Oslo Expat Guide: Moving & Living as a Foreigner
Oslo welcomes over 200,000 international residents (28% of population), making it one of Europe's most diverse capitals. Known for excellent quality of life, work-life balance, safety, and English proficiency, Oslo offers expats a smooth transition despite high costs and dark winters. This comprehensive guide covers everything from visas and housing to integration and daily expat life in Norway's capital.
Visa & Residence Permits
EU/EEA/Nordic Citizens
Right to live and work: Automatic under freedom of movement. No visa needed, can stay indefinitely.
- Registration: Register with police after 3 months if staying longer
- D-number: Get temporary ID number from Tax Office for work/banking
- Personal number: Permanent ID after registering address
- Health coverage: Use European Health Insurance Card initially
Process time: Same-day registration possible. Official info: UDI.no (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration).
Non-EU/EEA Citizens
Residence permit required. Must apply before arrival (from home country). Multiple pathways:
Work Permit (Skilled Workers):
- Need job offer before applying
- Employer must demonstrate can't find Norwegian/EU worker
- Salary must meet Norwegian standards (varies by field)
- Processing time: 2-6 months
- Cost: 6,300 NOK application fee
Student Permit:
- Acceptance letter from Norwegian university required
- Prove financial means: 139,200 NOK/year (2025)
- Can work 20 hours/week during studies, full-time summer
- Processing time: 1-3 months
- Can apply for work permit after graduation
Family Immigration:
- Join Norwegian citizen/resident spouse/partner
- Strict requirements: relationship verification, income, housing
- May require Norwegian language test
- Processing time: 6-12+ months
All applications via UDI.no. Detailed job guide: Jobs in Oslo.
Permanent Residence
After 3 years of continuous residence with valid permit, can apply for permanent residence.
- Requirements: Norwegian language (B1 level), passed citizenship test, no serious crimes
- Benefits: No renewal needed, easier to change jobs, path to citizenship
- Citizenship: Available after 7 years total residence (3 years permanent + 4 years temp)
Finding Housing
Rental Market Reality
Oslo's rental market is competitive, expensive, and challenging for newcomers. Plan accordingly:
- Average rent: 12,000-18,000 NOK/month for 2-bedroom apartment
- Deposit: 2-3 months rent upfront
- Competition: Good apartments rent within days, sometimes hours
- Language barrier: Many ads in Norwegian only
- Credit check: Landlords require income proof, references
Main Rental Platforms:
- Finn.no: Largest platform (Norwegian interface, use translator)
- Hybel.no: Rooms and apartments, student-focused
- Housing Facebook groups: "Housing in Oslo", "Oslo Apartments"
- Expat housing services: Paid services help find apartments
Full rental guide: Renting in Oslo. Market overview: Oslo housing.
Temporary Accommodation
Most expats need temporary housing (1-3 months) while finding permanent apartment:
- Airbnb: Expensive long-term (20,000+ NOK/month) but flexible
- Hostels with private rooms: Budget option while searching
- Corporate housing: If company provides, use it
- Sublease: Facebook groups, short-term rentals
- Hotel monthly rates: Some hotels offer extended-stay discounts
Best Neighborhoods for Expats
Detailed comparison: Oslo neighborhoods.
Essential Administrative Steps
1. Personal Number (Personnummer)
11-digit ID number essential for everything: banking, phone, healthcare, work.
- Where: Tax Office (Skatteetaten)
- Need: Passport, residence permit, rental contract
- Time: 2-4 weeks processing
- Crucial: Can't open bank account without it
2. Bank Account
Norwegian bank account needed for salary, rent payments, daily life.
- Major banks: DNB, Nordea, Sparebank 1, Danske Bank
- Requirements: Personal number, proof of address, ID
- Services: Mobile banking excellent (Vipps payment app universal)
- Fees: 200-400 NOK/year for basic account
3. Health Insurance
Everyone in Norway entitled to healthcare through National Insurance Scheme.
- Automatic: Coverage starts when registered with personal number
- GP (Fastlege): Register with local doctor (free)
- Costs: GP visit 200-300 NOK, specialist 400-500 NOK
- Annual cap: 3,315 NOK (2025), then free for rest of year
- Prescriptions: Subsidized, annual cap applies
4. Phone & Internet
Mobile: Telenor, Telia, Ice most popular. Prepaid SIM cards available without personal number.
- Cost: 200-400 NOK/month for unlimited data
- Internet: Usually included in rent or 300-600 NOK/month
- Coverage: Excellent nationwide, high-speed 5G in Oslo
5. Transportation
Public transport excellent, car unnecessary in Oslo.
- Ruter app: All public transport tickets, journey planning
- Monthly pass: 820 NOK adults, 410 NOK students/seniors
- City bikes: Oslo Bysykkel, 399 NOK/season
- Driving: Exchange foreign license within 3 months or retake test
Full guide: Oslo transport.
6. Norwegian Language
Not required for daily life (English widely spoken) but helps integration and career.
- Free courses: Available through NAV for residence permit holders
- Levels: A1-B2 offered, takes 1-2 years part-time
- Private classes: Folkeuniversitetet, Alfaskolen (paid)
- Apps: Duolingo, Memrise for self-study
Working as an Expat
Job Market for Foreigners
Oslo's job market is strong but competitive. Best opportunities in tech, engineering, healthcare, finance, oil/gas.
