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WHAT CHANGES IN NORWAY

Key points: Everything that changes in Norway in November 2022

From new passport rules, a final decision on tuition fees for international students in Norway and the state budget for 2023, here’s the lowdown on what’s happening in November. 

Pictured is an autumnal setting in Oslo.
Here are the key changes happening in Norway in November. Pictured is an autumnal setting in Oslo. Photo by Lucas Santos on Unsplash

Decision on fees for international students expected

If the government doesn’t pass its budget for 2023 through parliament in October, it will surely pass in November. 

It is currently negotiating with its budgetary party, the Socialist Left Party, to secure majority support for the fiscal plan. 

Should the government and the Socialist Left Party agree on a budget, a final decision on tuition fees for international students will likely be made when the budget is approved. 

When the budget was unveiled, the government said it wanted to implement plans for universities to charge international students’ tuition. 

The Socialist Left Party is opposed to this proposal, so the final budget negotiations will have a big say in whether the policy is implemented. 

Other important matters to be decided in budget talks

Among the other measures which could be set in stone once a budget gets the green light are reducing income tax for those who earn less than 750,000 kroner, more support for young people and parents, reduced unemployment benefits and cheaper ferries. 

For a full rundown of the proposed budget, click here.  

Interest rates to increase

Norway’s central bank, Norges Bank, will likely raise interest rates by another 0.5 percentage points in November. 

It announced the upcoming rate hike in September. A hike in November would take the key policy rate to 2.25 percent. 

As a result of a potential increase, loan and mortgage repayments in Norway will rise too. Interest rates in Norway are currently the highest that they have been for a decade. 

Norges Bank sees interest rate hikes as a remedy to rising inflation. 

Winter tyre time

Motorists in the south will be expected to have made the switch to their winter treads by November 1st if they haven’t already. 

The season for winter treads began on October 16th in the north due to the chillier climate and snow settling sooner. 

In some more remote parts of the country with lots of snowfall and not much road maintenance coverage, you can opt to use studded tyres for more traction.

While changing your tyres may seem tedious, it could save you a small fortune as you can be charged up to 750 kroner per tyre if they aren’t up to scratch

READ ALSO: What you need to know about winter driving in Norway

New passport rules

New rules for issuing documents to children under 18, such as passports and national ID cards, are entering into force in November.

Both parents will have to appear at the passport and ID office within office hours, but they will not have to present themselves at the same time, the police explained.

Legal guardians no longer need to bring a consent form; it will suffice for them to present a passport or national ID card.

Furthermore, appointments won’t have to be booked in advance.

If both parents give permanent consent, the child can have their passport or ID card renewed until they are 18 years old.

Winter sports season begins 

For those who love nothing more than a day on the slopes, then the year will only just begin in November when resorts up and down Norway open up to skiers and snowboarders. 

 When the full season gets underway will depend a lot on when the first snow settles. This could happen anytime from the end of November to mid-December. 

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For members

DISCOVER NORWAY

What’s on in Norway: Ten unmissable events this June

Music and food festivals, Pride parades, and Sankthans are among the many events to look forward to in June in Norway. 

What's on in Norway: Ten unmissable events this June

National Music Day, June 1st 

The Norwegian capital of Oslo will host its free annual music festival at the start of June. More than 50 outdoor stages will be spread across the city, and hundreds of performers will treat Oslo’s residents to all kinds of musical performances. 

Free music will be available everywhere, from pub patios to large stages in parks. The festival’s website provides more information on where the various stages are and who will be performing. 

NEON, June 7th – June 8th 

The NEON music festival in Trondheim has quickly become one of the hottest summer kick-off festivals in Norway since launching in 2022. 

The 2024 edition of NEON will take place on June 7th and 8th in Trondheim’s Bryggeribyen E.C. Dahls Arena. 

2024 festival goers will be able to see Tom Odell, Matoma, Lost Frequencies, Jason Derulo, Benson Boone, Emma Steinbakken, Roc Boyz and many more.

Tickets are already available, and you can choose between a festival pass, daily tickets, or premium ticket options.

Miniøya, June 8th – June 9th 

Since its first edition in 2010, Miniøya has become Norway’s largest music and cultural festival for children. 

The festival is aimed at children up to the age of 12, and its program includes music, theatre, literature, disco, dance, and activities. 

Tickets are still available at the time of writing, and OBOS members receive 100 kroner off the 430 kroner ticket price. 

Oslo Food Festival, June 8th – June 9th

The second weekend in June and the final weekend of August will see the Oslo Food Festival held in trendy Grünerløkka

The festival focuses on foods from around the world. A mix of established and lesser-known restaurants, as well as plenty of home cooks, will be offering up fantastic food. 

For that reason, the event is much a cultural exchange as it is a gathering for foodies. 

Bergenfest, June 12th – June 15th 

It’s not just the capital that will be treated to music festivals in June. Artists such as PJ Harvey, Stormzy, Kaiser’s Orchestra, Jungle and Gabrielle will all take to the stage. 

The festival is being held in Bergenhus Fortress, one of Norway’s oldest and best preserved fortress areas. 

Day passes, weekend passes, and festival passes are all still available at the time of writing

Mablis, June 14th – June 15th 

The music festival, near the centre of Stavanger, aims to blend established acts with new and emerging talent. 

Mablis aims to be an inclusive and sustainable festival, and plenty of local, short-travelled food will be served. 

The festival wants to include the whole family, so there is no age limit. Children under 14 also get to enter the festival free of charge when with an adult. 

OverOslo, June 19th – June 22nd 

Four nights of festival music from acts such as Jungle, Chaka Kahn, Billy Ocean, and plenty of Norway’s biggest funk and pop artists await festivalgoers at the top of Grefsenkollen. 

Tickets for some days are still available at the festival held in the forests above Oslo.  

Sankthans, June 24th 

Sankthans or Jonsok, translated as “John’s wake”, is a Midsummer celebration with both religious and secular roots.

Along with the rest of Scandinavia, it is popular to celebrate with bonfires. In major cities and small towns, the bonfires are typically made along the coastline or in a body of water, and the locals watch from boats or from along the shoreline and bring drinks and snacks. The atmosphere is festive yet relaxed. 

Many Norwegians say that if you sleep with a sankthansblomst or a “red campion flower” underneath your pillow on the night of sankthans, then your future spouse will appear in your dreams.

Pride events 

Norway’s two biggest cities will celebrate Pride in June. Bergen Pride begins at the start of June, and events will continue until the city’s Pride parade on June 8th. 

A number of different events will be held across different venues to mark this year’s celebrations. 

Meanwhile, Norway’s biggest LGBTQ+ celebration, Oslo Pride, will begin on June 19th and end on June 29th. The parade will be held on June 29th.

Gladmat, June 26th – June 29th 

Billing itself as the world’s coolest food festival is Gladmat in Stavanger. The event is Scandinavia’s biggest food festival, and 250,000 visitors will have the opportunity to sample the best flavours from the Stavanger region. 

The festival brings together local food producers, great restaurants and delicious street food. 

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