Norway permanent residence: language and test requirements

If you are between 18 and 67, a permanent residence permit needs two passed tests: an oral Norwegian test at A2 or higher, and samfunnskunnskapsprøven, the social studies test, in a language you understand.

You no longer have to complete the Norwegian or social studies courses. The requirement is the test result, not the attendance. Transitional rules apply if your police appointment was booked earlier, so check UDI's pages for the dates in your own case.

• Oral Norwegian test at A2 or higher.
• Social studies test — any of the 23 test languages counts for permanent residence.
• No requirement to have completed the Norwegian or social studies course.

The two applications ask for the same two kinds of proof, but citizenship sets stricter requirements on both.

Until 1 September 2025 the rule was about courses: you documented that you had completed training in Norwegian and in social studies. From that date the rule is about results. UDI requires a passed oral Norwegian test at level A2 or higher, plus a passed social studies test in a language you understand. It applies to applicants aged 18 to 67.

Two transitional rules apply. If your appointment with the police was before 1 September 2025, the oral Norwegian requirement stays at A1. If your application was registered before 24 August 2025 but your appointment falls on or after 1 September, A1 still applies. Applications registered on 24 August 2025 or later, with an appointment from 1 September, are assessed against A2. Because the outcome turns on two dates, confirm yours with UDI before you book anything.

UDI grants an exemption when you can document Norwegian skills another way, or a reason you cannot sit the test. School results are the most common route: a grade of 2 or higher in Norwegian or Sámi from primary, lower secondary or upper secondary school, or in both oral and written Norwegian in Module 4 of preparatory education for adults.

University-level study also counts, as does a formal assessment of prior learning in Norwegian or Sámi from primary, lower secondary or upper secondary school. Separately, your municipality can grant an exemption, and so can documented health reasons, personal circumstances or other compelling reasons — UDI names chronic or serious illness, reading and writing difficulties, and little or no schooling.

• Grade 2 or higher in Norwegian or Sámi from Norwegian school, or in Module 4 of adult preparatory education.
• At least 30 ECTS in Norwegian or Sámi at university level, or meeting the Norwegian-language admission requirement for higher education.
• An exemption granted by your municipality, or documented health or other compelling reasons.

The social studies test has its own, shorter list. A grade of 2 or higher in social studies from lower or upper secondary school exempts you, and so does a formal assessment of prior learning in the subject from primary, lower secondary or upper secondary school.

At university level the threshold is 10 ECTS credits in social studies covering Norway. As with the language test, a municipal exemption is possible, and documented health reasons, personal circumstances or other compelling reasons can exempt you from the test. The two exemptions are assessed separately — being exempt from one does not exempt you from the other.

• Grade 2 or higher in social studies from lower or upper secondary school.
• At least 10 ECTS in social studies about Norway at university level.
• An exemption granted by your municipality, or documented health or other compelling reasons.

For permanent residence, the language of the social studies test does not matter. You choose from 23 languages at the test centre, and English is as valid as Norwegian. The test itself is the same either way: 38 questions, 60 minutes, 26 correct answers to pass, with 34 questions scored.

Citizenship is stricter. There the knowledge requirement is met only by statsborgerprøven or by samfunnskunnskapsprøven taken in Norwegian, and the oral Norwegian requirement rises to B1 for most applicants. So if citizenship is likely later, sitting the social studies test in Norwegian now saves you a second sitting. The comparison guide sets the two knowledge tests side by side, and statsborgerprøven vs norskprøven explains how the language requirement fits in.