Europe

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• General
 

• There is an underlying threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. See Safety and Security - Terrorism.
  
  

• Around 250,000 British tourists visit Norway every year (Source: Norwegian Statistics Bureau, SSB).  Most visits are trouble-free.  See General - Consular Assistance Statistics. Petty crime does occur but at a low level compared to other European countries.
  
  

• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See the General - Insurance.
  

Safety and Security - Terrorism
There is an underlying threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. For more general information see our Terrorism Abroad page .

On the afternoon of 22 July 2011 there was an explosion in the centre of Oslo resulting in a number of casualties and causing extensive damage in the area. This was followed by a further attack at a youth camp on Utoya Island, 40km west of Oslo, which resulted in a large loss of life.

Safety and Security - Crime
There are few safety concerns in Norway, but you should be aware of the dangers of theft, particularly in the airports and railway stations in and around Oslo. The Embassy is frequently asked to assist British nationals who have had their valuables stolen just after they arrive in the county. Sensible precautions should be observed and you should take extra care of your passport, money and credit cards. For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad page.

Crime rates in Norway are relatively low when compared to most other western cities. However, assaults against women have been on the increase and female travellers should take sensible precautions. Avoid walking home alone through Oslo parks and stay to the main roads and well lit areas. Avoid shortcuts and quiet roads with no other pedestrians. See our advice for women travellers.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel 
A valid UK, or other EU/EEA, driving licence is sufficient for driving in Norway if here as a visitor. There is no need for an International Driving Permit. You should ensure that you have arranged appropriate vehicle insurance cover prior to travelling.

In 2010 there were 210 road deaths in Norway (source: DfT). This equates to 4.3 road deaths per 100,000 of population and compares to the UK average of 3.1 road deaths per 100,000 of population in 2010.

Distances are great and driving takes longer than you think. Narrow and winding roads may be hazardous and impassable, especially in winter. Winter tyres are mandatory from approximately 1 November to 15 April (exact dates can vary year on year).

Keep headlights on at all times and observe speed limits. Fines for exceeding the speed limit are high. Be aware that certain driving laws differ in Norway. For example, on roads which are not marked with a priority sign (a yellow diamond), drivers must give way to traffic coming from the right.

Alcohol limits for drivers are far stricter than UK levels. Roadside checks for alcohol are frequent, and submission to a breathalyser is mandatory. Penalties for driving under the influence are severe and can lead to a prison sentence. The 0.20ml limit means in effect no alcohol 12 hours before driving.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel - Road Hauliers
All vehicles with a maximum allowable total weight of over 3,500 kg are required to be equipped with snow chains when travelling in Norway. A truckers’ guide issued by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration can be found in English at Donna Diesel. It lists current regulations and useful information about driving in Norway.

See our Driving Abroad page.

Safety and Security – Local Travel - Svalbard
You should follow the advice offered by the Governor of Svalbard's Office, including on how to protect yourself from a possible polar bear attack, the risks of glaciers, avalanches and other dangers outside the main town of Longyearbyen.

Safety and Security – Local Travel - Visiting in Summer  
If you intend to visit forest, lake and mountainous regions bring plenty of insect repellent as mosquitoes and midges can be a problem. Fire bans (ie no campfires) are strictly enforced in many areas during the summer months. If you plan to go off the beaten track or out to sea, you should seek local advice about weather conditions and have suitable specialist equipment. Because of Norway’s northerly latitude the weather can change rapidly, producing Arctic conditions even in summer on exposed mountain tops.

Safety and Security – Local Travel - Visiting in Winter  
The winter is long (it can last well into April) and temperatures can drop to minus 25 degrees C and below. There is also wind chill factor to take into account, particularly in unsheltered areas (i.e. mountain ranges). Weather conditions can deteriorate quickly.

