Am I allowed to become a Norwegian citizen?
Yes, if you meet the requirements UDI sets under the Citizenship Act. The main rule is 8 of the last 11 years with a residence permit in Norway. If you are married to a Norwegian citizen, the requirement is reduced: 7 years of residence and marriage combined, with at least 3 years of actual residence. You must pass oral Norwegian at level B1 (A2 for some groups, such as those over 55) and the citizenship test, and usually have had sufficient own income in the last year. You must be over 18 with a clarified identity. Here is the misunderstanding: the rule is 8 of the last 11 years, not 8 continuous years — a 2026 proposal for continuous residence has not been adopted. Dual citizenship has been allowed since 1 January 2020.
📋 The rules
- Main rule: 8 of the last 11 years of residence
- Married to a Norwegian: 7 years combined, at least 3 years residence
- Oral Norwegian level B1 (A2 for some)
- Passed the citizenship test and income requirement
- Dual citizenship allowed since 2020
🔓 Exceptions
- Nordic citizens can become citizens by notification with shorter residence (about 2 years)
- Children under 18 can be included in a parent's application with shorter requirements
- Language and test requirements can be waived for Norwegian schooling or health reasons
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Citizenship granted on the basis of false information or withheld facts can be revoked by the authorities, and revocation hits the citizenship itself, not merely the application. That is the expensive end, and it can arrive long after the decision was made. In practice, though, what people meet is the refusal: residence time, the B1 language requirement, the citizenship test and the income requirement must all be met at the same time, and if one fails, it does not help that the others are in order. A clarified identity is a separate condition, and without it the application goes nowhere.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
How long must I have lived in Norway?
The main rule is 8 of the last 11 years with a residence permit. It is not 8 continuous years, and the 2026 proposal for continuous residence has not been adopted — and if you are married to a Norwegian citizen, the requirement can be shorter.
Must I know Norwegian?
Yes. You must pass oral Norwegian at level B1, or A2 for some groups such as those over 55. The requirement can be waived for Norwegian schooling or on health grounds, but that is an exception — the starting point is that the test must be taken.
Can I hold two citizenships?
Yes. Dual citizenship has been allowed in Norway since 1 January 2020, so you do not have to give up the old one. It does not remove any of the other conditions on residence, language and the citizenship test.
What is the requirement for spouses?
7 years of residence and marriage combined, with at least 3 years of actual residence in Norway. The shorter residence replaces the main rule of 8 of 11 years, but the language requirement, the citizenship test and the identity condition apply as usual.
Are there special rules for Nordic citizens?
Yes. Nordic citizens can become citizens by notification with shorter residence, about 2 years, instead of an ordinary application. Children under 18 can also be included in a parent's application on shorter requirements.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “can I become a norwegian citizen”
- “residence 8 of 11 years”
- “oral norwegian b1 citizenship”
- “dual citizenship 2020”
- “citizenship spouse 7 years”
- “citizenship test requirement”