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NORWEGIAN CITIZENSHIP

How many Norwegian citizenship applications are rejected each year?

While most Norwegian citizenship applications get approved, not everyone is successful in their bid to become a citizen of Norway. We look at the latest figures and the most common reasons behind the rejections.

Published: 3 April 2023 10:46 CEST
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Thousands of citizenship applications get rejected each year in Norway. Image by tespeseth from Pixabay

After spending some time in Norway, many immigrants start thinking about Norwegian citizenship – especially now that dual citizenship is also available.

There are plenty of benefits that come with Norwegian citizenship, which we cover in more detail here.

However, the process of getting citizenship can be an uphill battle, and even if you try your best to fulfil all the prerequisites and pass all the tests, you might not make it.

Thousands of applications get rejected each year

If your citizenship application does get rejected, know that you’re not alone.

“A total of 39,246 people were granted Norwegian citizenship in 2022, and 2,452 applications were rejected,” Per-Jan Brekke, a press and public relations team leader at the Norwegian Directorate for Immigration (UDI), told The Local Norway.

According to Brekke, the most common reason behind rejected applications is not passing the required tests – such as the citizenship test, the test in social studies in Norwegian, or the oral test in Norwegian.

However, while failing a test is the most prevalent one, there are also other reasons why people’s applications get rejected, including not completing training in Norwegian or mandatory training in Norwegian and social studies, not meeting the residence time requirement, or committing various criminal offences.

Brekke also pointed out that not meeting the permanent residence permit or right of residence conditions, not being at least 12 years of age, or not suitably clarifying your identity are also among common roadblocks to getting citizenship.

Re-applying for citizenship

And now, some good news. In Norway, even if your first application is rejected, you can apply for citizenship again.

Furthermore, as Oda Gilleberg at the UDI told The Local in December of 2022, “there is no upper limit to how many times a person may re-apply.”

The most important thing is to attentively read the rejection letter that you will receive from the Norwegian authorities, as it will specify which requirements you need to meet before you re-apply.

Once you’re confident you tick all the boxes, you can try again.

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For members

RESIDENCY PERMITS

How Norway’s permanent residence rules have been tweaked

The rules for permanent residence in Norway have undergone a slight change to try and simplify the application process. 

Published: 19 April 2024 15:37 CEST
Updated: 24 April 2024 12:37 CEST
How Norway’s permanent residence rules have been tweaked

Permanent residence allows holders to live and work in Norway indefinitely and simplifies life by eliminating permit renewals and conditions such as needing to hold a specific type of job. 

Depending on your situation, you can apply for permanent residence after three or five years of living in Norway. 

The process for those who moved to Norway under the EU/EEA registration scheme can apply for the “permanent right of residence” under the Freedom of Movement rules. This doesn’t come with many rules other than residing in Norway for five years. 

The application for those from outside the EEA is a bit more stringent. You will need to have held a residence permit that qualifies you for permanent residency for three or five years. 

Most applicants will be eligible after three years, as this requirement applies to those with family and work permit holders. 

New rules on financial support 

Norway’s Directorate of Immigration has removed the financial support requirement as of April 18th, 2024. 

“The change comes in the wake of UDI’s work to identify and propose possible simplifications in the current regulations, with the intention of streamlining case processing and obtaining a more digitisation-friendly regulation,” the UDI wrote on its website. 

The rule required applicants to have not received financial benefits under the Social Services Act. Under this rule, applicants would have had to submit a document stating they had not received assistance. 

This is no longer necessary for applications submitted on or before this date. 

However, the income rule remains. This applies to those aged between 18 and 67 and requires applicants to have had an income of at least 296,550 kroner over the previous twelve months. 

What are the other rules? 

The other rules for permanent residence will remain the same. These require you not to have been convicted of a criminal offence or ordered to undergo enforced psychiatric treatment or care. 

You will also need to have completed mandatory tuition in the Norwegian language and social studies or document that you have been granted an exception. 

If you can document that you have all four parts of the Norwegian language test at A2 level: oral, listening, reading, and written presentation and that you have passed the social studies test in Norwegian, then you will be exempt. 

This is all in addition to having met the requirements for the residence permit that you held prior to applying for permanent residence. 

The UDI has a wizard that will give you an overview of the specific requirements that will apply to your situation. 

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