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MOVING TO NORWAY

EXPLAINED: Where to get free immigration advice in Norway

Navigating Norway's immigration laws can be complex. Fortunately, several organisations provide free guidance to people facing immigration challenges.

Published: 13 February 2024 11:02 CET
Updated: 24 February 2024 11:47 CET
Meeting
Whether you're seeking assistance with family immigration cases, permanent residence permits, or citizenship applications, here's where to look if you need free expert advice. Photo by Amy Hirschi on Unsplash

As is the case in most European countries, immigrants and asylum seekers in Norway are fortunate to have access to a number of organisations dedicated to providing free guidance, support, and legal aid.

Whether you’re seeking assistance with asylum claims, family immigration cases, permanent residence permits, or citizenship applications, here’s where to look if you need free expert advice and support.

READ MORE: Do you need a lawyer in Norway for work permit or residency problems?

Norwegian Organisation for Asylum Seekers (NOAS)

NOAS usually supports people navigating the asylum process in Norway. They specialise in asylum cases and offer legal aid to those whose asylum claims have been rejected by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) or the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE).

Furthermore, NOAS extends its services to family immigration cases, permanent residence permits, and citizenship matters.

You can contact them via phone at +47 22 36 56 60 or through their email at [email protected].

Additionally, if you want to book face-to-face assistance, you can visit NOAS’s office at Torggata 22, Oslo, during office hours.

Jussbuss

Operated by dedicated students in Oslo, Jussbuss is a great resource for people seeking free legal aid, including assistance with immigration-related matters.

Jussbuss accepts new cases and offers guidance on various legal issues through phone consultations (+47 22 84 29 00) or in-person visits during their office hours at Skippergata 23 in Oslo.

They specialise in immigration, labour, debt issues, social security, tenancy, and prison law.

Self-help for Immigrants and Refugees (SEIF)

Launched with the objective of empowering immigrants and refugees, SEIF operates as a voluntary organisation committed to providing support and guidance.

With offices across Norway, SEIF offers a number of services, ranging from information dissemination to assistance with complex immigration matters.

Their areas of assistance include issues with the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV), school, work, residence permits, family reunification, financial problems, forced marriage and honour-related violence, coercion, and more.

They have an open-door policy and commitment to confidentiality.

EXPLAINED: The rules for moving to Norway for work

Other resources

Several other organisations across Norway offer free support for immigration-related issues. These include:

JURK (Juridisk rådgivning for kvinner): Catering specifically to women, JURK provides free legal assistance on a number of issues, including immigration matters, thereby addressing the often unique needs of female immigrants and asylum seekers. Along with free legal aid, JURK examines women’s need for legal assistance, works to improve the legal position of women, and provides practical legal training for law students.

Jussformidlingen: Staffed by students from the University of Bergen Faculty of Law, Jussformidlingen extends its services to people across Norway, leveraging its expertise to offer guidance and assistance on a wide scope of legal issues, including immigration challenges. It aims to provide free legal aid, meet the public demand for legal assistance, and offer law students practical experience opportunities.

Gratis Rettshjelp: Serving as the umbrella organisation for various student legal aid entities, Gratis Rettshjelp coordinates efforts to provide assistance on various matters, including immigration. It receives approximately 20,000 inquiries annually.

Advokatvakten: Offering free legal counsel in multiple cities throughout Norway, Advokatvakten allows people to consult with private lawyers who are members of the Norwegian Bar Association for up to 30 minutes free of charge.

Oslo Kommune Fri Rettshjelp: Exclusive to Oslo residents, this municipal service offers free legal advice from private lawyers funded by the Norwegian government. Appointments can be scheduled via phone, online, or through drop-in hours at their office in Storgata 19, Oslo.

READ MORE: The most common reason Norwegian permanent residence applications are rejected

Caritas Resource Centre: Caritas, an independent humanitarian foundation, operates multiple info centres across Norway, including Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger, and Drammen. Several times a week, they offer free legal assistance with specialised lawyers.

Jushjelpa i Nord-Norge: Catering to residents of northern Norway, this organisation provides legal help facilitated by law students from the University of Tromsø. You can seek their assistance by calling or submitting cases online.

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For members

MOVING TO NORWAY

Five reasons to retire in Norway

With its majestic landscapes, robust health and welfare systems, and overall high quality of life, Norway is a dream retirement country for many. These are the top reasons why it's an excellent pick for retirement.

Published: 8 May 2024 16:08 CEST
Five reasons to retire in Norway

Norway regularly tops the list of dream destinations for retirement.

In 2023, a Natixis study – which examined healthcare offerings and life expectancy, among other things – declared Norway the best country in the world to retire in 2024.

