Norwegian citizenship test
Read about the test
If you are applying for Norwegian citizenship, you must have passed either the citizenship test or the social studies test in Norwegian.
Duration
The test lasts for a maximum of one hour (60 minutes).
Language
The test is in Norwegian. You can choose whether to take the test in Nynorsk or Bokmål. The test is at language level A2.
You can have the questions read aloud through audio files when taking the test.
Who needs to take the citizenship test?
The difference between the citizenship test and the social studies test
The citizenship test and the social studies test cover the same curriculum, which is available on the website samfunnskunnskap.no.
The citizenship test has a slightly lower language level in Norwegian than the social studies test. The language level for the citizenship test corresponds to level A2, while the language level for the social studies test is considered higher than A2. Read about the language levels.
If you are applying for citizenship, you must pass the citizenship test or take the social studies test in Norwegian.
To get an overview of all the requirements for citizenship, check the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) website.
How the test is structured
The citizenship test consists of 36 questions. Each question has three answer options, of which only one is correct.
The questions you will face in the test are drawn from the curriculum in Norwegian and social studies for adult immigrants.
You must have 24 correct answers to pass the test.
Only 32 of the questions in the test are scored. This is because we are testing four new questions in the test. Whether you answer these four test questions correctly or incorrectly will not affect your final score.
Rights and obligations
The test can be adapted or accommodated in various ways. Accommodations could include, for example, extra time or being allowed to sit in a separate room when taking the test.
You must contact your test centre as soon as possible, and no later than three days after registering for the test.
You are not allowed to use any notes, internet pages, or electronic aids during the test. If you use or try to use these, it is considered cheating.
The following are some examples of cheating:
- Using false ID
- Using or bringing electronic devices, smart glasses, smart watches or mobile phones
- Using web pages or computer programs other than the test application (e.g. Word, Notepad)
- Using a dictionary or notes brought to the test centre
- Communicating with anyone other than test centre employees during the test
- Copying or memorizing answers or texts from others, and using them in your own answer (plagiarism)
- Pasting text into the Norwegian language writing test (this will automatically count as cheating)
Cheating and attempted cheating can have the following consequences:
- You will be told to leave the premises
- You will not get a test certificate
- You must wait one year to resit
- You will have to pay to retake the test
Cheating may be discovered during or after the test, or when it is being marked.
If you are caught cheating, you will be issued with a formal decision. You may appeal this decision. Read more about appealing.
Forging your test certificate is considered document forgery and can lead to prosecution.
Practical information
On the day of the test, you must show a valid form of identification.
Valid identification (ID):
- A valid passport
- A Norwegian driving licence – original and duplicate
- A Norwegian bank card bearing a photograph
- A national ID card issued by a country within the EEA
- A refugee travel document and immigrant’s passport
- A residence card
- An asylum seeker’s ID bearing a signature and place of birth
The Storting has decided to raise requirements for proficiency in spoken Norwegian to the B1 level for those seeking to obtain Norwegian citizenship. The change entered into affect on 1 October 2022.