Moving To Norway From The UK

Moving to Norway

Whether you are moving to Oslo, Trondheim or the north of Norway, Britannia Movers International has the expertise and the international resources to tailor the move to your individual needs.

	Importing Personal Effects to Norway You can import your used household effects duty free, provided that you have owned them for at least a year prior to arrival. When importing your personal effects to Norway, you will need a copy of your passport, a detailed inventory in English and Norwegian, and a completed Norwegian customs declaration form. Britannia will advise you of the specific requirements prior to your move.
	Norway Customs Prohibitions and Restrictions In general it is in your interest not to import the following items: Firearms & ammunition Inflammable goods & substances Plants & plant material Foodstuffs, perishables or otherwise Narcotics and dangerous goods Offensive materials Alcohol & tobacco
	Transit Times to Norway Transit times can vary subject to the method of transport chosen, size of your consignment and the final destination. Britannia will advise you once this information is established.
	Protecting Your Belongings for Transport to Norway All shared load consignments will be bar coded before they are loaded into the vehicle. This will ensure that no items are left at origin.
	Moving Pets to Norway Britannia can recommend a specialised shipper of animals to assist you in sending your family pet(s) from home to home. They will coordinate all documentation and necessary veterinary procedures. Find out more about pet transport.
	Importing Motor Vehicles To Norway Motor vehicles can be imported to Norway, however they will be subject to special regulations and import duties and taxes, which are approximately 105% of the current value of the vehicle.
	Norway Currency Transfer When you are making international payments for individuals, you can benefit from IFX expertise in seeking the best possible rate, whether you are sending or receiving foreign currency. IFX can help to protect you from exchange rate fluctuations and save you time and money on international payments. IFX offers: International payments Regular overseas transfers Prepaid currency card Forward contracts More info on the IFX website.

Moving to Norway with Britannia

• Your move to Norway with Britannia – Britannia has been providing an excellent door to door removal service to Norway for years. We can either transport your household effects by shared load or sole container load, by our removal vans, sea container or by air. To ensure the safety of your consignment we can provide barcoding and computer tracking to monitor the progress of your consignment.
• Additional removal services – Britannia can provide a range of additional removal services when moving to Norway. We can arrange international insurance and storage, and will take care of your pet transport as well.

If you want to find out more about our Britannia’s removal services and about moving to Norway, read more about our European removals, additional moving services, and request a quote.

Living in Norway

While fjords, Vikings and cold weather might be the first images one associates with Norway, it is a country that offers infinitely more, with stunning landscapes, an exceptionally high standard of living and an often sunny weather, especially in the south. Norway is a diverse country with a very strong economy, so if you are looking for a developed country, where you can choose to live in a highly modern urban centre, or close to amazing sceneries, Norway would be a good choice.

Norway is a Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula, with an extensive coastline facing the North and Norwegian Seas and bordered by Sweden, Finland and Russia. It is one of the most sparsely populated and wealthiest countries in Europe, with large oil and natural gas deposits, and extensive reserves of forests, seafood and hydropower. Norway is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. Although the country is not a member of the EU, it is a founding member of the UN and the NATO and is a member of the European Economic Area.

Norway is not only the second wealthiest country in the world by monetary value, but it has a very strong welfare state, with universal health care, excellent public education and extensive social security. The unemployment rate is very low, and inequality across the whole population is also relatively low. If you are looking for a country that offers not only a relaxed pace of life, beautiful landscapes and many natural wonders to visit, but which values the well-being of its citizens more than many other industrialized countries, moving to Norway is an excellent idea.

Norway Visas

There are a few choices for UK citizens when it comes to visas for living and working in Norway. Many opt for the Norway Work Visa, which would require the applicant to have secured employment with a Norwegian company ahead of qualifying. There is also a visa for those wanting to start a business in Norway, a visa for people who want to study in Norway, and a family visa for people who are related to Norwegian citizens.

After you have lived in Norway for three years, you will be able to apply for a permanent residence permit, which will then need to be renewed every two years. When living in Norway for more than six months, you will also need to apply for a National Identity Number, which will be used for tax and finance purposes. You can apply for this at many local offices across Norway.

Finding a Job in Norway

Finding a job in Norway as a foreigner can be tricky. Competition is fierce, and fluency in Norwegian is required for the majority of roles. The biggest industries in Norway include oil and gas, technology, finance, natural resources, and tourism. These might be some of the best sectors to find a suitable role for expats who have the necessary skills and experience.

While it might first seem hard to find employment in Norway, once you find a job, you will be able to enjoy high salaries and many benefits, such as long holidays, and time off for moving or getting married.

Healthcare in Norway

Norway is an egalitarian country – everybody has the right to free medical care and free education, and public transportation is excellent. Once you are registered as a resident in Norway, you will be able to access Norwegian healthcare. You will need to make contributions to the National Insurance Scheme to do so, either through employment or as a self-employed person and using your national ID number.

State healthcare in Norway is not completely free. You may need to make some level of payment towards the treatment costs. However, once you’ve spent a certain amount in a calendar year, you can apply for an exemption card, and the majority of the rest of your fees for the year will be covered by the National Insurance Scheme.

Cost of Living in Norway

Living costs in Norway might seem prohibitively expensive at first: housing costs, cars or even regular shopping will probably be more expensive than what you are used to. Salaries, however, are also higher, which will offset the high cost of living.

According to Numbeo, the cost of living in Norway is 19% higher than in the UK, not accounting for rental costs. Rent alone is actually 16.5% lower in Norway than in the UK. Salaries are around 6% higher in Norway when compared to UK salaries.

You can check out some of the items you are likely to purchase regularly whilst living in Norway below. Prices are shown in Norwegian kroner and converted to UK pounds alongside the price in the UK so you can see how costs match up.

Interesting Facts About Norway

• The coastline of Norway, including fjords and bays, is over 20,000 kilometres long.
• Norway has recently been ranked as the most peaceful country in the world in a survey conducted by the Global Peace Index.
• Norway has some of the highest petrol prices, even though the country is one of the main oil exporters in the world.
• Norway has a very diverse topography, with plateaus, fjords, mountains and alleys.
• Norway could be regarded as the birthplace of modern skiing. Even the word ‘ski’ is Norwegian and means ‘piece of wood’.

Choose Britannia for Your Norway Relocation

If you are thinking about moving to Norway and want to find out more about our Norway removal services or request a quote, you can call us on 0845 6006661 or email sales@britannia-movers.co.uk. Our team will be happy to discuss how we can help you with your international relocation.