Exemptions from tests when applying for Norwegian citizenship

You can apply for an exemption in these cases

• You have sufficient knowledge of Norwegian

  You may be exempt from the oral Norwegian test if you can document one of the following:

  • You have completed ordinary primary and lower secondary education in Norwegian or Sámi and received a final grade or an exam grade of 2 or higher. This must be documented with a diploma or a transcript of grades. Having only completed primary school, a vocational certificate, or a half-year assessment is not sufficient.
  • You have completed ordinary upper secondary education and training in Norwegian or Sámi and received a half-year assessment, a final grade or an exam grade of 2 or higher. This must be documented with a diploma or a transcript of grades. Having only completed primary school, a vocational certificate, or a half-year assessment is not sufficient.
  • You have completed Module 1 in modular education and vocational training (modulstrukturert fag- og yrkesopplæring (MFY)) and received a certificate of competence showing that the module has been approved. 
  • You have completed studies equivalent to 30 credits in Norwegian or Sámi at the university or university college level in Norway or abroad. 
  • You meet the entry requirements for studies in Norwegian or Sámi at a university or university college in Norway. For instance, you fulfil the entry requirements if you have:
    • passed the Level 3 (Trinn 3) exam at university
    • reached the age of 25 and have had an assessment of real competence at upper secondary education and training level 3 (VG3) approved 
    • been accepted for a study programme at a university or university college in Norway where the primary language of instruction is Norwegian 
    • completed a study programme instructed in Norwegian

• You have sufficient knowledge of Norwegian society

  You may be exempt from the social studies test if you can document one of the following:

  • You have completed social studies in lower or upper secondary school and received a final grade or an exam grade of 2 or higher. This must be documented with a diploma or a transcript of grades. Having only completed primary school, a vocational certificate, or a half-year assessment is not sufficient.
  • You have completed social studies in upper secondary education and received a half-year assessment, a final grade or an exam grade of 2 or higher. This must be documented with a diploma or a transcript of grades. Having only completed primary school, a vocational certificate, or a half-year assessment is not sufficient.
  • You have completed Module 1 in modular education and vocational training (modulstrukturert fag- og yrkesopplæring (MFY)) and received a certificate of competence showing that the module has been approved
  • You have studied social sciences that provide knowledge about Norway at a university or college university, corresponding to a minimum of 10 credits. These studies must cover the topics included in the Curriculum in Social Studies for Adult Immigrants (pdf, 473 kB), which are the following:
    
    1. Education, competence and working life
    2. Family, health and everyday life
    3. Norway before and now
    
    You must hand in a transcript of grades and a course description of the study you have completed. Examples of studies that qualify are the social studies course «Norwegian Life and Society» at UiO or the one-year programme in Norwegian language and culture offered at numerous universities and university colleges.
  • You have completed studies in Norwegian or Sámi at the university or university college level in Norway. You must document that you have earned credits from studies in Norwegian or Sámi.

• You have been granted an exemption by the municipality

  If you have been granted an exemption by the municipality and can document this, you are exempt from the following requirement: 

  • Passed the oral Norwegian test
    Norwegian citizenship test or social studies in Norwegian

  This does not apply to you if you

  • have used the registration scheme for EU/EEA citizens
  • received your first residence permit before 1 September 2005 and are therefore not covered by the Introduction Act or the Integration Act
  • have been exempted from grading in Norwegian in primary/upper secondary school under the Education Act, and are not exempted from attending training or the oral Norwegian test by the municipality
  • have been exempted from grading in social studies in primary school or social studies in upper secondary school under the Education Act

• You have health reasons, personal circumstances, or other compelling reasons

  You may apply for an exemption if you are unable to take and pass the oral Norwegian test and the Norwegian citizenship test or the social studies test in Norwegian due to health reasons or other personal circumstances.

  Health reasons and personal circumstances

  Health reasons may include chronic or serious illness, or other long-term problems that make it difficult for you to take the tests.

  Personal circumstances may, for example, include having reading and writing difficulties, or having a limited educational background from your home country and arriving in Norway as an adult.

  Adaptations of the tests

  The tests can be adjusted or adapted in various ways. If you require accommodations, you must contact the test centre where you will take the test(s). Examples of adaptations include:

  • Taking the oral Norwegian test without a co-candidate
  • Taking the Norwegian citizenship test orally
  • Extra time to take the test(s)
  • Taking the test(s) alone in a separate room

  Read more about adaptations to the various tests:

  • Norwegian test for sign language users (external website)
  • Adaptations for the oral Norwegian test (external website)
  • Adaptations for the Norwegian citizenship test (pdf, 215 kB)

  Documentation and explanation

  You may apply for an exemption from one or both tests if you can document and explain:

  • Why you cannot pass the Norwegian citizenship test or the social studies test in Norwegian.
  • Why you cannot pass the oral Norwegian test at level B1 with adaptations, or level A2 (which is the requirement if you cannot pass level B1).
  • Why you cannot complete the test(s), even with adaptations.

  How to apply for an exemption

  If you wish to apply for an exemption from the test(s), you must submit the necessary documentation and an explanation of why. You should have attempted the test(s) recently before applying for an exemption. This will be taken into account when we decide whether to exempt you from the requirement.

  You must submit:

  • Main Application Form (pdf, 215 kB), where you tick the boxes for which test(s) you want to be exempted from and explain why.

  If relevant, you must also submit:

  • Supplementary Form 1 (pdf, 283 kB), completed by your doctor or other health professional, if you are applying for an exemption based on health reasons.
  • Supplementary Form 2 (pdf, 378 kB), completed by your school, special education teacher, speech therapist, or the educational-psychological service (PPT), if you are applying for an exemption based on your ability to learn.

  You must submit the documentation together with your application for Norwegian citizenship. You must always submit the main application form, which you fill in yourself. You must also submit supplementary forms if relevant.

  UDI will consider whether you may be granted an exemption when we process your application for a permanent residence permit.

  Forms for applying for an exemption

  These forms can only be used when applying for Norwegian citizenship. You cannot use them if you are applying for an exemption from tests from the municipality. The municipality has its own forms for this.

  Main Application Form

  You must complete this yourself. This form must always be submitted when you apply for exemption.

  • Main Application Form (pdf, 215 kB)

  Supplementary Form 1

  Your doctor or other health professional must complete this. Only use if you apply for an exemption based on health reasons.

  • Supplementary Form 1 (pdf, 283 kB)

  Supplementary Form 2

  Your school, special education teacher, speech therapist, or the educational-psychological service (PPT) must complete this. Only use if you apply for an exemption based on your ability to learn.

  Contact those who have already assessed you and obtain documentation of their assessment, for example, from your school, adult education, or similar. A new assessment is not required.

  • Supplementary Form 2 (pdf, 378 kB)