High-demand fields for expats:
- IT/Software: High demand, English-speaking roles common, 600,000-900,000 NOK/year
- Engineering: Petroleum, marine, energy sectors, 650,000-1,000,000 NOK/year
- Healthcare: Doctors, nurses (license required), 550,000-850,000 NOK/year
- Finance/Consulting: International firms, English environment, 650,000-1,200,000 NOK/year
- Academia: Universities, research, English-language positions, 500,000-750,000 NOK/year
Job search platforms:
- Finn.no: Largest Norwegian job board
- LinkedIn: Very active in Norway, essential for networking
- NAV.no: Public employment service
- The Hub: English-language job platform for foreigners
- Company websites: Apply directly to international companies
Complete job guide: Jobs in Oslo.
Work Culture
Norwegian work culture differs significantly from many countries:
- Flat hierarchy: Bosses and employees on first-name basis, open communication
- Work-life balance: Strict 37.5-hour weeks, leaving at 4 PM normal
- Vacation: Minimum 25 days/year, most take full 5 weeks
- Parental leave: 49 weeks full pay or 59 weeks 80% pay, shared between parents
- Punctuality: Being on time extremely important
- Direct communication: Norwegians value honesty, directness
- Consensus: Decision-making collaborative, slower process
- No overtime culture: Expected to finish work in regular hours
Cost of Living for Expats
Monthly Budget Breakdown (Single Person)
Family of 3: Budget 40,000-55,000 NOK/month. Detailed breakdown: Oslo cost of living.
Money-Saving Tips for Expats
- Shop at budget supermarkets: Rema 1000, Kiwi (30% cheaper than Meny)
- Cook at home: Restaurant meals 250-400 NOK, groceries much cheaper
- Buy alcohol in Sweden: Border shopping saves 30-50% (if you have car)
- Use "Allemannsretten": Free access to nature, hiking, camping, foraging
- Take advantage of free activities: Museums have free days, parks free always
- Avoid taxis: Very expensive, use public transport
- Share housing: Roommates can cut rent by 40-50%
Expat Community & Social Life
Making Friends & Integration
Challenge: Norwegians are friendly but reserved. Making close friends takes time and effort.
Strategies for social integration:
- Join clubs/activities: Sports, hiking groups, language exchange meetups
- Workplace socialization: Attend office events, after-work drinks
- Learn Norwegian: Shows commitment, opens doors to local friendships
- Volunteer: Charities, community organizations welcome foreigners
- Attend expat events: Easier initial connections, can lead to local friends
- Be patient: Norwegian friendships develop slowly but are deep/lasting
Expat Groups & Resources
Online communities:
- Facebook: "Americans in Oslo", "Expats in Oslo", "New in Oslo"
- InterNations: Large expat network, regular events
- Meetup.com: Various interest groups, language exchanges
- Reddit r/Oslo: Active community, helpful locals and expats
Organizations:
- International Women in Oslo: Networking, social events
- Oslo Expat Community: Regular meetups, cultural events
- American Chamber of Commerce: Professional networking
- Various national associations: British Club, French Society, etc.
Families & Children
Oslo is excellent for families with world-class education, safety, childcare support.
- International schools: Oslo International School, British International School (expensive: 100,000-200,000 NOK/year)
- Public schools: Free, high quality, but Norwegian language
- Kindergarten (barnehage): Subsidized, ~3,000 NOK/month max, spots competitive
- Parental benefits: Generous leave, child allowance (1,676 NOK/month per child)
- Family activities: Abundant parks, playgrounds, family-friendly culture
Family guide: Oslo with kids.
Challenges & How to Overcome Them
Challenge 1: Dark Winters
Reality: 6 hours daylight in December, can cause seasonal depression.
Solutions:
- Take Vitamin D supplements (essential)
- Light therapy lamp for mornings
- Embrace winter sports (skiing, makes winter enjoyable)
- Plan sunny vacation in January/February
- Stay active, maintain social connections
Challenge 2: High Cost of Living
Reality: Oslo among world's most expensive cities.
Solutions:
- Negotiate good salary (600,000+ NOK minimum for comfortable life)
- Follow money-saving tips (budget supermarkets, cook home)
- Remember: High salaries offset high costs
- Quality of life benefits worth the expense
Challenge 3: Reserved Social Culture
Reality: Norwegians can seem cold, making friends difficult.
Solutions:
- Don't take it personally (cultural norm, not about you)
- Join clubs, activities for structured social interaction
- Build expat network while developing local friendships
- Learn Norwegian (huge help for integration)
- Be patient, persistent
Challenge 4: Bureaucracy
Reality: Norwegian bureaucracy slow, many steps required.
Solutions:
- Start processes early (permits, registrations take weeks/months)
- Keep copies of all documents
- Use employer's HR or relocation services if available
- Ask expats who've been through it for advice
Pros & Cons: Expat Life in Oslo
Pros
- ✓ Excellent quality of life, work-life balance
- ✓ Safe, clean, well-organized city
- ✓ High salaries, strong economy
- ✓ English widely spoken (90%+ proficiency)
- ✓ Great public services (healthcare, schools, transport)
- ✓ Beautiful nature access, outdoor lifestyle
- ✓ Gender equality
- ✓ Family-friendly policies
- ✓ Low crime, high trust society
- ✓ Good expat community
Cons
- ✗ Very high cost of living
- ✗ Dark, cold winters (can be depressing)
- ✗ Difficult to make local friends
- ✗ Expensive housing, competitive rental market
- ✗ High taxes (30-40% income tax)
- ✗ Slow bureaucracy
- ✗ Reserved social culture
- ✗ Expensive alcohol, nightlife
- ✗ Distance from rest of Europe
- ✗ Need car to explore beyond Oslo