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What changes about life in Norway in 2022? 

Frazer Norwell
Frazer Norwell - [email protected]
What changes about life in Norway in 2022? 
Taxes, childcare costs and the requirements for Norwegian citizenship will be among the things changing in 2022. Pictured is the Norwegian flag atop a mountain. Photo by Mikita Karasiou on Unsplash "

The new year will bring about a series of changes for everyone living in Norway. Here's a roundup of the big ones to look out for throughout the year. 

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Brexit

This one has already affected Brits looking to move to Norway this year, but from the beginning of next year changes will directly impact everyone who was living in the Nordic country before December 31st 2020 and doesn't apply for residence under the Separation Agreement by the end of 2021. 

If they miss this deadline, they will have to apply as a third-party national, which means more boxes need to be ticked to obtain residency, such as a minimum income in some cases and a costly application fee. 

READ MORE: How Brits can get a residence permit in Norway post-Brexit

Citizenship rules change

From spring 2022, better Norwegian language skills will be required to obtain citizenship. The change is expected to come into force during the spring at the earliest. 

The requirement for Norwegian verbal skills will be raised from A2 to B1 to obtain citizenship. The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages considers B1 to be semi-fluent. 

Additionally, it will no longer be compulsory to undertake Norwegian language training or take classes on Norwegian culture and society to be granted citizenship.

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Tax changes 

Those who earn less than 750,000 kroner will pay less in taxes, and those that make more will be subject to higher taxes. Additionally, the wealth tax is being increased from 0.85 to 0.95 percent of net worth. Those with assets of more than 20 million kroner (40 million kroner for married couples) will pay a higher rate of 1.1 percent. 

People who are members of a trade union will receive a tax deduction of 5,800 kroner. The CO2 tax will also be increased, but road and motor insurance tax will be slashed. The electricity tax will also see a slight decrease of 8 øre per kilowatt-hour during the winter and 1.5 øre during the rest of the year. 

READ ALSO: How will the 2022 budget change life in Norway?

Duty-free rules change

The duty-free quota rules will be changed from January 1st, meaning it will no longer be possible to replace the tobacco quota with 1.5 litres of wine or beer. This will come as somewhat of a blow to those who don't smoke but like to grab a discount at duty-free. 

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Tobacco will become more expensive 

The Tobacco tax will increase by five percent above the regular price adjustment. For example, the tax on a pack of twenty cigarettes will increase to 59 kroner. 

Government to pick up half the electricity bill during the winter

The government will cover 55 percent of the bill on energy prices above a monthly average of 70 øre per kilowatt-hour. The deduction will appear on your bill and will be calculated automatically. 

The scheme will apply from December until March 2022. The deductions will appear on the bill for December, which will arrive in the new year. 

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Tax returns

On April 4th, all personal tax returns will be sent to residents of Norway, which they can either fill out on paper or do online. 

April 30th will see the deadline to submit tax returns or extend the submission date. People who are self-employed will have until May 31st to fill out their tax return. 

Houses can no longer be sold "as is" 

You can no longer sell a house "as is" in regards to its condition. 

The new rules mean that sellers will need to take greater responsibility in providing thorough information about the condition of the house to prospective buyers. There will also be a greater expectation on house hunters to familiarise themselves with the information on the homes condition. 

New minimum requirements for reports on the homes condition will also be introduced. 

New national museum opens its doors

Norway's new national museum will open in June 2022. The opening has been postponed several times already, with the museum initially scheduled to be ready for the autumn of 2020. 

The museum will be the largest of its kind in the Nordic region and will house more than 100,000 works over 55,000 square meters. 

Everyone over 18 offered a Covid-19 booster dose by February 

The Norwegian government has set itself the target of offering everyone over the age of 18 a booster vaccine by the end of February 2022. 

The government has also said that it should be on track to offer everyone over 45 a booster dose by mid-January. 

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New travel options become available

Several new travel options should become available in Norway in 2022. 

From May, United Airlines will begin flying a new route that will take passengers from Bergen to Newark, New Jersey, in America three times a week. 

Norse Airlines is also expected to begin operating out of Oslo in 2022. The airline will fly out of Oslo to New York, Miami and Los Angeles. The market newcomer will focus on long-haul flights and may later expand to operating out of other European destinations. 

Interest rates to continue going up

Loan and mortgage repayments will continue to get more expensive throughout 2022 as Norway's central bank, Norges Bank, continues to raise the policy rate above historically low levels. 

In 2021 the rate was raised from zero to 0.5 percent as part of Norges Banks plan to bring the policy rate to 1.75 percent by 2024. 

READ ALSO: How could rising interest rates affect Norway’s economy?

Childcare to become cheaper

The maximum price parents can be charged for a kindergarten place will be reduced from 3,315 kroner per month to 3,050 kroner per month. This will take effect from the New Year. 

All first-grade children will also have access to a half-day place at an after-school activity. 

The cost of fuel will go up considerably due to hiked taxes on petrol and diesel. Petrol tax is set to rise to 1.60 kroner per litre, and diesel tax will increase to 1.87 kroner per litre. As with taxes and childcare this change will be effective from January 1st. Petrol to cost more

Change to the pension rules

Everyone over 18 will begin contributing to their pension from the first krone they earn as part of the compulsory occupational pension scheme from January 1st. 

Previously, contributions were required for earnings of 106,000 kroner and above. According to the government, the new rule will allow one million more Norwegians and 160,000 young people to contribute to the occupational pension. 

Fløibannen reopens

One of Bergen's biggest tourist attractions, the Fløbannen cable railway, will reopen in Spring 2022. The cable railway closed in September 2021 for six months for extensive refurbishments. 

The railway will reopen in April 2022. The renovations include improved access for wheelchairs or prams. 

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