Bring warm clothes and practical footwear to cope with icy roads and pavements. Special clamp-on grips (brodder) to give extra security in icy conditions can be bought locally. If you are taking part in skiing, hiking or other off road activities correct equipment should be used. Advice on equipment and weather conditions can be found at local information centres, which in smaller areas tend to be connected with rental shops where you can hire skiing equipment. Alternatively, hotels or accommodation providers will also be able to advise on local weather conditions and equipment for specific activities.

Safety and Security - Political Situation
Norway Country Profile

You should be aware that drugs and drink driving laws are stricter in Norway than in the UK.

Do not become involved with drugs of any kind. Possession of even small quantities can lead to heavy fines and/or imprisonment. This applies also to the use, possession and/or importation of khat/qat which is prohibited in Norway, though legal in the UK.

Local Laws and Customs - Imports
Consult the Norwegian Embassy in London before travelling to Norway with pets.

Norway is not in the EU. Many shops operate a VAT refund shopping system for non-residents. This enables you to receive refunds of the VAT on purchased goods, usually at the airport as you leave Norway. UK authorities cannot refund Norwegian VAT.

There are limits to the amount of currency you can personally carry into or out of Norway. This is currently set at 25,000 Norwegian Krone (about £2,500). If you bring any more than this into the country, the amount must be declared to Customs on arrival. Exporting currency from Norway in excess of the set limit has to be approved in advance by Norwegian Customs and transferred through a bank. Forms for this and further information can be found at TOLLVESENET. You will need a form RD0026.

Failure to comply with these rules can lead to arrest, a substantial fine and temporary confiscation of currency in excess of the limit which may then be released only through a bank.

See our Your Trip.

Entry Requirements - Visas
Visas are not required for Norway but you must hold a valid British Passport. Norway is a member country of the EEA, which entitles you to work or reside in Norway. To do so an EEA permit is required, which the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) issue. 

Entry Requirements - Passport validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter Norway. Your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. No additional period of validity beyond this is required. However, it is always sensible to have a short period of extra validity on your passport in case of any unforeseen delays to your departure. You do not have to wait until your old passport expires to apply to renew it. Any time left on your old passport when you apply will be added to your new passport, up to a maximum of nine months. For passport applications in the UK, you should apply to the Identity and Passport Service.

Entry Requirements - Travelling with children
For information on what will be required at immigration contact the Royal Norwegian Embassy in London.

Under the terms of the EEA Regulation, you are covered for emergency treatment whilst visiting Norway. You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Norwegian nationals. It also does not cover you for medical repatriation, on-going medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature. See our EHIC page.

The Norwegian Food Control Authority warns that local advice should be sought if you intend to eat mussels harvested off the coast and certain types of fish from lakes and fjords.

In the 2010 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 4,000 adults aged 15 or over in Norway were living with HIV; the prevalence percentage was estimated at around 0.1% of the adult population compared to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

Seek medical advice before travelling to Norway and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

See our Travel Health page.

General -Insurance
You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling and, if appropriate, that this includes cover for winter sports. Check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See our Travel Insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas see our When Things Go Wrong page.

General - Registration
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

General - Money
Norway is very expensive - bring or have electronic access to plenty of money. Bank opening hours are more restrictive than in the UK - especially in summer, though cashpoints are widely available. Most Norwegian cashpoints accept Visa, Mastercard and Cirrus cards issued by British banks. Be aware that credit cards are generally not as well accepted as a means of payment in Norwegian supermarkets and petrol stations as they are in the UK. You can send money electronically to Norway via Forex, which has five offices in Oslo. Details of its opening hours and addresses can be found here. Money can also be sent visa Western Union, which has offices in Oslo and Bergen.

General - Consular Assistance Statistics
Around 250,000 British tourists visit Norway every year (Source: Norwegian Statistics Bureau, SSB). Most visits are trouble-free. 134 British nationals required consular assistance in Norway in the period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011 for the following types of incident: 39 deaths; six hospitalisations; and 79 arrests, for a variety of offences.