Where I Can Live
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Europe · Norwegian · updated 2026-10

Moving to Norway: visas, cost of living & citizenship

A single person needs about $2,800 a month to live in Oslo, and a family of four about $6,100, including rent. Norway usually lets you apply for permanent residence after 3 yrs, with citizenship after 8 yrs, and dual citizenship is allowed. You can move here without a job offer through the Self-employed permit.

Monthly budget
$2,800
High cost
Safety
80
Very safe
Stability
92
Very stable
Family
87
Excellent
Main city
Oslo
Language
Norwegian
Permanent residence
3 yrs
Citizenship
8 yrs
Dual citizenship
Allowed
Digital nomad visa
Yes
What can your passport do in Norway?Pick your nationality to see your exact access, visit rules and personal score.
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Cost of living in Norway, per month in US$

One person
$2,800
Family of four
$6,100
RentGroceriesTransportUtilities & internetEating out & leisureOther
1-bed flat, Oslo centre
$1,350
Estimate
3-bed family flat
$2,500
Estimate
Price level
96
US = 100
Income per person
$8,109
GNI ÷ 12, World Bank

Safety

Safety score
80
Very safe
Homicides per 100k
0.72
US 5.8 · UK 1.0 · Japan 0.2

Political stability & governance

Political stability+1.08
Rule of law+1.94
Control of corruption+1.93
Government effectiveness+1.84
−2.5 weak0strong +2.5

Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Very stable overall (92/100).

Family-friendliness

Family score
87
Excellent
Child outcomes (HCI)
0.771
Health & schooling, 0–1
Under-5 mortality
2.5
per 1,000 births
Life expectancy
83.2 yrs
at birth
Health spending
$8,296
per person / year
Education spending
5.4%
of GDP

Spouse and children can join on most work and residence permits, and spouses can usually work. Public schooling is free; international schools are common in the capital.

Visa & residence routes

Remote work
Self-employed permitFor qualified people running their own business.
Job offer
Skilled worker permitDegree or vocational training plus a full-time job offer.

Who gets easier access to Norway

EU/EEA free movement: you can live and work here with simple registration.

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Visiting: 93 passports can visit visa-free, 0 with an electronic travel authorisation, 0 get a visa on arrival, 0 can apply for an eVisa and 105 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).

Road to permanent residence & citizenship

ArrivePRCitizen024681012+ yrs
Permanent residence
3 yrs
Citizenship
8 yrs
Dual citizenship
Allowed

Last checked 2026-10. Official source: www.udi.no/en

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in Norway?

About $2,800 a month for one person and $6,100 for a family of four in Oslo, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $1,350 a month and a 3-bedroom around $2,500. Prices are 96% of US levels. Norway is the 62nd cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.

Is Norway safe to live in?

Norway scores 80/100 for safety (very safe), ranking 12th of 76. The homicide rate is 0.72 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).

Is Norway politically stable?

Norway scores 92/100 for stability (very stable), ranking 4th of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.

Is Norway good for families?

Norway scores 87/100 for family-friendliness (excellent), ranking 4th of 76. Life expectancy is 83.2 years and under-5 mortality is 2.5 per 1,000 births. Spouse and children can join on most work and residence permits, and spouses can usually work. Public schooling is free; international schools are common in the capital.

How long does it take to get permanent residence in Norway?

Usually 3 yrs of legal residence.

How long until I can become a citizen of Norway?

Usually 8 yrs of residence. Dual citizenship: allowed.

Can I move to Norway without a job offer?

Yes. Self-employed permit: For qualified people running their own business.

Does Norway have a digital nomad visa?

Yes: the Self-employed permit. For qualified people running their own business.

Who can live and work in Norway without a visa?

you can live and work here with simple registration. (EU / EEA free movement: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland.)

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See also: cheapest countries to live · safest countries · most stable countries · best countries for families · where citizens of Norway can move