Norway
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Latest updates: The Safety and security tab was updated – terrorism.
Risk level(s)
Risk level(s)
Norway - Exercise normal security precautions
There is no nationwide advisory in effect for Norway. Exercise normal security precautions.
Safety and security
Safety and security
Crime
The crime rate is low; however, petty crime (pickpocketing and purse snatching) occurs, particularly during the summer tourist season, from May to September. Remain vigilant in public places and tourist areas, including airports, train and bus stations, restaurants and hotels.
After dark, avoid poorly lit areas, especially the streets around Oslo’s Central (railway) Station.
Terrorism
On November 21, 2016, the U.S. Department of State issued a Travel Alert for Europe, alerting U.S. citizens to the “heightened risk of terrorist attacks throughout Europe, particularly during the holiday season” and advising them to “exercise vigilance when attending large holiday events, visiting tourist sites, using public transportation, and frequenting places of worship, restaurants, hotels, etc.”
There is a threat of terrorism in Europe. Terrorist attacks have occurred in a number of European cities and there is a potential for other violent incidents, which could target areas frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. Continue to exercise normal security precautions.
The Government of Norway maintains a public alert system on terrorism. Monitor local media for the latest information and follow the instructions of local authorities.
Road safety
Narrow and winding roads may be hazardous and impassable, especially in winter and in mountainous areas. Observe posted speed limits and keep headlights on at all times. Respect signs showing animal crossings, especially for moose.
Public transportation
Public transportation services are efficient and reliable. Use only officially marked taxis, particularly in Oslo.
Air travel
The Government of Canada does not assess foreign domestic airlines’ compliance with international aviation safety standards. See Foreign domestic airlines for more information.
Fraud
Fraudulent electronic readout devices are sometimes used at automated banking machines (ABMs) in Norway and the victim’s banking information is sold or traded online. To avoid being a victim of this fraud, use ABMs located in well-lit public areas or inside a bank or business, avoid card readers with an irregular aspect, cover the keypad with one hand when entering your PIN and check for any unauthorized transactions on your account statements.
See our Overseas Fraud page for more information on scams abroad.
Mountain activities
If you intend to engage in mountaineering, glacier climbing or skiing:
- never practice these activities alone;
- always hire an experienced guide from a reputable company;
- buy travel insurance that includes helicopter rescue and medical evacuation;
- ensure that your physical condition is good enough to meet the challenges of your activity;
- ensure that you are properly equipped and well informed about weather and other conditions that may pose a hazard;
- advise a family member or friend of your destination, itinerary and when you expect to be back to camp;
- know the symptoms of acute altitude sickness, which can be fatal;
- sign up with the Registration of Canadians Abroad; and
- obtain detailed information on trekking routes or ski slopes before setting out, and do not venture off established trails or slopes, especially in early or late winter, when warming weather increases the possibility of avalanches.
Consider using a cell phone and a GPS tracking system, which can assist emergency response units in locating you if you become stranded. Bring other safety devices such as a back plate, a helmet and a spade for digging snow. If you feel that it is dangerous, remember that it is never too late to turn back. For more information on safe trekking, consult the Norwegian Trekking Association’s website.
General safety information
Exercise normal safety precautions. Ensure that your personal belongings, including passports and other travel documents, are secure at all times.
Entry/exit requirements
Entry/exit requirements
It is the sole prerogative of every country or territory to determine who is allowed to enter or exit. Canadian consular officials cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet entry or exit requirements. The following information has been obtained from the Norwegian authorities and is subject to change at any time. The country- or territory-specific entry/exit requirements are provided on this page for information purposes only. While every effort is made to provide accurate information, information contained here is provided on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind, express or implied. The Government of Canada assumes no responsibility, and shall not be liable for any damages in connection to the information provided. It is your responsibility to check with the Royal Norwegian Embassy or one of its consulates for up-to-date information.
