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MOVING TO NORWAY

Is it worth trying to secure a home before being granted residence in Norway?

When moving to Norway, you’ll want to hit the ground running and tick some of the biggest boxes off your checklist ahead of moving. So, will trying to get on the property ladder or securing a let be worth the legwork?

Published: 2 February 2024 13:58 CET
Pictured is a housing block in Oslo.
Is it worth trying to find a place to live before your residence has already been granted? Pictured is a housing block in Oslo. Photo by Artur Alexander Holmski on Unsplash

Finding a place to live when moving to another country is one of the most important aspects of actually making the move.

Furthermore, finding suitable accommodation in a location you like is crucial to your chances of making the most of the move, because if you don’t like where you live, you’ll likely find it impossible to settle.

Many like to fix as much as possible ahead of time. Trying to get ahead of the game and securing a place to live is a smart way to try and check one of the biggest boxes off your to-do list.

Finding a place to rent

This will be much more straightforward than buying. If you’ve previously lived in Norway or have a Norwegian partner, this will also be relatively straightforward.

Firstly, it means one, or both, of you will have a national identity number and an electronic ID, like BankID. This will make signing paperwork and using some of Norway’s most popular rental platforms possible.

Secondly, having some Norwegian language skills means you will likely have more chance of hearing back from a landlord. In a survey among our readers, many revealed they were ignored when sending messages in English.

Finding a place will be harder if you don’t meet these criteria. Being unable to fill out paperwork on the most popular rental platforms will make things much harder.

Still, there are ways around this. Firstly, if you are moving to Norway for work reasons, your company may set you up with an apartment for the first few weeks and months of the move and generally help you relocate.

If not, there are relocation services that will help you find a place to rent in Norway. However, these services charge fees and will add to your relocation costs.

READ ALSO: Five common rental scams in Norway and how to avoid them

Buying a home

Non-residents can indeed buy a home in Norway. However, the process of doing so is actually quite difficult.

Getting a mortgage while not being a resident in Norway is almost impossible, although if you are relocating with a Norwegian partner, this might be easier.

Then you’ll need a lawyer or estate agent to represent you in the process and help you work around the fact that you likely won’t have the required paperwork to put in house bids via the traditional avenues.

Using such services pushes up the price of purchasing property, and in the short term, it might not work out as beneficial as just finding a short-term rental when you first arrive in the country.

READ MORE: Can non-residents buy property in Norway?

Are there any risks to trying to find a place before being granted residence?

The most obvious risk is if your residence isn’t granted. This means you’ll be stuck with significant costs for a home you don’t have the right to live in.

Then there are the extra expenses involved with using lawyers or a relocation service to help find you a home. This may end up being an expense that isn’t worth the convenience. Although, if you have children, perhaps having housing sorted when you arrive is worth the outlay.

If you are not located in Norway while waiting for your residence to go through, there are several risks. If you aren’t there in person, you can’t get a feel for the surrounding area and whether or not you like the area.

You may also notice things about the property you may not like or issues that weren’t fully disclosed before you moved in.

If you can’t physically go to the property viewing, there is always the chance that someone could be scamming you, but a relocation service should help eliminate this risk.

When arranging housing before being granted residence, you should also be wary of trying not to rush into something just to feel on top of things. Like many things in life, it might be best to exercise caution.

What’s the best solution?

Trying to buy a home outright before being granted residence is probably not the best solution.

For workers being posted to Norway, a relocation company hired on behalf of your firm should take care of the most stressful aspects of finding a home.

In many cases, they will find temporary accommodation before assisting with a permanent solution. If you are in a position to make the most of this opportunity, then it’s a no-brainer.

If you can’t have a relocation service sort the worst logistics for you, then it may be worth focusing on a short-term solution. This will give you the chance to gather everything you need for something more permanent down the line.

There are plenty of sites that advertise solely short-term lets of between one to six months, such as Hybel or Finn. However, the issue with this option is the same as that of other solutions, as you may need the required documentation and digital access to fill out the paperwork.

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For members

MOVING TO NORWAY

Six downsides of retiring in Norway

Sometimes, documentaries and publications romanticise retiring in Norway. While the Scandinavian country can be a great place to retire, it comes with its own challenges that you should carefully consider.

Published: 15 May 2024 16:13 CEST
Six downsides of retiring in Norway

Before we dive into the drawbacks of retiring in Norway, it’s only fair to recognise the country’s many attractions for prospective retirees.

With its generous welfare system and top-notch healthcare, Norway often ranks among the top retirement destinations. A recent Natixis study named it the best country to retire in 2024.

READ MORE: Five reasons to retire in Norway

However, on the flip side, there are several significant downsides that require reflection if you’re considering Norway as your future retirement home.

