https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Norway in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Despite loving so much of what the country has to offer, not all foreign residents in Norway stay forever. Many reach a point when they want to return home or move to another country, as Mari Wachelke explains with the help of some of those who left. https://www.thelocal.no/20260109/i-cant-say-i-wasnt-warned-the-reasons-foreign-residents-leave-norway Fri, 09 Jan 2026 12:44:25 +0100 i-cant-say-i-wasnt-warned-the-reasons-foreign-residents-leave-norway Norway’s biggest day of the year is just around the corner. On May 17th, the country is filled with red, white, and blue as everyone celebrates Constitution Day, but we want to know what our readers really think about it. https://www.thelocal.no/20260511/have-your-say-how-do-you-feel-about-norways-national-day Mon, 11 May 2026 13:09:14 +0200 have-your-say-how-do-you-feel-about-norways-national-day The lengthy wait for a residence permit has become one of the defining struggles for foreigners in Norway. So, what advice can those who have navigated this long and frustrating process, or are currently enduring it, offer to others? We asked our readers to share their insights. https://www.thelocal.no/20260506/hold-on-tight-advice-from-those-stuck-in-norways-udi-limbo Wed, 06 May 2026 11:00:25 +0200 hold-on-tight-advice-from-those-stuck-in-norways-udi-limbo Norway has consistently been ranked as one of the hardest places for foreign residents to settle and feel accepted. We asked foreigners in Norway what needs to change. https://www.thelocal.no/20240716/they-dont-ask-if-you-need-help-how-norway-can-be-more-inclusive-for-foreigners Tue, 16 Jul 2024 16:09:13 +0200 they-dont-ask-if-you-need-help-how-norway-can-be-more-inclusive-for-foreigners Comments by readers of The Local Norway—whether opinions, advice, or tales of life in the country—offer vital insights to others. We've picked out some recent contributions on topics spanning the hurdles foreigners face as they try to integrate into Norwegian life, everything from housing, the job market to the doctors office. https://www.thelocal.no/20260217/your-views-norway-does-not-have-to-adapt-to-us-we-have-to-adapt-to-it Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:44:51 +0100 your-views-norway-does-not-have-to-adapt-to-us-we-have-to-adapt-to-it Integration in Norway often starts with language classes and getting residence permits, but for many foreigners, it ends at the point when it comes to finding a job as readers reveal the hidden barriers to work. https://www.thelocal.no/20260204/i-was-told-a-norwegian-was-more-suited-the-hurdles-foreign-job-seekers-face-in-norway Wed, 04 Feb 2026 14:43:43 +0100 i-was-told-a-norwegian-was-more-suited-the-hurdles-foreign-job-seekers-face-in-norway Norway is often viewed as a place of tolerance and equality. However, many foreigners living here feel that things have changed and xenophobia is on the rise. Some now experience subtle exclusion, while others face hostility, making it harder to feel like they belong. https://www.thelocal.no/20260203/xenophobia-in-norway-norwegians-have-become-more-protective-of-their-country Tue, 03 Feb 2026 17:49:37 +0100 xenophobia-in-norway-norwegians-have-become-more-protective-of-their-country Norway has so much to offer foreign residents from quality of life to work life balance, but according to readers the quality of the country's health system leaves a lot to be desired and pushes many to consider leaving. https://www.thelocal.no/20260109/it-relies-on-paracetamol-why-foreigners-find-norways-health-system-below-par Fri, 09 Jan 2026 18:03:33 +0100 it-relies-on-paracetamol-why-foreigners-find-norways-health-system-below-par Dual-national American readers across Europe say they would give up their US passports to stay European if they were forced to, with many citing political disillusionment, fears for safety, and the feeling of belonging to their adopted country. https://www.thelocal.no/20251213/i-feel-alienated-american-dual-nationals-in-europe-ready-to-renounce-citizenship Sat, 13 Dec 2025 12:06:30 +0100 i-feel-alienated-american-dual-nationals-in-europe-ready-to-renounce-citizenship