Everything that changes in Norway in April 2025
From April 2nd, travellers will need an ETA to travel to the UK from Norway, unless they hold and will travel on a British or Irish passport.
The ETA is a two-year visa waiver that must be applied for online before your trip, costing £10.
It is important to use the official UK government website rather than unofficial third-party providers.
READ ALSO:
Do British-Norwegian dual nationals need an ETA to travel to the UK
Tax return deadline
April 30th is a date most people will already have etched into their calendars, the
reason being that it's the tax return deadline.
If you don't think you'll have time to hand in your tax return by this date, then you can apply for a postponed deadline.
Tax returns in Norway come mostly filled out. However, it is up to residents to check that the information received is correct and add any missing information.
Some information that isn't included is the commuter deduction for people who travel into work. Meanwhile, those with fixed-rate loans and mortgages may have incorrect deductions for interest paid.
As the Norwegian Tax Administration explains on its website, tax returns not submitted by this year's deadline will be considered as having been submitted with the pre-completed information (sent to all taxpayers in Norway in March).
Advertisement
This means that you may be missing out on potential deductions, which could mean that the tax administration owes you money. It could also mean that you could end up owing the tax administration money as the information in the partially completed form wasn't correct.
READ MORE:
What happens if you don't file your Norwegian tax return on time?
Wage talks head to the national mediator
Negotiations on wages for the 'frontline industry' will head to the national mediator at the start of
April,
after initial talks broke down.
If an agreement isn't reached, a general strike could be called from April 2nd.
This year's talks are what's referred to as an 'interim settlement'. In short, this means only wage rises, and not general working conditions, are up for discussion.
'Frontline industry' wage talks act as a precursor to other wage negotiations.
Unions are pushing for a real wage increase this year
, while
employer organisations want to ensure that a large chunk of the wage increase this year is negotiated on a business-by-business basis.
Advertisement
Dog leash rules
All dogs will need to be kept on a lead from the start of April. The rules come into effect every year and will apply until August 20th.
The rule is to protect both domestic and wild animals during the birthing, nesting and mating seasons.
The most likely punishment for being caught breaking the leash law will be a reminder to keep your dog on a lead or a fine.
Some parts of Norway may have tighter rules, such as dogs needing to be kept on leads all year round in certain areas. Therefore, it's always worth checking which rules apply to your specific area.
Winter tyres will need changing
As is the rule of thumb over Norway, winter tyres will need to be removed the first Monday after Easter Monday. We know that's not very helpful or easy to understand, as the rule is more of a brain teaser or riddle than a set date.
This year, the key date is April 28th. There are no rules stopping you from using winter tyres past this point, but studded ones will be prohibited.
Areas like Oslo may have additional fines or tolls for the use of studded tyres.
Those in northern Norway will have until the start of May to change their tyres.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Local Norway
9 hours ago
- Local Norway
'Don't give up': How a move to Norway can be good for your career
Moving abroad requires a mix of adventurous spirit, a strong skill set, patience with paperwork, and, let's be honest, a lot of energy. Overcoming inertia often demands an extra push, but it is possible but real to achieve a career break through in a new country. We spoke to three internationals from different countries and industries who share two things in common: they moved to Norway, and they did so with a clear career goal—growing within their field of work. Cristiane Gonzaga, 38 years old, Head of Digitalization at Siemens Energy, from Brazil Cristiane Gonzaga. Photo: private Cristiane's background is in the oil & gas industry and she was already established as a chemical engineer in Rio de Janeiro when her company needed her professional and academic expertise as a sivilingeniør in Oslo . What began as a three-month delegation in 2014 stretched to five, and eventually into a local contract as a senior engineer. 'The engineering market in Brazil at the time was not good for my area due to the low oil prices, and to a corruption crisis in Brazil," Cristiane admits, adding that her decision wasn't purely professional. 'I liked the Norwegian culture, the work culture at the office in Oslo, started to ski, and also got a boyfriend here, who today is my husband and we have a small baby boy together now," she said. Despite her experience, Christiane had to rebuild a professional reputation after moving to Norway given that " no colleagues knew me nor how I worked from before." "In addition to adjusting to a new culture and work culture, there are a lot of unspoken rules,' she said. READ ALSO: Five unwritten rules that explain how Norway works She was able to move forward in her career, first becoming a team manager and later advancing to Head of Digitalization in a global organization. 