Checklist: Things to do before moving to Norway.
If you are moving to Norway, there are a lot of things to do before boarding that plane up North! This may seem banal, but going over the list can be helpful.
There is probably much more you need to do than what is written here – this is just for starters. If you recently moved to or from the area and have some tips or ideas to share, please do!
● Contact the Norwegian Embassy or Consulate and ask for the latest information on the formalities you need to accomplish to live, study or work in Norway.
● Contact the Secretary or Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your current country of residence and home country to find out about any special bilateral arrangements it may have for its citizens living, working or studying in Norway.
● Ensure you have a full valid passport and citizenship papers or national identity card (EU Only)
● Be sure you have copies of birth, adoption, relationship status (marriage and divorce papers and certificates).
● Dependants: Bring all legal paperwork related to custody or guardianship of children in your care, as well as other legal documents such as powers of attorney, wills, real estate deeds and mortgage records.
● Income tax records may be useful when filing your first Norwegian tax return.
● You will need recent bank statements and and employment history when applying for housing loans in Norway. Especially these days!
● Dental and medical records, immunization records, social security (national) numbers and records.
● Bring copies of educational certificates and qualifications. Many Norwegian employers require these when applying to jobs.
● You will absolutely need school certificates and records as well as a letter of reference from your childrens school. The Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance verifies foreign certificates.
● Get temporary coverage from your current medical insurance company to tide you over until you sign up with the Norwegian system. Many Europeans have a six-month grace period on their national insurance schemes.
● Taking your car? You will need the legal documents for the car’s ownership and registration, a certificate of conformity for Norwegian driving conditions issued by the manufacturer (this can also be done in Norway but is much more expensive than anywhere), proof of insurance and of course your driver’s licenses.
Before importing your car, contact the folks at toll.no to ascertain the charges you will pay when importing your vehicle to Norway. Then decide if it is worth it or not. Most decide it is not.
● For pets start the process for pet passports early! “Certificates of good health” must be issued no more than eight days before arrival and a recent rabies certificate (dated not less than one month and not more than one year before arrival) and a titer-certificate are required.**
● Bring multiple sets of passport-sized photos for you and your family. You can also have these made in Norway at the police station but they are likely much more expensive to make here.
It may be helpful to learn a bit about Norway before packing up and moving, too!
**You need four months minimum to fulfill the titer serum requirements so don’t wait until the last moment. Many expats end up having to leave their pets behind with friends or relative while the paperwork processes. It seems to be easier to travel on the same plane as your pet than shipping them separately. If your pet is big (German Shepard sized), KLM may be the only airline that can accommodate your animal due to their larger aircraft doors.