Living in Norway

Norway fascinates many people with its beauty. Fjords meandering through the country, green mountains – covered in snow in winter – and of course, the beautiful Northern Lights dancing across the night sky. It is only natural that a lot of people dream of living in Norway. Do you want to make this dream come true? We provide you with helpful information about the country itself, but also about living in Norway.

Norway is located on the Scandinavian Peninsula together with Sweden and part of Finland. Norway has 385,207 square metres of land area and has 5.5 million inhabitants. The country is also called the Kingdom of Norway because it is a parliamentary monarchy with King Harald V as head of state. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre is the country’s head of government. Norway is not a member of the European Union but is a member of the Schengen Area and the European Economic Area. This means that the euro is not used in Norway; rather, payment is in Norwegian kroner.

Norway’s natural landscape, flora and fauna has a lot to offer, from fjords to green mountains that are covered in snow in winter, reindeer, moose, whales – if you are a fan of cooler temperatures, Norway is the right place for you.  

Norway stretches all the way to the far north. The northernmost point of the mainland is the North Cape. The Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic Ocean and the island of Jan Mayen also belong to Norway. The country borders Sweden, Finland and Russia on one side and various seas on the other: the Barents Sea, the Norwegian Sea and the North Sea. The inlets of these seas extend far inland – the famous fjords. Norway’s coasts are predominantly rocky and steep. And the rest of the country is also characterised by the Scandinavian Mountains. The tides can also be observed in Norway, but only on the southeast, southwest and northern west coasts.

It is not only the nature of Norway that is unique, but also its climate. The climate in Norway varies greatly due to various factors. Because of the Gulf Stream, Norway experiences much warmer weather than could be expected for these latitudes. In the north down to central Norway a cold-temperate climate prevails, while the south enjoys a cool-temperate climate. The characteristic fjords ensure that even the interior often experiences a coastal climate. However, the interior of the country is also characterised by a continental climate.

The fascinating nature in Norway will entice you to try out many different leisure activities. If you enjoy outdoor activities, you will hit the jackpot with Norway.  

For example, you can go on a hiking or trekking tour. Norway has some outstandingly beautiful hiking trails, for instance to Preikestolen with breathtaking views over the Lysefjord, over the Besseggen ridge or in Jotunheim National Park. You can also get spectacular views on the well-established cycle paths along the coasts.

The many bodies of water in Norway are perfect for other outdoor activities such as kayaking or canoeing, fishing or boat tours through the fjords, for example the Geirangerfjord or the Sognefjord, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You can also go whale watching around Tromsø and Lofoten. Special whale-watching tours are offered to this end.

In winter, you can go skiing and snowboarding in Norway. The ski resorts near Lillehammer, Hemsedal and Trysil are particularly well-known. Or you can go on a dog-sled tour. These are mainly offered in the regions of Tromsø or Finnmark.

In the north of the country, in particular, you can experience the unique natural phenomenon of the Northern Lights in autumn and winter. The regions around Tromsø and Lofoten are best suited for this, too.

Norway’s transport infrastructure relies on all modes of transport due to the country’s typography. The extensive bodies of water in Norway mean that there are many bridges and also underwater tunnels. Water-borne traffic has lost some of its significance, but ferries in particular are still extremely important for the people of Norway.  

Norway also has a rail system, but it does not cover all parts of the country. The main train stations are Oslo, Bergen, Bodø, Stavanger and Kristiansand. There are no nationwide rail connections to Tromsø and Finnmark. For example, if you want to travel from Oslo to Tromsø, you will have to fly. Air traffic in Norway is often used for overland travel. The air travel network is therefore also very well developed. The main airports are in Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim, Tromsø, Bodø, Ålesund, Sandefjord-Torp and Kristiansand.

Norway has one of the highest motorisation rates in Europe. There are three different types of roads: Riksveier (national roads), Fylkesveier (county roads) and municipal roads. You can drive 30 to 50 km/h in built-up areas, 60 to 80 km/h outside built-up areas and 90 to 110 km/h on motorways. Please note that Norway has its own road traffic regulations and it is advisable to inform yourself well beforehand.  

In winter, you should expect road closures in the north of the country due to the weather conditions. Unique to Norway is the phenomenon of kolonnekjøring: convoy driving in mountain passes with a snow plough out directly in front of the cars to clear the road ahead, since it would otherwise be blocked by snow again in a very short time.

An EU driver’s licence allows you to drive in Norway without any problems. You will not even have to have your licence converted if you stay in the country for a longer time.

Norway has an excellent health care system that is extremely social-welfare based. For example, there is no difference between statutory and private health insurance. On the contrary, privately insured people can claim treatment only in private facilities. For this reason, most Norwegians have only statutory health insurance.

Once you live and work in Norway, you will automatically be enrolled in health insurance. Just like in Germany, this is financed by taxes. Nevertheless, you will have to pay 15 euros to see a doctor in Norway as well as bear a share of the costs of medication, up to a maximum of 30 euros. No one in Norway has to pay more than 200 euros a year, however. Once this limit is reached, you can take advantage of the healthcare system for free. The costs for chronic diseases, cancer or palliative treatments are also covered in full.  

In Norway, you also have to be prepared for the fact that specialist practices are not as widespread as in Germany. Moreover, Norwegian children go to the same normal GPs as their parents.

The education system is not comparable to that in Germany. Before emigrating, parents should therefore find out exactly whether their children should attend a Norwegian or an international school.  

In Norway, school attendance is compulsory from six to 16 years of age. Most schools are state-funded and therefore free of charge. Education is comprehensive from the first to the tenth grade.

Primary school: Children attend primary school from the first to the seventh grade. Throughout their time in primary school, students do not receive grades, but rather are given written evaluations.

Middle school or secondary school: Students attend middle school or secondary school from the eighth to the tenth grade. Their academic performance will be graded here for the first time.

After that, children can decide whether they still want to continue their education at upper secondary level, culminating in a university entrance qualification, or to do vocational training instead.

Norway has one of the highest costs of living in Europe. Prices can be twice to three times as high as those in Germany. Prices are especially high in cities like Oslo. As a single person, you should budget about 900 to 1,000 euros for living expenses excluding rental costs in Norway. Moreover, rental costs are also higher than in Germany and roughly comparable to those in cities like Munich. The most expensive city is Oslo, followed by Trondheim and Bergen. If you want to live in a more rural area, the rental costs are significantly lower.

We have all relevant information on emigrating for you: 

• Emigrating to Norway