Passport
Norway is a Schengen area country. Upon arrival, Canadians are required to present a passport that must be valid for at least three months beyond the date of expected departure from the Schengen area. Prior to travelling, ask your transportation company about its requirements related to passport validity, which may be more stringent than the country's entry rules.
Temporary passport holders may be subject to different entry requirements. Check with diplomatic representatives for up-to-date information.
Official (special and diplomatic) passport holders must consult the Official Travel page, as they may be subject to different entry requirements.
Temporary border controls
The Norwegian government has reintroduced internal border controls at certain border crossings. Canadians may be required to pass through immigration controls when entering Norway, even if arriving from another Schengen area country.
Visas
Tourist visa: Not required for stays up to 90 days*
Business visa: Not required
Work visa: Employment authorization must be obtained outside of Norway, prior to arrival. Consult the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Ottawa for details.
Student visa: Not required for stays up to 90 days
* The 90-day period begins upon initial entry into any country of the Schengen area. Stays are cumulative and include visits to any Schengen area country within any 180-day period.
Schengen area
Canadians do not need a visa for travel to countries within the Schengen area for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Stays are cumulative and include visits to any country within the Schengen area. If you plan to stay in the Schengen area for longer than the 90 days in any 180-day period, you must contact the high commission or embassy of the country or countries you are travelling to and obtain the appropriate visa prior to travel. For more information, see Schengen area.
Svalbard
While Svalbard is a Norwegian territory, it is not part of the Schengen area. If you travel to Svalbard you will require a valid passport to enter and you will be required to meet Schengen area entry regulations when returning to Norway’s mainland.
Consult the Governor of Svalbard’s Entry and residence page for additional information.
Children and travel
Children need special documentation to visit certain countries. See Children for more information.
Yellow fever
See Health to obtain information on this country’s vaccination requirements.
Health
Health
- Measles: Global Update - July 28, 2016 00:00 EDT
Vaccines
Routine Vaccines
Be sure that your routine vaccines are up-to-date regardless of your travel destination.
Vaccines to Consider
You may be at risk for these vaccine-preventable diseases while travelling in this country. Talk to your travel health provider about which ones are right for you.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a disease of the liver spread through blood or other bodily fluids. Travellers who may be exposed (e.g., through sexual contact, medical treatment, sharing needles, tattooing, acupuncture or occupational exposure) should get vaccinated.
Influenza
Seasonal influenza occurs worldwide. The flu season usually runs from November to April in the northern hemisphere, between April and October in the southern hemisphere and year round in the tropics. Influenza (flu) is caused by a virus spread from person to person when they cough or sneeze or by touching objects and surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus. Get the flu shot.
Measles
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease and is common in most parts of the world. Be sure your measles vaccination is up-to-date regardless of your travel destination.
Tick-borne encephalitis
Tick-borne encephalitis is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system. It is spread to humans by the bite of an infected tick. Vaccination should be considered for those who may be exposed to ticks (e.g., those participating in outdoor activities in wooded areas) while travelling in regions with risk of tick-borne encephalitis.
Yellow Fever Vaccination
Yellow fever is a disease caused by a flavivirus from the bite of an infected mosquito.
Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection.
| * It is important to note that country entry requirements may not reflect your risk of yellow fever at your destination. It is recommended that you contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the destination(s) you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements. | |
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Food/Water
Food and Water-borne Diseases
Travellers to any destination in the world can develop travellers' diarrhea from consuming contaminated water or food.
Practise safe food and water precautions while travelling in Western Europe. When in doubt, remember…boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
Insects
Insects and Illness
In some areas in Western Europe, certain insects carry and spread diseases like Lyme disease, tick-borne encephalitis, and West Nile virus.
Travellers are advised to take precautions against bites.
Malaria
Malaria
There is no risk of malaria in this country.
Animals
Animals and Illness
Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats. Certain infections found in some areas in Western Europe, like rabies, can be shared between humans and animals.
