If you move to another county while attending upper secondary school, you can ask to transfer. Contact the admissions office in the county you are moving to first. It must assess your right to education, programme, available places and timing. A place at the school you prefer, or a start in the same week, is not automatic.
Who decides on a transfer between upper secondary schools?
The county authority where you live is responsible for your right to upper secondary education. It also handles admissions to schools. Therefore, contact the admissions office in your new county, not only the school you hope to attend. Tell the counsellor at your current school that you are planning to move.
Transferring schools differs from choosing a new education programme. The Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training (Udir) says you cannot make a formal programme change in the middle of a school year. If you are in Vg2 health worker studies and move, first ask whether you can continue the same programme area. If you want a completely different course, seek guidance about the next ordinary admission. SamfunnPrep's guide to Vigo and ordinary admission covers applications for a new school year; this article concerns moving during the year.
| Situation | First contact | Questions to clarify |
|---|---|---|
| You move before the next school year | Admissions office in the new county | Vigo application, proof of the move, local deadline |
| You move during the school year | New county admissions office and your current school | Vacancy, possible start date, subjects and assessment |
| You want another programme | School counsellor and admissions office | Programme change at the next admission, subjects that may count |
| You receive special support | Both schools and the county authority | Plan for language support or adjustments from the start |
Can you change schools in the middle of a school year?
It may be possible, but the county authority must assess your individual case. Space, education programme, level and how much of the school year has passed all matter. National application deadlines are designed for admission to a school year. They do not mean that everyone who moves in January gets a specific classroom the next day.
Udir explains that applications submitted after the ordinary deadline are handled under the county's local admissions regulations. A late application should be considered if possible; otherwise it may be processed for the next school year. From 1 August 2026, special rules apply to admission after the deadline when a child moves to or from an out-of-home child welfare measure, or returns after an involuntary stay abroad. Those exceptions do not automatically apply to an ordinary family move. Tell the admissions office if one of those situations applies to you.
Ask whether you need to submit a new Vigo application, a separate moving form or both. Vestland County Authority, for example, refers to a special notification form for moving for applicants moving into the county. Akershus has its own digital form for an applicant moving there and asks, among other things, for the move date, new address and evidence. This shows why a general email to the school does not always complete the application process.
Which documents should you collect before calling?
Bring evidence of both the move and your current course of study. This gives the admissions office a basis for comparing programmes and arranging a possible transition. The county will tell you which attachments it actually requires; this list is a practical starting point.
- Your new address, planned moving date and proof of the move, such as a tenancy agreement or residence certificate.
- Your current school, level, education programme and programme area.
- An overview of subjects, timetable, earlier grades and assessments in current subjects.
- Details of placements, vocational specialisation or other course elements that must fit together.
- Relevant decisions on special language training, individual adjustments or school transport, if applicable.
Udir's national rule says that someone who can document a planned move must apply to the county they are moving to. The county may specify how the move must be documented. The Akershus form, for example, mentions a purchase or tenancy agreement, residence certificate and certain other confirmations. Use the county's current list and do not send more personal information than requested. SamfunnPrep's explanation of counties and municipalities can help if you are unsure which office is responsible.
How can you avoid gaps in teaching and assessment?
Agree on the last and first school days in writing before you stop attending. Ask the old school how subjects, absence records and ongoing assessments will be transferred. Ask the new school whether your subjects fit its course plan and what you might need to catch up on.
This matters especially when schools teach subjects at different levels. Udir notes that alternative arrangements of subjects and teaching hours can cause difficulties when transferring between counties. You may need a plan for missing subjects. Do not assume that “Vg2” means an identical subject package everywhere. If you receive special language instruction or other support, tell the new county early and ask who will coordinate the transition plan.
Also ask about school transport from your new address. Transport is assessed under separate rules and should not be confused with the school place itself. The overview of school transport offers questions to take to the county. If you receive a loan or grant, ask Lånekassen what the school and address change means for your case.
Example: moving in January
Leila attends Vg2 health worker studies in Innlandet. Her family moves to Vestland on 15 January. She asks her school counsellor for a subject overview and assessments, and contacts the Vestland admissions office with the moving date and new address. She asks whether a suitable course is available that school year, whether a separate moving form is required, and how placements and absences will be handled.
Leila continues at her current school until the family moves and she has a concrete agreement on the next step. If no suitable place is available immediately, she asks the county to explain how her right to education will be followed up and which application she should make next. This is an example of a process, not a promise of a vacant place.
A short message to the admissions office
Ask about the place, procedure and date in one message. Then you do not have to guess whether registering in Vigo is enough. Use the county's secure channel for identity numbers and sensitive details.
I currently attend [school], [Vg level and programme area], in [county]. I am moving to [municipality/county] around [date]. Could you tell me who handles transfers during the school year, whether there is a course matching my programme, which forms and documents I need to submit, and when I can expect an answer about a possible start date? I receive [any language support/adjustments] and would like a transition plan.
SamfunnPrep has a first-week checklist you can use to organise contacts when moving. Add the admissions office, old school, new school, Lånekassen and any transport provider. The checklist does not decide your school place; the county authority does.
Sources checked on 2 October 2026: Udir on the right to education, admissions, moving, local admission rules and programme changes; Vestland and Akershus county authorities on moving forms.
