Who is exempt from the Norwegian citizenship test and social studies test?
Applicants aged 18 to 67 normally need the tests. UDI lists four situations where you can be exempt. Which test you are exempt from depends on the reason. UDI assesses requests on health or personal grounds when it processes the citizenship application.
1. You have taken Norwegian society in school or studies
You may be exempt from the citizenship test or the Norwegian-language social studies test if you have one of these, documented:
- social studies in lower secondary school (ungdomsskole) with a final or exam grade of at least 2, documented with a certificate or grade transcript;
- social studies in upper secondary school, taught in Norwegian or Sami, with a half-year, final or exam grade of at least 2, documented with a certificate or grade transcript;
- module 1 of MFY (modulstrukturert fag- og yrkesopplæring), with a competence certificate showing the module is approved;
- university or college courses on Norwegian society worth at least 10 study points, covering the three modules of the curriculum (work and education; family, health and everyday life; Norway past and present), with a grade transcript and course description;
- studies in Norwegian or Sami at university or college level in Norway, with documented credits.
2. Sufficient Norwegian (exempts the oral Norwegian test)
Separate from the citizenship test: ordinary Norwegian or Sami instruction in lower or upper secondary school with a grade of at least 2, MFY module 1, 30 study points in Norwegian or Sami (in Norway or abroad), or meeting the admission requirement for Norwegian-language studies can exempt you from the oral Norwegian test.
3. Municipal exemption decision
You are exempt if your municipality has decided that you do not have to take the training or the test. This does not apply if you used the EU/EEA registration scheme or if your first residence permit leading to permanent residence was granted before 1 September 2005 (as listed by UDI). The municipality decides, not UDI, and the citizenship application forms cannot be used for it.
4. Health or personal reasons
You can ask to be exempt from one or both tests if you cannot pass them even with accommodation. Health problems must be documented by healthcare personnel. Personal reasons include reading and writing difficulties, or little or no schooling from your home country as an adult. You send a main form and, depending on the reason, a supplementary form from a doctor or from your school, special educator, speech therapist or PPT. You hand them in with the citizenship application, and UDI decides. Recent attempts at the tests are taken into account.
Age
The requirement applies to applicants aged 18 to 67. This page lists only the exemptions UDI names. When in doubt, ask UDI before you apply.
Source: UDI: Exemptions from the tests for Norwegian citizenship, read 6 November 2026. Rules can change; UDI's page is the authority.
If you are not exempt
See dates, registration and price, the 4-week study plan and the FAQ.