You may request an exemption from the oral test of Norwegian if health-related factors or other personal circumstances prevent you from passing the test at the B1 level. In such case, you must either pass an A2-level test or be able to document that there are weighty reasons preventing you from taking or passing the test at the A2 level. Exemptions from passing a test at the A2 level are rarely granted.

You may also request an exemption from the citizenship test if health issues, other weighty reasons, or personal circumstances prevent you from passing it.

Relevant health complications can include chronic or serious illness or other problems which make it difficult for you to learn Norwegian at an adequately high level. The health issues must be long-term and must be documented by a doctor or other healthcare professional (see link to form at bottom of page).

Personal circumstances are understood to be factors beyond your personal control which make it harder for you to learn Norwegian at an adequately high level. You may, for example, have difficulties reading and writing, or you may have arrived in Norway as an adult with little or no schooling in your home country (see link to form at bottom of page).

To apply for an exemption for reasons such as those outlined above, you must fill out the exemption request form (links to forms available below) and submit documentation stating why you are applying for an exemption. In the form, tick off the tests you are applying to be exempt from, and explain why you are applying for an exemption. The other forms that you are to submit are also listed on the form.

It is very important that you submit these forms (see the list of forms at the bottom of this page) when applying for an exemption to ensure that we at UDI have all the documents we need to assess your application. You are to hand in this documentation to the police together with the documents you submit with your application for Norwegian citizenship. You must always submit the form that you have to fill out yourself. You must also submit the supplementary form stating why you are applying for an exemption, if applicable. 

This information can also be found in the application form for Norwegian citizenship.

Links to forms

• Exemption request form (primary form you must fill out yourself) (pdf, 215 kB)
• Supplementary form (to be filled out by healthcare personnel) (pdf, 283 kB)
• Supplementary form (to be filled out by an instructor/representative in Adult Education, special needs education, speech therapy or pedagogical-psychological services) (pdf, 378 kB)