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NORWAY EXPLAINED

Are the children of foreigners in Norway subject to compulsory military service?

Norway is one of several countries in Europe that has compulsory military service in peacetime conditions. However, does that apply to children in Norway with foreign parents?

Published: 14 March 2023 15:33 CET
Military
As per Norway's Conscription and Service in the Armed Forces Act, the key factor that decides the service obligation is the citizenship of the person in question. Photo by Diego González on Unsplash

If you moved to Norway from another country and you plan to start a family here, you’ll likely be interested in whether your children will have to carry out military service.

After all, Norway has compulsory military service ingrained in its Constitution, which states:

“As a general rule, every subject of the State is equally bound to serve in defence of their country for a specific period of time…”

Generally speaking, you become subject to conscription during the year you reach 19 years of age, and service includes a period of initial service, refresher training, and possible additional service in peacetime.

But do these rules and obligations apply to children in Norway with one or two parents who are foreigners?

Foreign nationals in Norway and military service obligations

As per Norway’s Conscription and Service in the Armed Forces Act, the key factor that decides the service obligation is the citizenship of the person in question.

You’ll be subject to conscription if you’re a Norwegian citizen and fit for service in the Armed Forces from the year you turn 19.

The requirement applies to both men and women (although women born before January 1st, 1997, are excluded from conscription). If your child has one Norwegian parent and was born in the country, they are likely a Norwegian citizen already. 

Every 19-year-old individual, regardless of gender, must attend a muster at a military facility. Out of the entire group, each year, approximately one-sixth are selected to serve in the military without compensation for a period ranging from one year to 19 months. Generally, those without an interest in military service won’t be asked to serve. However, if they do receive a call up, this will be mandatory. 

Norwegian citizens who are also citizens of another country are subject to conscription in Norway as long as they are resident here and as long as there is no agreement in place with the other government that prevent such service.

Furthermore, Norwegian citizens who are also – or have been – citizens of a country with which Norway is at war are exempt from service in the Armed Forces.

Foreign nationals who reside in Norway and have a permanent connection to Norway may be required to carry out military service if no agreement with the country of which they are citizens prevents this.

Therefore the children of foreigners in Norway who have not taken up citizenship are less likely to get called up. 

Some exemptions

However, there are some exceptions to this rule.

Foreign nationals are exempt from service in the Armed Forces when Norway is at war with the country of which they are citizens.

Also, as the relevant regulation states, conscription does not apply to ordained priests in the Church of Norway and priests and religious officials in registered spiritual and religious communities who have not served in the Armed Forces.

Furthermore, the King of Norway can issue regulations on conditions for and exemptions from conscription.

Conclusion

So, will your children be subject to conscription in Norway if you’re a foreign national?

The most likely answer is – yes, they will if they’re a Norwegian citizen residing in this country. 

As the Norwegian Armed Forces point out on their website, Norway has vast land areas and a long coastline, and, therefore, conscripts are considered an essential part of the country’s defence.

If you have any questions about military service, you can contact the Norwegian Armed Forces directly.

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NORWAY EXPLAINED

The things you won’t see in Norway that are common elsewhere

When you move to (or visit) a new country, you almost inevitably encounter a bit of culture shock - or, at the very least, some surprising social norms and experiences.

Published: 22 April 2024 15:50 CEST
The things you won't see in Norway that are common elsewhere

Moving to Norway – or just visiting it as a tourist – offers no shortage of incredible sights and experiences that you’ll struggle to find anywhere else.

However, among these features lie several elements of European urban life that are conspicuously absent from life in Norway, drawing curious glances from visitors accustomed to their presence elsewhere.

With that in mind, The Local has compiled a list of things you might find noticeably – and somewhat oddly – missing from day-to-day life in Norway.

A (mostly) cashless society

In a world where cash is king, many newcomers to Norway remain baffled by the apparent absence of cash in everyday transactions.

In most Norwegian cities, it’s not uncommon for people to see entire months pass without a single physical coin or banknote changing hands.

