Do I need the citizenship test? The 18–67 rule, explained

UDI's test requirements apply to citizenship applicants aged 18 to 67. Within that range, you must pass an oral Norwegian test at B1 or higher for most applicants, and either the citizenship test or the social studies test taken in Norwegian.

Outside the 18–67 range, the test requirements do not apply. In some cases UDI can also grant exemptions from the requirements — always check the rules for your own situation on UDI's pages.

• Applies to applicants aged 18–67.
• Language requirement: oral Norwegian at B1 for most applicants.
• Knowledge requirement: citizenship test, or social studies test in Norwegian.

You can document knowledge of Norwegian society in one of two ways: pass statsborgerprøven, or pass samfunnskunnskapsprøven taken in Norwegian. Either satisfies the requirement — you do not need both. Our guide to statsborgerprøven covers the test format and how to prepare for it.

The language of the social studies pass matters. UDI is explicit that a social studies test taken in another language, such as English, must be retaken in Norwegian to count for citizenship. If citizenship is your goal, practise in Norwegian from the start.

The knowledge test is not a language test — the oral Norwegian requirement is separate. Most applicants need a result at B1 or higher on the oral test. Our guide to statsborgerprøven vs norskprøven explains the difference and how to book the language test.

UDI accepts A2 for some groups: stateless applicants, applicants over 55 who came to Norway through protection or resettlement, applicants over 55 receiving disability benefits, and those who applied for citizenship before 1 October 2022.

• Most applicants: oral Norwegian at B1 or higher.
• A2 accepted for: stateless applicants, certain applicants over 55, and pre-October 2022 applications.
• The knowledge test itself is at roughly A2 reading level and can be read aloud by audio in the test.

UDI lists specific grounds for exemption from the knowledge test. You are exempt if you can document social studies from Norwegian lower secondary or upper secondary school with a final or exam grade of 2 or higher, a certificate of competence for Module 1 of modular education and vocational training (MFY), at least 10 credits of social sciences about Norway at a university or university college, or completed university-level studies in Norwegian or Sámi in Norway.

You can also apply for an exemption if health reasons or other personal circumstances make you unable to take and pass the test. Every exemption is documented together with your citizenship application, so read UDI's exemption page for the exact forms, and ask your municipality's adult education office if you are unsure what your record already shows. The oral Norwegian requirement has its own exemption list, which our norskprøven guide covers.

Our permanent residence requirements guide covers the 2025 rules and exemptions, and the comparison guide covers which test fits which application.

The practical takeaway: check which application you are actually preparing for before you choose a test language, because that choice decides whether the pass can be reused later.