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Brexit: What changed for Brits in Norway on January 1st 2021

The Local Norway
The Local Norway - [email protected]
Brexit: What changed for Brits in Norway on January 1st 2021
Composite: Drahomír Posteby-Mach, Belinda Fewings on Unsplash

From January 1st 2021 Britons will need new residency permits, certain documents will be needed to travel and those Brits who want to move to Norway in the future will be subject to new rules.

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January 1st 2021 marks a key date for Britons living in Norway and around Europe.

The Brexit transition period ends and from January 1st Britons are no longer considered EU citizens.

That obviously means changes for Britons in Norway and those who intend to move to Norway in future.

Many of the changes involve travel, such as 90-day limits ion visa travel within the Schengen area, which are summed up in this article.

READ MORE: What Britons in Europe need to know about travel from January 2021

Britons in Norway will, just like their counterparts living in the EU and Schengen countries, no longer be able to take advantage of freedom of movement and move easily to another EU country.

This will impact job opportunities for thousands.

But many changes are specific for Brits in Norway. Here's a quick run through.

New post-Brexit residents permits to be issued

From January 1st Britons who have already moved to Norway will need to apply for new residence permits.

No details have yet been published at the time of writing but the link below will have details when Norwegian authorities publish them.

Norwegian authorities explain: "If you are a British citizen with permanent right of residence in Norway on the date the transition period comes to an end, you will retain this right, but you will have to apply for a permanent residence permit and residence card.

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"Norway will be issuing a new type of residence permit for British citizens who live in Norway or move to Norway before the end of the transition period.

"The new application procedures are being developed, and are due to be introduced on January 1st 2021. Information about the new application procedures will be published on the UDI website later this year."

UK's ambassador to Norway Richard Wood adds: “From next year, UDI will issue a new residency card for UK nationals living in Norway but until then, it’s important to always carry an official document which proves their residency if they travel abroad."

So all will be revealed shortly.

Documents needed for travel

Before the residence permits are made available Britons resident in Norway who need to go abroad for essential travel (travel abroad is either not advised or highly restricted due to the Covid-19 pandemic) will need to take certain documents with them to prove they are resident.

The British embassy in Oslo says: "UK nationals living in Norway will need to be able to document their residency status when travelling. This could happen at the Norwegian border or at an airport outside of Norway.

"The Norwegian authorities have created a residency card for UK nationals living in Norway to help prove their status when travelling. It will be possible to apply for this card from January. UK nationals should carry an official document that proves residency until they receive the new card. There are only 3 documents that will be accepted from 1 January:

  • a registration certificate

  • a residence permit

  • a residence certificate (bostedsattest). This can be ordered from the Norwegian Tax Administration

Britons intending to move to Norway after January 2021

For Britons who move to Norway from January the rules and the bureaucratic hurdles will be slightly different.

Norwegian authorities explain: "British citizens and their family members who wish to come to Norway to live, work or study after 1 January 2021 will be treated according to the rules that apply to citizens of countries outside the EEA/EU. 

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"If you are moving to Norway after 31 December 2020, you have to apply for residency permit according to the regulations for citizens of countries outside EU/EEU, similar to what for example American citizens do.

"There are several types of residency permits: residency permit for work immigrationresidency permit for family immigrationresidency permit for studies, and residency permit for au pair.

"You will still be able to visit Norway for 90 days without a visa or residency permit after 31 December 2020, but you will usually not be allowed to work."

Useful websites

UK Government Living in Norway guide on residency and travel

Sign up to email alerts on the Living in Norway guide

UDI information for UK nationals living in Norway

UDI information for travellers to Norway

Renew your British passport

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