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Everything that changes in Norway in December 2022 

Frazer Norwell
Frazer Norwell - [email protected]
Everything that changes in Norway in December 2022 
Here are all the key changes in Norway on December which you need to know about. Pictured is a Norwegian cabin in the snow. Photo by Solveig Smørdal Botn on Unsplash

The festive season and whether the government will make its plans to introduce tuition fees for international students solid feature heavily in our look ahead to December in Norway. 

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The final decision on student loans

If negotiations over next year's fiscal plan continue to drag on, then it is likely that a decision on whether tuition fees for non-EU students will arrive in December. 

The government is currently locked in negotiations for next year's fiscal plan with the Socialist Left Party (SV). And while the SV has said it is opposed to the introduction of tuition fees, it told The Local that it wouldn't bring up the topic during budget talks. 

READ MORE: Why Norway has edged closer towards introducing tuition fees for international students

The negotiations will also offer a final decision on other matters, such as tax rates for next year and the like.

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Cut-off date for sending gifts abroad

If you plan on sending a gift to friends or family outside of Norway over the festive period, you will need to be aware of the deadlines. 

Unfortunately, by the beginning of December, the deadline for packages outside of Europe will have passed. However, the deadline for packages sent inside Europe will be December 16th

If you do happen to miss the deadline for outside of Europe, you will be able to send an express package until December 16th, but this will be costly. 

December 16th is also the deadline for sending gifts within Norway and the Nordics.

Christmas markets start opening 

A trip to the Christmas markets is an unmissable event for many looking for a dose of festive cheer. Several of Norway's best will open their doors to the public in December. 

Among these is the Christmas market at the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History, Trondheim Christmas market and Egersund Christmas Town. You can get a complete overview of some of Norway's best here

Ski season begins

Some resorts, like Geilo, have decided to open during the final weekend of November. However, most resorts, like Hemsedal and Trysil, will begin to open in early December. 

If you are considering getting into alpine skiing, you can check out our guide on how to save money doing it

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December will also see the majority of groomed cross-country skiing tracks open to the public. 

Christmas holidays

The last day of school before the kids break up for the Christmas holidays will be around December 21st, possibly later- depending on where you live. 

The first working day after Christmas will be Monday, January 2nd 2023, for most. During the Christmas holidays, after-school programs will open on working and non-public holidays. 

High-speed trains between Oslo and Stockholm return

From December 11th, there will be five daily train departures between the Norwegian and Swedish capitals. Three of the daily departures will be express trains. 

The change comes as work on the train lines on the Norwegian leg of the route – which has been ongoing for multiple years –will soon be completed.

Journey times on the express trains will take just over five hours. 

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Discounted monthly tickets in Oslo end

A scheme which sees discounted monthly travel tickets offered in Oslo will end on December 16th. Until then,  a monthly ticket will cost 499 kroner rather than the usual 814 kroner.

Student tickets will cost 299, while monthly passes for young people and the elderly will be 249 kroner during this period.

Double interest rate hike possible

A final interest rate meeting of the year will take place, and the key policy rate could be raised by another 0.5 percentage points, bank DNB has said.

However, the bank has said that currently, a regular increase of 025 percent was the more likely outcome. 

In any event, this means loan and mortgage repayments will become more expensive for consumers after Christmas. 

Norway's central bank (Norges Bank) sees the raises as the key to curbing inflation. 

Paper licences need to be exchanged

Drivers will have until December 31st to exchange their old paper licences for the new design or risk having to retake their licence completely. 

Those with non-paper licences are not required to exchange their licence. 

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