Rules and laws in Norway (2026)
Last reviewed: 30 October 2026
Every topic we cover for Norway. Each rule links to its official source.
Driving
Car insurance and green cards
Vehicles from the Multilateral Agreement countries, which include EU states, the United Kingdom and Switzerland, need no green card in Norway because the registration number is proof of insurance. Vehicles from countries outside the Green Card System, or with an expired green card, need frontier insurance issued by Norwegian customs.
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E-bikes and speed pedelecs
A pedal-assisted bicycle counts as a bicycle if the motor cuts out at 25 km/h and its nominal power is at most 0.25 kW. A vehicle that exceeds these limits is classed as a moped, with moped rules such as a driving licence and helmet.
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E-scooters
An electric kick scooter must have a speed limiter at 20 km/h to use pavements and cycle paths. The minimum age is 12, riders under 15 must wear a helmet, passengers are not allowed, and liability insurance is required. Whether a driving licence or registration is needed was not stated on the pages read.
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Foreign driving licences
A valid EU/EEA driving licence can be used in Norway and exchanged without new tests. A licence from a non-EU/EEA country is normally valid for three months, and can be exchanged only if it comes from a country on Statens vegvesen's list.
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Minimum age for a car driving licence
The minimum age for a Category B licence in Norway is 18. Driving practice starts at 16 after the Basic Traffic Course, with a supervisor aged 25 or over. A non-EU/EEA licence can be used in Norway only if the holder meets the Norwegian age requirement.
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Mopeds
A moped in Norway may not be able to exceed 45 km/h and needs a class AM driving licence, for which the minimum age is 16. Mopeds are subject to a helmet requirement.
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Seat belts and child seats
Seat belts must be used in cars, with a fee of NOK 1,500 if not. Children under 135 cm must use an approved child seat, and children from 135 to 150 cm approved equipment if available. A rear-facing seat may not be used in a front seat with an active airbag.
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Towing trailers and caravans
A Category B licence allows a trailer up to 750 kg, or a heavier one if car and trailer together stay within 3,500 kg. With code 96 the combination can reach 4,250 kg and BE allows a trailer up to 3,500 kg. The speed with a trailer is 80 km/h unless the trailer has a Tempo 100 approval.
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Winter tyres and snow chains
Norway requires at least 3 mm tread in winter, from 1 November to the first Sunday after Easter Monday (16 October to 30 April in Nordland, Troms and Finnmark). Studded tyres are allowed in the same period, and chains may be used when conditions require.
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Travel
Air passenger rights
Norway applies the EU air passenger rules: delays of 3 hours or more and cancellations can give EUR 250, 400 or 600 compensation, unless the cause is extraordinary circumstances. Care is due from 2 to 4 hours depending on the flight. Complaints that the airline does not resolve go to Transportklagenemnda.
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Health cover for temporary visitors
Visitors from EU/EEA countries, Switzerland and the United Kingdom can get medically necessary public healthcare in Norway on the same terms as Norwegians by showing a physical European Health Insurance Card. Travel home and travel solely for treatment are not covered.
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Meat and dairy imports
Meat and dairy can be brought for personal use from EU/EEA countries within the customs quota. From non-EU/EEA countries, including the UK, meat, meat products, milk and dairy are not allowed, with limited exceptions. Other animal foods such as fish are limited to 1 kg.
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Short stays (90/180-day rule)
Norway is in the Schengen area, so visitors who do not need a visa may stay up to 90 days in any 180 days. A passport valid three months beyond departure is needed, and third-country nationals are registered in the Entry/Exit System.
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Travelling with personal medicines
Personal-use medicines may be brought in with documentation: up to one year's use from the EEA and three months' use from outside it. Narcotic medicines are limited to 30 days' use for visitors without a Norwegian address, and longer needs permission from the Norwegian Medical Products Agency.
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Travelling with pets
Dogs, cats and ferrets entering Norway from an EU/EEA country need a microchip, an EU pet passport and a rabies vaccination, and dogs also need tapeworm treatment before arrival. Up to five animals may travel in one non-commercial movement.
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Living
Dual nationality
Norway has allowed dual citizenship since 1 January 2020, and acquiring another nationality no longer causes loss of Norwegian citizenship. A person who became Norwegian at birth and holds another nationality can still lose Norwegian citizenship at 22 without enough residence or an application to keep it.
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Home education
Parents may teach their own children at home after notifying the municipality, which supervises the teaching and can require the child to attend school if the requirements are not met. The duty to primary education runs from the year the child turns six until the 10th grade is completed.
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Maximum working time
Ordinary working time in Norway is at most 9 hours a day and 40 hours a week, with total working time including overtime averaging at most 48 hours a week over 8 weeks. Workers are entitled to 11 hours of daily rest and 35 hours of weekly rest.
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Naturalisation by residence
Ordinary naturalisation in Norway requires eight of the past eleven years of residence, an oral Norwegian test at B1 and the citizenship or social studies test. Shorter periods apply to some groups, and giving up the original citizenship has not been required since 1 January 2020.
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Registering residence for longer stays
A person who comes to live in Norway, or to stay at least six months, must report in person to the tax office (Skatteetaten), as a rule within eight days of arrival. For EU/EEA citizens the deadline is three months and eight days, and those staying more than three months must also register with the police. Moving abroad outside the Nordic countries for six months or more must be reported before departure.
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Smoke alarms in homes
The owner of every home and holiday home must make sure there is a fire alarm system or enough smoke alarms, with at least one on each floor, and that they are checked and maintained. The rule applies to existing homes as well as new ones.
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State pension age
The state pension age in Norway is 67, and pension can be drawn from 62 with high enough accrued pension. Parliament has proposed a gradually higher pension age, but no start date has been decided.
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Restrictions
Cannabis
Cannabis is an illegal drug in Norway: production, sale, possession and use are prohibited, and use and possession are criminal offences. Doctors can prescribe certain cannabis-based medicines under conditions set by the health authorities.
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Drinking age and alcohol sales
In Norway, alcohol with less than 22% alcohol by volume may not be sold, served or handed over to anyone under 18, and drinks of 22% or more not to anyone under 20. It is not an offence for a person under the limit to buy or drink alcohol, but selling, serving or handing over alcohol to them is banned. Rules on drinking in public places were not verified.
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Drones
Drone operators register on flydrone.no (NOK 230 a year for private persons) unless the drone is a toy or weighs under 250 g without a camera. Pilots must be at least 16 and hold an online competency certificate for A1/A3. The maximum height is 120 m and liability insurance is required except for toys and drones under 250 g.
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Fireworks
Fireworks sold to consumers are category 1 (age limit 12, may be used all year) and categories 2 and 3 (age limit 18). Sale directly to consumers is allowed only from 27 to 31 December, and private individuals may fire fireworks only on New Year's Eve from 18:00 to 02:00. Municipalities may set local restrictions in defined areas.
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Knives and pepper spray
Police say it is not allowed to carry a knife or similar object in a public place without a legitimate purpose. Pepper spray and similar self-defence agents and spring knives are listed by the police as banned weapons, with a maximum penalty of two years in prison (six in serious cases).
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Tobacco and nicotine age limits
Tobacco products, nicotine-free e-cigarettes and similar items may not be sold or handed over to anyone under 18. Nicotine e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches cannot be imported or sold, smoking and vaping are banned in public premises and in private vehicles with children under 18 present, and a flavour ban on cigarettes and roll-your-own tobacco starts on 1 January 2027.
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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.