Norway travel advice

Travel Summary

• There are confirmed human cases of the H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) in Norway. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase to Level 6. The WHO website at: www.who.int/ has further details. You should monitor local media reports for any developments and advice. Check Swine Flu for further information. Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website at www.dh.gov.uk.

  
  
• There is an underlying threat from terrorism. Attacks, although unlikely, could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• Around 250,000 British tourists visit Norway every year (Source: Norwegian Statisics Bureau, SSB). Most visits are trouble-free. 94 British nationals required consular assistance in Norway in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident; deaths (41 cases); hospitalisations (3 cases); and arrests, for a variety of offences (43 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (73 cases). Petty crime does occur but at a low level compared to other European countries.
  
  
• You should be aware that drugs and drink driving laws are stricter in Norway than in the UK.
  
  
• We recommend that comprehensive travel and medical insurance is obtained before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.

Safety and security

Terrorism

There is an underlying threat from terrorism. Attacks, although unlikely, could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

For more general information see Terrorism Abroad.

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.

Political Situation

Norway Country Profile

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 2007 there were 233 road deaths in Norway (source: DfT). This equates to 5.0 road deaths per 100,000 of population the same average ratio as in the UK.

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). You should keep headlights on at all times and observe speed limits, which are, in general significantly lower than in the UK. Fines for exceeding the speed limit are high. You should 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.

Road Hauliers

Since 1 November 2005, 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.

For more general information see Driving Abroad.

Air Travel

The revised EU-wide security measures that came into effect for all passengers departing from UK airports in November 2006 are also being implemented in Norway. For more details about this see Airline Security.

Local laws and customs

You should 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.

Imports

Norwegian authorities allow the importation of up to a maximum of 10kgs (combined total) of meat and cheese for personal consumption. If you have any other import queries may contact the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for additional information.

You should 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.

For more general information for different types of travellers see Travel Advice Relevant to You.

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.

Passport validity

You should be in possession of a valid passport. There is no minimum validity required but you should ensure that your passport is valid for your return journey.

Travelling with children

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.

Health

There are confirmed human cases of the H1N1 virus (Swine Flu) in Norway. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase to Level 6. The WHO website at: www.who.int/ has further details. You should monitor local media reports for any developments and advice. Check Swine Flu for further information. Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website at www.dh.gov.uk.

The standard of healthcare in Norway is high.

Under the terms of the EEA Regulation, you are covered for emergency treatment whilst visiting Norway. The Form E111 is no longer valid. 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. For more general information see EHIC.

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 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 3,000 adults aged 15 or over in Norway were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 0.1% of the adult population. This compares 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.

You should 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.

For more general health information see Travel Health.

General

Insurance

We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling and, if appropriate, that this includes cover for winter sports. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see Travel Insurance.

If things do go wrong when you are oversees then this is How We Can Help.

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. More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.

Money

Norway is very expensive - bring or have electronic access to plenty of money, especially if you intend to eat and drink in restaurants and bars. 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. You should 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 - but this situation is improving all the time. 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.

Visiting in Summer

If you intend to visit forest, lake and mountainous regions you should 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.

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.

You should 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.