Instead, most people use electronic payment methods such as the widespread Vipps e-payment app, mobile payments, and contactless cards, effectively rendering cash obsolete in many scenarios.

Ordering takeout? There’s Vipps.

Going shopping? You pay via card.

Paying the mortgage rate? Online banking.

Donating at church? Vipps again.

As Håkon Fyhn, an associate professor at NTNU who researches robotisation, digitisation, and automation, told The Local in a recent interview, Norwegian society is characterised by a high level of trust in government and banks, so people don’t use cash because they trust digital money.

EXPLAINED: The pros and cons of Norway going cashless

“The short answer is that for most people in Norway, there are now digital alternatives that are more convenient to use and readily available – notably credit cards (on plastic or phone) and Vipps (a Norwegian phone-based money transfer service) for small and medium exchanges,” he said.

Homeless people in Norway

Wandering the streets of most of Norway’s cities, you’ll likely notice the absence of a demographic that tends to be, unfortunately, quite present in urban landscapes in Europe – homeless people.

Homelessness has significantly declined in Norway since 2012, with numbers halving, according to recent data.

This reduction can be attributed to a concerted strategy that emphasises the development of housing and support services, alongside the cultivation of expertise in addressing homelessness, as reported in a 2022 article by Husbanken Norway.

Efforts have been particularly targeted at vulnerable groups within the housing market, with a specific focus on families with children and people grappling with substance abuse and mental health issues.

According to a national survey on homelessness in Norway conducted in 2020, the total number of homeless people was 3,325.

Considering the country’s population of approximately 5,400,000 inhabitants, this is a rate of 0.62 homeless persons per 1,000 inhabitants, which is considered relatively low.

No piles of trash on the street (for the most part)

While bustling tourist hubs – such as the Lofoten Islands in the north of Norway or the Trolltunga rock formation in Vestland Country – can become full of trash in peak tourism season, generally speaking, Norway’s streets tend to be very clean compared to some other European countries.

With a deeply ingrained culture of personal responsibility for waste management, many Norwegians maintain their urban environments to a very high standard, making ugly piles of trash a rare sight.

READ MORE: What you need to know about rubbish and recycling in Norway

The widespread adage is to leave every place cleaner than how you found it. Therefore, don’t be surprised when you see picking up others’ litter in the woods, on hikes, or on walks through their neighbourhoods.

That being said, there is a very intense debate on the over-tourism of Norway’s top attractions – and the negative impacts of this phenomenon – going on in the country at the moment. The Local has covered this issue in more detail in this article.

Few skyscrapers

Norway’s skyline starkly contrasts the towering cityscapes synonymous with many other Western countries.

Even in Oslo, the country’s capital, strict building limits curtail the construction of skyscrapers. Instead, the cityscape is usually dominated by low to mid-rise buildings.

The situation is more or less the same in other major Norwegian cities, such as Bergen, Stavanger, and Trondheim.

Furthermore, as Norway is spread across vast stretches of land, its population is thinly scattered across the expansive terrain.

Therefore, historically, the necessity for towering skyscrapers to make use of urban real estate hasn’t been pressing, given the abundance of space available (outside major urban centres).

READ MORE: Property prices in Norway to surge over the next few years

Factors such as population pressure, limited supply, and growing demand in the real estate market in the country’s major cities are raising questions about whether this should continue.

Where are the curtains?

Another curious absence that might go unnoticed until pointed out is the absence of curtains on the windows of Norwegian homes.

Unlike in many other countries, where curtains are a common decoration for privacy, Norway’s residents often forego this conventional window dressing, preferring unrestricted views of the surrounding landscapes and prioritising more natural light during the day.

Interestingly, the prevalence of curtains varies across different districts and neighbourhoods, with areas with higher populations of international residents at times featuring a higher concentration of curtain-clad windows.

This may stem from a desire to cater to the preferences of those accustomed to the conventional use of curtains for privacy.

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