75 hours of social studies is not a separate requirement for permanent residence as of 1 October 2026. You normally need to pass the social studies test and a spoken Norwegian test at at least A2. You may still have a separate obligation to take instruction.
Do you need 75 hours of social studies for permanent residence?
75 hours of teaching is no longer a separate requirement for a permanent residence permit. From 1 September 2025, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) instead requires a passed social studies test and spoken Norwegian at a minimum level of A2 for applicants aged 18 to 67. UDI explains the change.
If you have learned the material on your own, you can therefore meet the test requirement without presenting a certificate for 75 hours of classes. This applies to the application for permanent residence itself. You must still meet the other requirements that apply to your permit, residence period and income. See the overview of requirements for a permanent residence permit.
| Question | What applies as of 1 October 2026? | Who should you ask? |
|---|---|---|
| Does permanent residence require 75 course hours? | No, completed instruction is not a separate condition. | UDI or the police |
| Does permanent residence require tests? | Normally social studies and spoken Norwegian at A2 for ages 18–67. | UDI or the police |
| Might you have an obligation to attend instruction? | Yes, it depends on your age and type of residence permit. | The municipality or adult education centre |
| Can self-study replace an instruction obligation? | Do not assume so without clarification or a decision from the municipality. | The municipality |
What is the difference between instruction and a test?
Instruction is teaching you attend; the test documents what you know. They follow different rules. The Integration Act determines who has a right or obligation to receive instruction. Immigration regulations determine which tests are required when applying for permanent residence.
The Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir) says that participants under the current curriculum normally complete 75 hours of social studies. Transitional rules mean that some people must complete 50 hours. So do not use the number of hours alone to decide what applies to your case. HK-dir's curriculum shows the scope; the municipality can check which decision applies to you.
The Directorate of Integration and Diversity (IMDi) explains that age and permit type determine whether you have both a right and an obligation, only an obligation, or neither. For example, some labour immigrants from countries outside the EEA and their families may have only an obligation. Other groups may have both a right and an obligation. The scheme does not automatically apply to everyone who can apply for permanent residence. IMDi's overview of instruction explains the main groups.
When is preparing on your own enough?
Preparing on your own may be enough to meet the test requirements if you pass the tests. It does not remove any separate obligation to attend instruction. These are two separate checks, even though they concern the same subject.
Do this before deciding to skip a course:
- Find the municipality's decision about instruction, if you have received one.
- Check which residence permit you have and when it was granted.
- Ask the municipality's adult education service in writing whether you have a right, an obligation or neither, and how many hours apply to you.
- Check UDI's requirements for your specific permanent residence application.
- Keep responses, decisions and test results separately.
For example: Mina has a permit that gives her an obligation to take social studies instruction. She studies by herself and passes the test before the course ends. The test may meet UDI's test requirement, but she should still ask the municipality about the rest of her instruction obligation. Omar has no obligation to attend instruction under the Integration Act. He can study on his own and take the tests he needs for permanent residence. Both must check their other conditions with UDI. The examples show a process, not decisions in their individual cases.
Which tests do you need to take?
The main rule for permanent residence is spoken Norwegian at A2 or higher and a passed social studies test in a language you understand. These are two different tests. Passing a Norwegian test alone does not replace the social studies test. The language choice and the difference from the citizenship test matter if you are also planning to apply for Norwegian citizenship.
HK-dir provides the public curriculum on samfunnskunnskap.no and a sample test. You can read the curriculum without being enrolled in a course. On SamfunnPrep, you can find original practice questions and a free test to identify topics you should read more about. The questions are not the confidential questions from the public test. Also see the guide to preparing for the social studies test.
What if you cannot pass a test?
A possible exemption from a test requirement must be assessed under the rules for that test. You do not automatically get an exemption because you have not completed 75 hours. UDI lists several possible grounds, including documented knowledge, a municipal exemption decision, or special health and personal circumstances. UDI's page about exemptions from tests describes the documentation.
The municipality handles questions about the obligation to attend instruction and municipal exemptions. The police or UDI assess exemptions from requirements for a permanent residence application. A need for extra time or another arrangement on test day is an accommodation, which you clarify with the test centre. Read the guide to exemption from the social studies test before submitting documents.
Checklist before you apply
Clarify instruction and tests separately before applying. Use this list together with UDI's personal checklist for your permit type:
- I know whether the municipality has made an instruction decision for me.
- I have asked the municipality about any obligation and the number of hours.
- I have passed the tests UDI requires, or have documentation for an exemption.
- I have checked my residence period, income and the conditions for my current permit.
- I have saved my test results and municipal decisions.
The rules and sources in this article were checked 1 October 2026. SamfunnPrep can help you practise for the social studies test, but the municipality and UDI decide legal questions in your case. Try SamfunnPrep for free once you know which test you need.
