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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

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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