'In the beginning, as an individual contributor, the local language was not necessary at all, everybody spoke fluent English, which was also the official language of the office due to the 40 different nationalities of employees," she said. But when progressing into leadership and management roles, Norwegian was a must have because "all meetings, training and communication was in Norwegian,' she added. Advertisement Her advice to newcomers is to " listen to others, but trust your own instincts and impressions." 'It helped to have Brazilian colleagues who had been here longer to get familiar with the most basic things, at the same time that their understanding, opinions, and suggestions about Norwegian culture became a limiting factor for me," she said. "It was refreshing to make my own impressions and to make decisions based on them after I was myself more familiar with everything. Get to know yourself, what is core to you and what can be changed to adapt to a new country and its culture. "Do not change your core, you will not thrive anywhere if you do it. If you absolutely feel that it is needed to change who you deeply are, then this place is not meant for you," she said. Ieva Sibilla Strupule, 35, founder of GrantMapper, from Latvia Ieva Sibilla Strupule. Photo: private Ieva moved to Oslo in 2020 to found a tech company tackling construction waste, following a decade's experience launching a range of startups elsewhere in Europe. Today, she is the CEO of GrantMapper , an AI-powered co-pilot that helps applicants to write European Grant applications. Norway was the sixth country she had moved to, but despite that experience the challenges were still gigantic, she said. 'Starting from scratch personally and professionally, and launching a new company right as Covid hit. It meant building networks, understanding the local culture, the people, and navigating funding and tax systems besides the global pandemic all at once,' she said. Her first break came from being persistent, proactive, and determined. Advertisement 'I talked to people. I applied for every grant and award and competition I could find," she said. A key moment for Ieva was winning The Global Hack, a community science initiative, in which she, competed against 15,000 participants worldwide. "That was surreal, especially since it was all online and during Covid peak. That win led to Forbes articles, partnerships, and funding opportunities that kick started everything," she said. She said her proudest achievement since relocating to Norway was "the relationships I have built, both personal and professional, while respecting the local system and staying true to myself, my boundaries, my values, and my own culture." "I unfortunately see an increasing number of people who somewhat lose or give up parts of their unique personalities and backgrounds just to fit in, so I'm quite proud not to conform to that," she explained. Advertisement 'I am far from proficient in Norwegian, and it has not been essential as I have focused on global markets. But if your main market is Norway, it is a must. Even if it is not, understanding and speaking basic Norwegian is appreciated and shows respect for the culture, she advised. READ ALSO: 53 phrases to help you get by in a Norwegian-speaking office Newcomers to Norway can do plenty to prepare in advance, she said. 'Before moving, talk to at least one foreigner who is already here and works in tech. Listen, learn and prepare. Do your homework on business norms, also funding, hiring and taxes if you plan on starting a company. It is something I honestly wish I had done more thoroughly." Jan Khür, 35, photographer and co-owner of Abrakadabra Studio, from Czech Republic After exploring journeys in the corporate and startup worlds, it's time to step into the creative industry. Jan had always been passionate about photography before moving to Oslo in 2013 to work as a photo assistant. 'Coming to Oslo was a way to get more hands-on experience in the field,' he explains. At first, balancing roles and getting to know people was key. 'When I first arrived, I was working as a photo assistant, but to support myself I also took shifts bartending in places like Sukkerbiten, Jæger, and Kulturhuset. That turned out to be a great way to meet people involved in all kinds of creative projects. After a while, the bars started booking me as a photographer instead of as a bartender," he recounted. "Suddenly I was shooting a lot of food and music photography. I continued freelance assisting during that time, which gave me valuable experience and helped me build a network of friends and clients.' Advertisement Today, he co-owns Abrakadabra Studio with photographer Julie Hrnčířová, and is well versed in the challenges of r unning a small business in Norway. 'We're a small studio, and starting a business in Norway can be tough. You're hit with the same rules and taxes as big corporations, which can make it harder to invest in equipment or hire people," he said. "It feels a bit counterproductive at times. We've always had plenty of work, but running a company on a small scale here is expensive. I hear the same from many other small business owners.' Language hasn't been a barrier for Jan. 'We work with a lot of creative people, and many of the productions are international, so I end up mixing English and Norwegian quite a bit. I enjoy the language, but speaking English at work has never really been a problem for me. Maybe it has influenced someone's decision to work with someone else, but no one has ever told me that directly. For most situations, I feel it's optional,' he said. Jan's advice for other foreign business starters in Norway is 'don't give up." "It might take longer to get where you want to be in Oslo, but it's worth it," he said.
