Norway is located in northern Europe and part of the Schengen Area, comprised of 29 countries that have abolished international borders to allow unrestricted movement of people, goods, and services. Although not a member of the European Union (EU), Norway is a signatory to the Schengen Agreement, which has brought numerous benefits to the country.
Norway is rich in natural resources, with the primary industries being petroleum, gas, and hydroelectric power. In addition, the nation is amongst the top 10 mariculture producers and exporters. Norway has focused on tourism and the maritime sector, such as cruises, for decades and invested in its growth along with its aluminum, healthcare, fisheries, and green technology sectors. All of which have shown growth potential for the country.
Many foreigners need help to obtain Norwegian citizenship, as it is more challenging than in other European countries. First, you must legally reside in Norway for at least seven years to apply. Then, you will also need to be at least moderately proficient in Norwegian. Fortunately, If you have Norwegian ancestry, you can expedite your citizenship by proving your ancestral ties to the country via the citizenship-by-descent route.
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Obtaining Norwegian citizenship is more challenging than in other European countries
According to the Norwegian Nationality Act, a child born to a Norwegian mother or father receives citizenship by descent. The child’s ancestral ties must be confirmed by direct descent from the parents for the child to be eligible. Applicants can obtain Norwegian citizenship by descent by notifying, adopting, or applying, provided they meet specific legal requirements.
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Only the first generation of Norwegian ancestors may seek Norwegian citizenship. The following scenarios go into further depth on who is eligible for Norwegian citizenship:
If your parents are Norwegian and you were born on or after September 1, 2006, you are automatically a Norwegian citizen. This is true regardless of whether you were born in Norway or elsewhere or your parent's marital status.
If your parents are Norwegian and you were born before September 1, 2006, you automatically become a Norwegian citizen if:
If your father was a Norwegian citizen but not married to your mother, you are not granted automatic Norwegian citizenship. However, if you are under 18, you may quickly become a Norwegian citizen by submitting a notification of Norwegian citizenship.
Only the first generation of Norwegian ancestors may seek Norwegian citizenship by descent
If you were born before 1979 and are unsure if you are a Norwegian citizen by birth, you can contact the Norwegian Department of Immigration (UDI) for more information.
If you are not eligible for Norwegian citizenship, you can consider applying for a residency permit available to individuals born to Norwegian parents.
Suppose your parents were citizens of Sweden, Denmark, Finland, or Iceland and became Norwegian citizens by submitting a notification before you reached the age of 18. In that case, you will automatically become a Norwegian citizen if you live in Norway and are single. Children who are married or registered partners are not covered in this case.
To obtain a Norwegian passport for your children, it is necessary to first register them as Norwegians in the National Register. To accomplish this, you must personally contact the Tax Office.
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Even if you're not eligible for Norwegian citizenship, you can still apply for a residency permit
If a Norwegian citizen legally adopted you on or after September 1, 2006, you automatically obtain Norwegian citizenship if you:
If you were adopted before September 1, 2006, you may have acquired Norwegian citizenship at the time of your adoption or after submitting a notification or application.
If you are under 18 and haven’t become a Norwegian citizen yet, you may do so immediately by submitting a notification or application.
Even though surrogacy is illegal in Norway, some people pursue surrogacy arrangements with women from other countries where it is permitted. Surrogacy involves a woman, known as a surrogate mother, carrying and delivering a child for someone else.
As there are no specific guidelines for determining or establishing a child's biological parents through surrogacy or egg donation, the woman who gives birth to the child is considered the legal mother. Paternity is established in the same way as for other children, as defined in The Children Act.
The child cannot acquire Norwegian citizenship merely by egg or sperm donation from a Norwegian citizen who desires to have a child. The transfer of parenthood is necessary, and upon completing the transfer process, the child will automatically become a Norwegian citizen.
Please contact us if you have further questions on this rather complex topic in Norway.
The foreign adoption is valid in Norway
Typically, you must wait at least 12 months before receiving a decision on your Norway citizenship application. The countdown begins when you submit your applications to the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). If the UDI decides that additional documents are required from you during the processing period, they can extend the processing time.
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One of the primary privileges of Norwegian citizenship is obtaining a Norwegian passport. As of July 2019, Norwegians can travel visa-free or visa-on-arrival to 183 countries and territories, providing them with much global mobility. Norwegian nationals get outstanding social care and benefits beyond passport-related privileges.
The NAV (Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration) provides Norwegians with services and benefits such as unemployment benefits, financial aid, occupational accident insurance, sickness benefits, health services, family-related benefits, employment programs, and pensions. Norwegian citizens above 18 have the right to vote in parliamentary, municipal, and county council elections.
Norway allows dual citizenship
Since January 2020, new Norwegian citizens will no longer be required to relinquish their citizenship. Dual citizens of Norway and another nation are entitled to consular assistance, help from authorities, and the same rights and duties as normal citizens. This amendment in the legislation resulted in a significant surge in applications and a record number of new citizens.
This applies both to Norwegians and to people applying for Norwegian citizenship. You do not need to inform the Norwegian authorities that you want to keep your other citizenship. However, you may still lose your Norwegian citizenship if your other citizenship does not allow dual citizenship.
Norwegians can travel visa-free or visa-on-arrival to 183 countries
Obtaining Norwegian citizenship by descent can be an excellent way to delve deeply into your ancestors' past and unravel all of their mysteries. It may also assist you in legally lowering your taxes, diversifying your personal life, discovering new investment markets, and increasing your freedom. If you are fortunate enough to be of Norwegian descent, you should grab this golden opportunity! You will obtain your second passport without going through a lengthy naturalization process.