The official test
The Norwegian test (Norskprøven) measures reading, listening, writing and speaking on the European scale. As an EU/EEA citizen you do not need it to live or to obtain permanent residence; Norwegian citizenship, on the other hand, requires at least level B1 in oral Norwegian, whatever your nationality.
Free ways to start
- Learn NoW, the free online course of NTNU, the university in Trondheim — structured, with audio, explained in English
- Language cafés (språkkafé) at public libraries: free, informal conversation practice
- Klar Tale, a newspaper written in simple Norwegian
- Children's and youth programmes on the public broadcaster NRK, many with Norwegian subtitles
Sources
- Ny i Norge (nyinorge.no) — learning Norwegian; rights and obligations of EU/EEA citizens — read on 29 September 2026
- UDI — language requirement for Norwegian citizenship (B1 oral) — read on 29 September 2026
- NTNU — Learn NoW (Norwegian on the Web) — read on 29 September 2026
Paperwork in Norwegian, before you can read it
Letters from the tax office, the police, the bank: they arrive before your Norwegian does. We explain them and prepare your replies with you, in English.
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