Norway is (really) expensive

You guessed it – we’re starting this list with an issue that affects everyone who moves to the country (as well as everyone who already calls Norway home): the high living costs.

Norway was considered expensive even before the 2022-2024 cost-of-living crisis rocked Europe, and recent inflation growth has not improved things for consumers.

Norway’s inflation is expected to decrease to around 3 percent by the start of 2025, according to Statistics Norway (SSB).

While this is significantly lower than the peak of 7.5 percent recorded in October 2022, it still surpasses the central bank’s inflation target of 2 percent.

READ MORE: Cost of living: Has inflation in Norway peaked?

Therefore, everyday expenses in Norway, from paying for most services to groceries, can significantly strain retirement budgets, making it challenging for retirees to maintain their desired standard of living after moving to this Scandinavian country.

The expensive housing market – which isn’t expected to improve anytime soon – also poses challenges for retirees looking for accommodation in Norway.

Whether renting or buying, housing costs in the country’s major cities and desirable regions can be very high, forcing retirees to either downsize or relocate to less desirable – often rural – areas.

There’s a language barrier

While Norwegians are generally pretty good at English, especially in urban areas, the dominant language is, unsurprisingly, Norwegian, and it is the official communication medium in the country.

Accessing healthcare services, navigating bureaucratic procedures, and engaging in social interactions with locals will all progress less smoothly if you don’t command the local language.

Therefore, the language barrier can be a significant obstacle for retirees if they don’t speak Norwegian.

This can be particularly hard on retirees seeking meaningful connections and a sense of belonging in their new community. 

So, while English may suffice for basic communication, you may need to become proficient in the local language to integrate into Norwegian society.

The days are dark and short (in the winter)

Another challenge that retirees may face in Norway is the long, dark winters characterised by short daylight hours – especially in the northern regions.

Due to its high latitude, Norway has significantly shorter days and longer periods of darkness during the winter months than many other regions.

EXPLAINED: Can you move to Norway to retire?

This lack of sunlight can impact your mood and energy levels, particularly if you’re accustomed to more daylight throughout the year.

The combination of short days and cold temperatures during the winter months can also limit outdoor activities and recreational opportunities for retirees, so if that’s something you were looking forward to, maybe you should reconsider choosing Norway as your retirement country of choice.

Bergen 1

Bergen, in western Norway, is called Norway’s “Rain Capital”. Photo by ZHANG Shaoqi on Unsplash

It can be very cold and wet

Norway’s climate is often characterised by cold temperatures and abundant rainfall.

Adapting to Norway’s cold and wet climate can be a significant challenge for retirees from warmer climates or regions.

The country experiences long, harsh winters, particularly in the northern regions, and rainy weather is common throughout the year, especially along the coastal areas (think western and central Norway – Bergen and Trondheim are both great examples of big Norwegian cities that are very wet).

Retirees who enjoy spending time outdoors may find it challenging to pursue their favourite activities in Norway’s cold and damp climate, which can leave them feeling frustrated with their retirement experience in the country.

Norway’s climate can also impact the physical health and well-being of retirees, particularly those with pre-existing health or mobility issues.

Geographical isolation…

Isolation – of the geographical kind – can be a significant issue for retirees considering living in Norway, especially if they plan to move to its rural districts.

While the country’s remote landscapes offer stunning natural beauty, these also come with limited access to healthcare and many essential amenities.

READ MORE: The key things you need to know about purchasing property in rural Norway

In rural areas, retirees may be miles away from hospitals and pharmacies, making timely access to healthcare services difficult. This geographical isolation can also pose severe risks for those with chronic medical conditions or mobility issues.

Furthermore, rural living in Norway also often means limited access to banks, grocery stores, and public transportation.

…and dealing with immigration services and bureaucracy

Dealing with immigration services and bureaucracy is never fun, and Norway is no exception to this general rule of life.

The country’s immigration policies and somewhat complex bureaucratic processes can pose obstacles for retirees looking to obtain residency permits and navigate legal requirements in a timely manner.

In addition, retirees from outside the European Union (EU) may face stricter eligibility criteria and longer processing times when applying for residency in Norway, making the entire immigration process even more cumbersome.

The language barrier can further complicate matters, as many official documents and forms may be available only in Norwegian, so you’ll need assistance or translation services.

The bureaucratic process of retiring to Norway may also involve securing and sharing extensive documentation with the authorities, as well as proof of financial stability, including evidence of retirement savings and pension income, so it’s essential to ensure that you have all of this prepared before you initiate the relocation process.

READ ALSO: Is Norway’s immigration process easier for EEA nationals?

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