it is assessed
- Statsborgerprøven øve: a seven-day revision plan with 10 new practice questions
- Norskprøve for statsborgerskap: the oral level that counts and the tests UDI accepts
Sources
- official — Lov om norsk statsborgerskap (statsborgerloven), §§ 7, 8 and 10–16 a (lovdata.no, read 13 Oct 2026)
- official — Statsborgerforskriften, §§ 4-1 to 4-3, 6-1 and 15-2 (lovdata.no, read 13 Oct 2026)
- official — UDI — Test requirements for Norwegian citizenship (Wayback Machine capture of 10 June 2026; live udi.no blocks automated reads)
- official — UDI — Exemptions: you have sufficient knowledge of Norwegian (Wayback Machine capture of 16 June 2026)
- official — UDI — Exemptions: you have sufficient knowledge of Norwegian society (Wayback Machine capture of 16 April 2026)
- official — UDI — Test requirements for a permanent residence permit (Wayback Machine capture of 16 June 2026)
- official — UDI — Citizenship (the live page; open it yourself for the current wording and fee)
- official — HK-dir — Statsborgerprøve: Les om prøven (length, language, 36 tasks, 24 to pass), read 13 Oct 2026
- official — HK-dir — Norskprøve A1–B2: Les om prøven (four parts, who marks them)
- official — HK-dir — Norskprøve A1–B2: Når er prøven? (test periods 2026 and 2027)
- official — HK-dir — Norskprøve A1–B2: Meld deg på (fee, who can sit it, not abroad)
- official — HK-dir — Ofte stilte spørsmål om norskprøven
- official — HK-dir — Reglement for gjennomføring av prøver i norsk og samfunnskunnskap 2026, chapter 3 (information about the tests)
- official — HK-dir — Innhold i prøvene (page for test centres, last updated 7 Oct 2026)
- official — samfunnskunnskap.no — HK-dir’s curriculum resource (bokmål lessons, read 12 Oct 2026)
official = a document published by the conducting body. reported = a news or coaching site we could not check against an original. Where sources disagree this page says so rather than picking one.
