Norway has allowed dual and multiple citizenship since 1 January 2020. Norwegian law does not require you to give up another citizenship to become Norwegian. Whether you retain the other citizenship depends on that country's rules.
Which application do you need?
There is no separate Norwegian application for “dual citizenship”. If you are applying to become Norwegian, select your circumstances in UDI's citizenship guide. Residence, identity, tests and other requirements still apply to the relevant route. Dual citizenship does not shorten the residence requirement.
If you already are Norwegian and acquire another citizenship from 1 January 2020, acquiring it does not itself cause loss of Norwegian citizenship. Earlier events require a separate assessment under the rules that applied at the time. Keep the decision showing when and how each citizenship was acquired.
Check both countries before applying
Ask the other country's authorities whether naturalisation abroad affects your existing citizenship, whether advance permission is required, and what documentation is needed for your children. Norway's acceptance of multiple citizenship cannot override another country's law. A general list of countries is not a reliable substitute for checking your own situation.
Also check passport and entry rules, military obligations and tax reporting in each country. Tax is not determined solely by where you live: for example, US citizens abroad can have US filing obligations. The IRS guidance on citizens abroad describes that example; it is not a rule for every nationality.
A deadline to check before age 22
Some people who became Norwegian at birth and hold another citizenship must apply to retain Norwegian citizenship before turning 22. UDI's main residence exceptions are at least two years in Norway or seven years in Nordic countries before that birthday. Someone who became Norwegian later, or would be left stateless, has a different position.
Use UDI's retention guide to determine whether an application is needed. If it is, apply well before the birthday and document your citizenship and connection to Norway. A passport renewal alone does not resolve the retention question.
If you previously lost Norwegian citizenship
A notification route can apply to people who lost Norwegian citizenship by acquiring another citizenship before 2020, or by failing to renounce a previous citizenship within the former deadline. It has its own conditions; it is not automatic restoration. People Norwegian from birth must, under this route, have spent a total of six months in Norway before age 22.
Check UDI's notification requirements, select your citizenship, and use the current fee and document list. Do not rely on a fee copied from an older article. Nordic notification routes can differ.
Documents and timing
| When | What to prepare |
|---|---|
| Before an application | Current passports, citizenship decisions, acquisition dates and guidance from both countries |
| Well before a relevant 22nd birthday | Birth records and evidence of residence or connection to Norway, following UDI's checklist |
| Before paying or booking | The current application route, fee, submission instructions and appointment availability |
| While a citizenship application is pending | Renew a temporary residence permit when needed; citizenship processing does not extend it |
Processing times depend on the route and case. Use UDI's current estimate rather than planning around a guaranteed number of weeks.
