Expat Advice about Moving to Norway

Back in December Norway was our featured country and we posted advice if you wanted to begin a business or work with clients in Norway.  A recent Expat Exchange article also lists some additional advice for expats:

What advice would you give someone preparing to move to your area about the actual move, choosing a neighborhood and finding a home?

Make sure you choose a reputable company to move your stuff overseas who know how to handle all of the documents- the customs people here hold shipments for crazy amounts of time.

Choose a neighborhood close to public transport. It is pricier but well worth not having to walk 20 minutes very 2 in the winter. Be open minded about flats. I have yet to see a place with more than 1 bath and double vanities don't exist. The fridges are small- overall things are smaller and it's important not to let it bother you!

Name three things that you wish you had brought and three you wish you had left at home.

I wish I had brought more clothes, more kitchen stuff like pots and pans(too expensive here) and my skis- they were not cheap to buy!

I wish I had left my small kitchen appliances- I brought voltage converters and they are a pain, it would have been easier to just buy Norwegian ones. I would not have brought so many shoes- coming from Houston I have a lot of sandals and heels, both are impractical to wear most of the year.

Read more at Expat Exchange.com

The U.S. State Department reports that medical facilities are widely available and of high quality, but may be limited outside the larger urban areas. The remote and sparse populations in northern Norway and the dependency on ferries to cross fjords of western Norway may affect transportation and ready access to medical facilities.  If you live or plan to move to a rural area, then we highly recommend an emergency medical evacuation insurance plan.  Call Insurance Services of America at 800.647.4589 or 001.480.821.9052  for a no-obligation quote.

According to Altegrity Risk International:

While Norway enjoys an extremely low crime rate, criminal activity has increased over the past few years. The rise in crime rates is attributed to the increased use of narcotics and activity of criminal youth gangs. Instances of pick-pocketing and purse-snatching are common in major tourist areas, train and transit stations, hotel lobbies, and high transit areas. Thieves, many from Eastern Europe, have been known to break into homes both during broad daylight and at night, while the occupants are asleep. Residential burglaries and petty thefts are the most prevalent crimes, with the former witnessing a 37% increase in 2008.

In July 2008, at least 16 tour buses, nearly half from Spain, were vandalized at various locations in Oslo, causing some tour operators to consider halting trips to the city. In one instance, a bus carrying Spanish tourists was set on fire near the new Opera House on the waterfront just two days after its windshield was smashed. Two other buses parked in the Vika district had their windows smashed and a number of valuables, including DVDs and a GPS device, were stolen.

The overall threat of violent and weapons-related crime is low in the city; however, such incidents are increasingly reported, particularly in areas known to have drug and gang activity, including certain areas of eastern Oslo. As incidents of rape and sexual assaults are on the rise, female foreign nationals are urged to remain alert, particularly when walking alone or at night.

Although there is a low risk of terrorism in Oslo, foreign terrorist organizations have been known to operate in the city. According to Norwegian security officials, the terrorist threat in Oslo has risen and Norway may serve as a potential recruiting ground and source of financing for terror groups operating abroad. In addition, several radical Islamist clerics are based in the city and could potentially incite acts of extremism. In February 2008, Oslo police arrested three individuals on suspicion of financing terror groups.

While the threat of kidnapping in Oslo is low, it should not be discounted. Though organized crime exists in Norway, their activities are largely underground and rarely affect foreign nationals.

The overall threat of civil unrest is low; however, there were a number of uncharacteristically violent protests in Oslo in late December 2008 and early January 2009 against the Israeli invasion of Gaza. Several of these demonstrations, which were held largely by groups of immigrant Muslim youths near the Israeli Embassy and in the central parts of downtown Oslo, saw tear gas deployed to subdue violent protestors. On two occasions, demonstrations turned into riots, resulting in attacks on police with fireworks and the smashing of police vehicles. Additionally, at least five fast food restaurants were damaged by rioters, who had apparently received SMS text messages indicating that these restaurants were financially supporting Israel.

In July 2009, about 100 ethnic Uighurs waving their national flag gathered outside China's Embassy in Oslo, demanding that China end violence and ethnic discrimination in Xinjiang. Two people were injured in the protest, including one who attempted to scale the embassy fence, and 11 demonstrators were detained.

Protests against specific U.S. Government positions have been staged at the American Embassy and in the central areas of Oslo. Such demonstrations have remained largely peaceful and have not targeted U.S. citizens.

Oslo police are professional and cooperative, with excellent equipment and an efficient response time. Law enforcement personnel in Norway are well trained and largely fluent in English. Foreigners should note that police will not usually come to the scene of routine incidents such as minor traffic accidents.

Most Dangerous Areas

Crime typically occurs around the main tourist center, including Karl Johans gate and park-piazza area, the Stortinget, the Basarhallene, the Domkirke, the Nationaltheatret, the Royal Palace, the train station Oslo Sentralstasjon (Oslo S), and the bus terminal Bussterminalen. The area around the city's plethora of museums is also home to pickpockets, which includes the areas in and around the Munch Museum, the Viking Ships Museum, the Kontiki Museum, the Fram Museum, the Norwegian Maritime Museum, and the Norwegian Folk Museum. As in all foreign cities, foreign nationals are urged to limit travel after dark and to travel in groups whenever possible.
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