Norwegian Citizenship by Descent

Norway was one of the last Nordic countries to accept dual citizenship, doing so from 1 January 2020. For people born abroad to a Norwegian parent, that means you can hold Norwegian and, say, American citizenship together. But section 24 of the Citizenship Act adds a condition: if you hold another citizenship and haven't lived in Norway for a total of two years by your 22nd birthday (or seven years in the Nordic countries combined), you lose Norwegian citizenship at 22.

You can apply to keep it. The application is free, is processed by UDI, and must be submitted before you turn 22. You'll need to show a sufficient connection to Norway — documented stays, schooling or Norwegian language skills help.

Before 2020, Norwegians who naturalised in another country lost Norwegian citizenship. After the reform, there was a transitional period in which former Norwegians could regain citizenship by a simple notification. That window has closed. UDI still offers a notification route for people who have previously been Norwegian citizens, with its own conditions and a fee — check UDI's page for whether it fits your situation.

Norwegian citizenship passes from parent to child at birth. A Norwegian grandparent whose child (your parent) wasn't Norwegian when you were born gives you no claim. The alternative is naturalisation after living in Norway, which since October 2022 requires eight years' residence, oral Norwegian at B1 level and a citizenship test.

For family history, the Norwegian Digital Archives (Digitalarkivet) put censuses, church books and emigration records online for free.

1. Register the birth with the Norwegian population register through the embassy so you get a Norwegian national identity number. 2. Apply for a Norwegian passport at an embassy or police station. 3. If you hold another citizenship and won't have lived in Norway for two years by 22 (or the Nordic countries for seven), submit UDI's retention application before your 22nd birthday, with documentation of your connection to Norway — stays, schooling, language. 4. Keep UDI's decision with your passport.

Time spent in Sweden, Denmark, Finland or Iceland counts towards the seven-year Nordic alternative. If you've lived in another Nordic country for seven years by 22, the rule doesn't take Norwegian citizenship away even if you never lived in Norway itself.