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Norwegian Citizenship: Eight-of-Eleven Years, B1 Norwegian, Social Studies and Dual Nationality

Norwegian citizenship is decided by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration, UDI, under the Nationality Act and its regulations.

An ordinary adult applicant generally needs to prove:

Norway permits dual and multiple citizenship. Applicants do not normally need to renounce their current nationality under Norwegian law, although the other country can impose its own rules.

Eight years during the previous eleven

The general residence requirement is eight years of residence during the previous eleven years with permits or rights that count for citizenship.

The calculation is not based only on:

Each qualifying period must meet the citizenship rules.

Prepare a residence table containing:

UDI counts backwards from the application or decision framework using the current rules.

Do not assume every permit counts equally. Short permits, unresolved identity periods or stays without a qualifying right can require individual review.

Six-year route for sufficient income

A shorter route can apply where the applicant has six years of residence during the previous ten years and meets the sufficient-income condition.

UDI defines the income requirement through the current regulation and annual thresholds.

The applicant should provide:

The rule is not a general six-year route for every full-time worker.

The official income threshold and qualifying tax years must be checked for the filing date.

Do not rely on current monthly salary alone. UDI uses the defined historic income period.

Present residence and intention to remain

The applicant normally must:

Temporary travel is compatible with Norwegian residence, but a permanent move abroad or a home and employment clearly established elsewhere can undermine the condition.

Evidence can include:

A person planning a temporary assignment abroad should explain:

Do not state an intention to remain while simultaneously completing permanent emigration steps.

Qualifying permit or right at decision

A non-EU applicant normally needs a valid residence permit that can form the required basis, or a pending renewal where the current rules preserve the status.

EU/EEA citizens use the registration-scheme and permanent-right framework.

The applicant may not always need to hold a physical permanent-residence card, but they must satisfy the relevant right and residence conditions.

Provide:

Do not allow the underlying permit or EU right to lapse while citizenship is pending.

Identity

UDI requires the applicant's identity to be clarified.

The strongest evidence is a valid national passport issued after reliable identity verification.

The file can also include:

Explain differences in:

Some applicants with protection status or unavailable national documents follow special identity-evidence rules.

Do not submit a new identity version without a complete explanation of earlier Norwegian records.

Norwegian-language requirement

Most applicants aged 18 to 67 must document oral Norwegian at B1 level.

The approved routes can include:

The condition concerns oral skills, but the exact accepted test modules and exemptions should be checked on UDI's current page.

Applicants outside the age band can have different requirements.

Do not submit only attendance hours when the route requires an achieved test result.

Citizenship or social-studies test

Applicants in the relevant age group also prove knowledge through:

under the approved conditions.

The test covers:

Passing the test in another language can be insufficient where the citizenship rule requires Norwegian.

Exemptions can apply based on:

Do not confuse the permanent-residence course requirement with the citizenship test requirement.

Exemptions from language and testing

UDI lists limited exemption grounds.

These can include:

Medical evidence should explain:

A general certificate saying that an exam would be stressful is unlikely to be enough.

Do not apply for an exemption without matching the official category.

Criminal convictions and waiting periods

A criminal conviction, fine or other reaction does not always create a permanent bar, but it can create a waiting period.

The waiting period depends on:

UDI publishes tables and guidance.

The applicant should disclose:

Do not file immediately after a conviction without calculating the disqualification period.

A new offence during processing can change the result.

Police certificate

UDI obtains or requires criminal information through the citizenship process.

The applicant can need to provide foreign documentation depending on residence history and case facts.

Keep:

Do not assume a Norwegian police certificate covers conduct in every country of former residence.

Dual citizenship

Norway has allowed dual citizenship since January 1, 2020.

The applicant can normally keep the prior nationality under Norwegian law.

The origin country can still:

A dual citizen in the other country can be treated only as that country's citizen by its authorities.

Do not assume Norway can provide consular protection against the other nationality's state.

Application process

Applications are initiated online through the UDI portal.

The applicant then attends the police or designated authority with:

The application is not complete merely because the online form was paid.

The attendance appointment and original-document check are part of filing.

Keep:

Do not book travel that prevents attendance or response to UDI requests.

Documents

A practical adult file includes:

UDI can obtain Norwegian register information directly but can ask for clarification.

Children and family

A child can apply with a parent or under a separate child route.

The requirements depend on:

Prepare:

Do not assume every child is automatically included in an adult application.

Decision and ceremony

After approval, the citizenship decision states the effective date and next steps.

Some municipalities organise citizenship ceremonies, but the legal acquisition is governed by the decision and statutory process rather than ceremony attendance alone.

The new citizen can apply for:

Return or update residence documents as instructed.

Sources

This article provides general information. UDI applies the current residence calculation, test exemptions and criminal waiting periods to the individual case.