Foreigners living and raising children in Norway, might want them to become native speakers of at least two languages. We asked our readers to share their tips and experiences. https://www.thelocal.no/20240409/dont-let-anything-put-you-off-how-foreigners-in-norway-raise-bilingual-kids Tue, 09 Apr 2024 19:13:28 +0200 dont-let-anything-put-you-off-how-foreigners-in-norway-raise-bilingual-kids It’s a long road to Norwegian citizenship. Thankfully, The Local’s readers have shared their insights on what to expect from the process and their motivations for applying. https://www.thelocal.no/20240805/how-hard-is-it-to-apply-for-norwegian-citizenship Mon, 05 Aug 2024 13:49:46 +0200 how-hard-is-it-to-apply-for-norwegian-citizenship Picking the right bank in Norway, or even getting an appointment to open an account, can be hard. Thankfully, The Local’s readers have shared their experiences and advice to give you a head start. https://www.thelocal.no/20240223/the-verdict-what-are-the-best-banks-for-foreigners-in-norway Fri, 23 Feb 2024 12:37:39 +0100 the-verdict-what-are-the-best-banks-for-foreigners-in-norway What's considered good house manners to Norwegian school kids decked out in jumpsuits and partying in the runup to their exams are among the culture shocks in Norway that foreigners told us about in a survey. https://www.thelocal.no/20230524/the-biggest-culture-shocks-for-foreigners-living-in-norway Wed, 24 May 2023 16:19:02 +0200 the-biggest-culture-shocks-for-foreigners-living-in-norway Navigating two tax systems as an American living in Norway can be a headache-inducing process. So, is it worth shelling out for professional help? We asked our readers. https://www.thelocal.no/20240201/americans-in-norway-is-it-worth-paying-for-professional-help-with-taxes Thu, 01 Feb 2024 13:51:06 +0100 americans-in-norway-is-it-worth-paying-for-professional-help-with-taxes It's very common to hear English spoken all over Norway. The Local's readers shared their thoughts on whether you'll be able to get by without learning Norwegian. https://www.thelocal.no/20221130/readers-reveal-can-you-get-by-in-norway-with-just-english Wed, 30 Nov 2022 14:07:39 +0100 readers-reveal-can-you-get-by-in-norway-with-just-english Norway and other European countries are hoping to attract scientists fleeing Donald Trump's crackdown on US universities, but what do researchers themselves think Norway should be doing to make the country a more attractive choice for academics? https://www.thelocal.no/20250508/five-things-norway-should-do-to-attract-foreign-researchers Thu, 08 May 2025 17:06:30 +0200 five-things-norway-should-do-to-attract-foreign-researchers From taking up new hobbies, tweaking their diets, and placing a more Norwegian name on their CV to changing how they act in social situations, foreigners in Norway have shared their stories of fitting in. https://www.thelocal.no/20240119/how-foreigners-in-norway-have-made-themselves-more-norwegian-to-fit-in Fri, 19 Jan 2024 14:16:35 +0100 how-foreigners-in-norway-have-made-themselves-more-norwegian-to-fit-in From finding flats to trying to get a job, The Local’s readers have shared the ways in which having a foreign name in Norway has made their life harder. https://www.thelocal.no/20241016/you-have-to-prove-yourself-more-how-foreign-names-impact-life-in-norway Wed, 16 Oct 2024 12:30:11 +0200 you-have-to-prove-yourself-more-how-foreign-names-impact-life-in-norway High wages and an excellent work-life balance could be expected when working for a Norwegian firm, The Local's readers have said. However, not everything about Norwegian companies was so great. https://www.thelocal.no/20230922/high-wages-and-a-good-atmosphere-the-verdict-on-working-for-a-norwegian-firm Fri, 22 Sep 2023 16:30:13 +0200 high-wages-and-a-good-atmosphere-the-verdict-on-working-for-a-norwegian-firm Temperatures have recently hit levels defined as ‘heatwave’ in Scandinavia, so we asked our readers in Norway, Sweden and Denmark how they cope with Nordic summers. https://www.thelocal.no/20240701/i-get-more-sunburnt-how-foreigners-cope-with-scandinavian-heatwaves Mon, 01 Jul 2024 18:28:37 +0200 i-get-more-sunburnt-how-foreigners-cope-with-scandinavian-heatwaves