Person-to-Person
Person-to-Person Infections
Crowded conditions can increase your risk of certain illnesses. Remember to wash your hands often and practice proper cough and sneeze etiquette to avoid colds, the flu and other illnesses.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV are spread through blood and bodily fluids; practise safer sex.
Medical services and facilities
The standard of health-care services is high and excellent medical care is widely available. However, access to emergency medical assistance may be limited in remote regions.
Keep in Mind...
The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety.
Be prepared. Do not expect medical services to be the same as in Canada. Pack a travel health kit, especially if you will be travelling away from major city centres.
Laws and culture
Laws & culture
You are subject to local laws. See Arrest and detention for more information.
Canada and Norway are signatories to the Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons (Council of Europe). This enables a Canadian imprisoned in Norway to request a transfer to a Canadian prison to complete a sentence. The transfer requires the agreement of both Canadian and Norwegian authorities.
Dual citizenship
Dual citizenship is not legally recognized in Norway*. If local authorities consider you a Norwegian citizen, they may refuse to grant you access to Canadian consular services, thereby preventing Canadian consular officials from providing you with those services. You should always travel using your valid Canadian passport and present yourself as Canadian to foreign authorities at all times to minimize this risk. You may also need to carry and present a Norwegian passport for legal reasons, for example to enter and exit the country (see Entry/exit requirements to determine passport requirements). Citizenship is determined solely by national laws, and the decision to recognize dual citizenship rests completely with the country in which you are located when seeking consular assistance. See Travelling as a dual citizen for more information.
* Dual citizenship is recognized in certain cases. Consult the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration’s Dual citizenship page for additional information.
Illegal drugs
Penalties for trafficking, use or possession, even of small amount, of illegal drugs are severe. Convicted offenders can expect heavy fines, detention or deportation*. A visitor found in possession of drugs upon arrival in Norway will be charged with importation rather than simple possession.
Some substances that may be legal in other European countries, such as khat, are prohibited in Norway.
* Deportation from Norway will also mean expulsion from the greater Schengen area. The period of expulsion can be from 2 to 5 years, depending on the severity of the offence.
Road travel
An International Driving Permit is recommended.
Penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs are severe. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.02 percent. Roadside checks for alcohol are frequent, and submission to a breathalyzer test is mandatory.
The use of a cellular telephone while driving is prohibited, unless it is fitted with a hands-free device.
The use of headlights is mandatory, even during day time.
Winter tires are mandatory from November 1 to April 15.
Additional information on road safety and regulations can be found on the European Commission’s Mobility and Transport.
Money
The currency is the Norwegian krone (NOK).
Most credit cards and traveller’s cheques are widely accepted, and automated banking machines are widely available.
When crossing one of the external border control points of the European Union (EU), you must make a declaration to customs upon entry or exit if you have at least €10,000, or the equivalent in other currencies. Norway restricts that amount to NOK25,000 (approximately €3125). The sum can be in cash, cheques, money orders, traveller’s cheques or any other convertible assets. This does not apply if you are travelling within the EU or in transit to a non-EU country. For more information on the EU legislation and links to EU country sites, visit the European Commission’s cash controls website.
Natural disasters and climate
Natural disasters & climate
Avalanches and rockslides present a risk in mountainous areas where the weather is highly unpredictable. Monitor local media and the Norwegian meteorological service to stay informed on weather patterns before setting off on a trek.
Assistance
Assistance
Local services
Emergency services
In case of emergency, dial:
- police: 112
- medical assistance: 113
- firefighters: 110
Consular assistance
Oslo - Embassy of Canada
For emergency consular assistance, call the Embassy of Canada in Oslo and follow the instructions. At any time, you may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.
The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad. The Government of Canada takes the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously and provides credible and timely information in its Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel abroad. In the event of a large-scale emergency, every effort will be made to provide assistance. However, there may be constraints that will limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide services.
See Large-scale emergencies abroad for more information.