EXPLAINED: Can you move to Norway to retire?

If the idea of spending your retirement years basking in the sun on a tropical beach doesn’t appeal to you, and you’re more drawn to the majestic – and occasionally chilly – landscapes of Norway, there are plenty of reasons to consider this Scandinavian country as your retirement haven.

Whether it’s the allure of its rugged nature, the progressive society, or the robust economy, Norway offers a compelling alternative to the typical retirement settings.

A healthcare system that is (at times) the envy of the world

When it comes to health, it’s hard to find a report that doesn’t describe Norway in outstanding terms on most key indicators.

The latest “Health at a Glance” report from the OECD for 2023 shows that Norway is doing pretty well compared to other countries in terms of both health outcomes and care.

The country outperforms the OECD average in 83 percent of health indicators.

Life expectancy in Norway is 83.2 years, almost three years longer than the OECD average. The rates of preventable and treatable deaths are notably lower in Norway than in most countries, and while a small percentage of Norwegians rate their health as poor, it’s still close to the average.

When it comes to the quality of healthcare, Norway scores better than the OECD average in nearly 58 percent of measured aspects. Every Norwegian is covered when it comes to core healthcare services, and a high percentage of the population is satisfied with the availability and quality of medical care.

Norway also invests heavily in healthcare resources, spending more per capita on health than the OECD average and employing more healthcare professionals.

If you’re curious about what foreigners think about Norway’s healthcare system, make sure to read this article, in which The Local’s readers in Norway share their experiences of the Nordic country’s healthcare system.

Expect a high quality of life

In the 2023 Natixis study, Norway has been ranked as the second-best country globally for quality of life, with exceptionally high scores for safety and environmental quality.

Norway was also recently recognized as the seventh-happiest country in the world according to its 2024 World Happiness Ranking, boasting a happiness score of 7.30.

This rating considers several critical indicators, such as happiness levels, air quality, water and sanitation, overall environmental health, and biodiversity, which collectively paint a pretty positive picture of life in Norway.

Other data sets, such as the one on Numbeo, a global database of user-contributed data about cities and countries, point to a quality of life index score of 190.58.

This score is calculated based on several factors, including purchasing power, safety, climate, cost of living, average commute times, and pollution levels.

However, the relatively high living costs remain one of the main pain points for most people moving to Norway.

It’s a safe country

In the 2023 Global Peace Index, Norway ranked 24th out of 163 countries – a pretty solid position, given that 1 represents the most peaceful and 163 the least.

While it didn’t top the charts like its Nordic neighbours Iceland, Denmark, and Finland, who came in at 1st, 2nd, and 13th, respectively, Norway still outpaced Sweden, which landed at 28th.

IN STATS: How safe is Norway in comparison to similar countries?

Despite dropping six spots from the year before, Norway remained among the top 15 safest countries in Europe, ranking 15th out of 36.

Norway is viewed as relatively peaceful, scoring 1.314 out of 5 in perceived criminality. This is comparable to Denmark’s score and better than Sweden’s, showing a low level of crime compared to many of its peers.

Norway also boasts an impressive record in handling violent crime, scoring the best possible mark, 1 out of 5, which it shares with other Nordic countries, although Sweden scored slightly higher at 2.

The country’s low homicide rate further underscores its peaceful standing. According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Norway had only 0.5 homicides per 100,000 people in 2021, placing it 180th among 205 countries worldwide.

This rate is less than half of those seen in neighbouring Finland and Sweden and even lower than in Denmark.

A clean – and beautiful – natural environment

Norway consistently ranks as one of the cleanest countries in the world.

In 2020, it secured the 8th spot on the 2020 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) with an EPI score of 77.7, and in 2022, it was in 20th place on the same index with an EPI score of 59.30 out of 180 countries.

This index evaluates how effectively countries maintain air, land, and water quality to enhance human health.

With a high EPI score, Norway stands out as environmentally conscious. It is often commended for its efforts to protect natural resources, with a strong focus on marine ecosystems (despite its status as an oil industry titan).

Beyond its environmental efforts, Norway’s natural beauty is virtually unparalleled, offering some of the most spectacular landscapes in the world.

The country is home to the pristine fjords of its west coast, such as Geirangerfjord and Sognefjord, renowned for their deep blue waters and steep cliffs.

The Lofoten Islands in the north provides a stunning display of islets, mountains, and picturesque fishing villages (if you’re planning a trip to the archipelago, you can find The Local’s recommendations on some of the best things to do here).

Additionally, Norway’s ancient forests and numerous lakes add to its diverse natural attractions, making it not only one of the cleanest but also one of the most visually captivating places on earth.

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