How to apply for Norwegian citizenship

The application for citizenship is sent to UDI. This is a different body from the exam venue where you took the test, and it's worth keeping the two apart.

Rough order of steps

1. Check that you meet the requirements for your group at UDI.
2. Get the documentation. Identity, residence period, Norwegian language skills and knowledge of society.
3. Take the test, if the knowledge requirement isn't covered. The statsborgerprøven (Norwegian citizenship test), or the samfunnskunnskapsprøven (social studies test) in Norwegian.
4. Submit the application via UDI.
5. Attend an appointment at the police or the embassy to submit documents and verify your identity.
6. Wait for a decision.

About the exam documentation

This is what we know something about, so here's the detail that matters:

If you have passed the samfunnskunnskapsprøven in Norwegian, the knowledge requirement is covered, and you don't need the statsborgerprøven. If the test was taken in another language, it doesn't count here, no matter how well you passed.

Keep the documentation showing you passed the test. It may be several years old by the time you apply.

Take the test before you apply, not after

The requirements must be met when you apply. If you sign up for the test only after submitting the application, and fail, you have a timeline problem.

The rules change

Requirements and processing times change. UDI is the source, and that's where you check what applies when you actually apply.