Today in Norway: A roundup of the latest news on Monday

Authorities in Norway want to change the skilled worker visa rules

Authorities are planning to tighten skilled worker visa rules after the Directorate of Immigration (UDI) uncovered fraud in about 10 percent of non-EEA applications.

According to the UDI, these cases involved forged degrees, fake documents, and fictitious job offers from unknowing employers in Norway. The agency also highlighted that this abuse has been a key driver behind abnormally long processing times.

“We must be sure that those who come as labour immigrants are qualified for the jobs they will be doing. Now that the UDI has uncovered extensive abuse, we must tighten up. It must become easier to reject applications on a general basis due to false documents or fictitious job offers,” said Minister of Labour and Inclusion Kjersti Stenseng in a press release.

Because of this, the government sent a new proposal for consultation on Friday, with a three-month consultation period until January 2027.

If approved, the proposal would let caseworkers reject residence permit applications if the documents seem unreliable or are hard to verify and would require employers to confirm job offers electronically.

“This way, the UDI can use its time better and process the real applications. It frees up resources and ensures that those who are granted residence are actually qualified,” said Stenseng.

On the bright side, the government acknowledged that simpler and more flexible rules are also needed, particularly as long waiting times have restricted recent graduates from working while awaiting permit decisions.

“The government therefore proposes that doctoral fellows and recent graduates can work during application processing, without restrictions based on previous permission,” Stenseng explained.

Furthermore, skilled workers would be permitted, under certain conditions, to hold a secondary occupation in addition to their main sponsored role if the proposal is approved. 

Norwegian vocabulary: arbeidsinnvandring – labour immigration

Nearly 6,000 new Norwegian citizens celebrated at Oslo Spektrum

Every year, authorities typically organise one or two ceremonies for new citizens who obtained their citizenship.

On Sunday, November 1st, nearly 6,000 people who became Norwegian citizens after February 20th, 2025, from Østfold, Buskerud, Oslo, and Akershus, gathered at Oslo Spektrum to celebrate this milestone.

County Governor Jan Tore Sanner and Minister of Culture Lubna Jaffery hosted the event, which welcomed new citizens and their families with musical performances and the traditional pledge of loyalty.

“Becoming a Norwegian citizen does not mean putting an end to one’s background. There is no contradiction between feeling a sense of belonging to Norwegian society and feeling a sense of belonging to one’s country of birth. Our new citizens bring with them different experiences, culture, and traditions and help to enrich Norwegian society,” said Sanner in a statement on the County Governor’s website.

Norwegian vocabulary: statsborgerseremoni -citizenship ceremony

READ ALSO: What you need to know about Norway’s citizenship ceremony

Norway moves forward with new ‘integration declaration’ in 2027

At the end of May, the government announced that the Storting had approved introducing a formal integration declaration outlining the explicit rights, obligations, and social expectations that apply to newly arrived refugees and their families settling in the country.

On Friday, the King in Council formally approved the measure, meaning it will officially enter into force on January 1st, 2027. “The government believes that clearer expectations will contribute to better integration,” as outlined in an official statement

The declaration will be given to newly arrived refugees early in their integration process and focuses on employment and learning Norwegian as the main ways to integrate. It also highlights Norwegian values, especially that everyone has the right to live freely without fear of violence, coercion, or negative social control.

Among the topics included in the declaration are gender equality and non-discrimination, language training, personal responsibilities, parental responsibility, and children’s rights.

“Coming to a new country can be demanding. That is why it is important to be clear about what rights we have, but also about the expectations set by Norwegian regulations and the responsibilities that come with becoming part of Norwegian society,” said Minister of Employment and Inclusion Kjersti Stenseng.

“We must be clear about which rules and values apply in Norway. This creates security both for those who come here and for the surrounding community,”  she added. 

While the declaration carries no direct penal sanctions of its own, the government said that people who do not follow the integration rules may face consequences under current laws. This could mean, for example, losing or having their introduction benefits reduced.

Norwegian vocabulary: rettigheter, plikter og forventninger – rights, obligations and expectations

Cheaper monthly passes in Oslo and Bergen

Monthly public transport passes got cheaper in Oslo and Bergen on Sunday, November 1st. In Oslo, Ruter lowered the price of an adult monthly pass by 160 kroner to 495 kroner. In the Bergen area, Skyss cut the adult monthly ticket by 195 kroner to 504 kroner.

If you want to see what other changes take effect in November, you can read our guide: Everything that changes about life in Norway in November 2026

Norwegian vocabulary: billigere – cheaper