Local Norway
11-08-2025
- Local Norway
Norway sovereign fund drops investments in 11 Israeli companies
Nicolai Tangen, chief of Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), which manages the fund, said the decision was taken "in response to extraordinary circumstances". "The situation in Gaza is a serious humanitarian crisis. We are invested in companies that operate in a country at war, and conditions in the West Bank and Gaza have recently worsened," Tangen said in a statement. Norway's wealth fund, also known as the oil fund as it is fuelled by vast revenue from the country's energy exports, is the biggest in the world with a value of around $1.9 trillion, with investments spanning the globe. Last week, Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten reported that the fund had invested in Israeli Bet Shemesh Engines Holdings, which makes parts for engines used in Israeli fighter jets. Tangen later confirmed the reports, and said the fund had increased its stake after the Israeli offensive in Gaza began. The revelations led Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre to ask Finance Minister and former NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg for a review. Advertisement NBIM said it had investments in 61 Israeli companies at the end of the first six months of this year, 11 of which were not in its "equity benchmark index" -- which is set by the finance ministry and used to gauge the wealth fund's performance. In a statement, it added that it had decided last week that "all investments in Israeli companies that are not in the equity benchmark index will be sold as soon as possible". The fund also said that it had "long paid particular attention to companies associated with war and conflict". "Since 2020, we have been in contact with more than 60 companies to raise this issue. Of these, 39 dialogues were related to the West Bank and Gaza," NBIM said. It said that monitoring of Israeli companies had been intensified in the autumn of 2024, and that "as a result, we have sold our investments in several Israeli companies".
Local Norway
08-08-2025
- Local Norway
Why Norway could face higher US trade costs than the EU
Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, and Switzerland are the only European countries to have worse trade arrangements with the United States under tariff regimes now in place, according to new information obtained by business newspaper Dagens Næringsliv ( DN ). Norwegian goods are now subject to a general 15 percent tariff, on par with those levied on European Union (EU) nations, alongside an additional 50 percent surcharge on Norwegian steel and aluminium exports, under new US tariffs which took effect on Thursday. The tariffs on Norway come as the United States began charging higher tariffs on goods from dozens of trading partners Thursday. READ MORE: Norway among countries impacted as Trump tariffs take effect The Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries confirmed to DN that Norway would be hit with a general 15 percent tariff, but that this is on top of the regular rates applied to so-called most favoured nations (MFN). These existing duties are projected at 3.4 percent in 2025, meaning an average rate of 18.4 percent for Norwegian goods, and potentially even higher for certain product groups, according to DN's report. Advertisement By contrast, the EU has secured an "all-inclusive" deal capping tariffs at 15 percent, with no additional charges. Conservative Party politician and former foreign minister Ine Eriksen Søreide told DN she is concerned that the government has not informed businesses that the new tariff comes in addition to the existing MFN duty. This could create greater uncertainty for Norwegian exporters and also leaves Norway with a significantly worse deal than the EU, Søreide said. The new US tariffs could have major consequences for businesses in northern Norway, business group the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO) Arctic meanwhile said on Friday. 'Many local communities in northern Norway depend on exports. We have seen strong growth in export-oriented industries here in the north, which makes us highly vulnerable to any form of trade war,' regional director Sigrid Ina Simonsen told broadcaster NRK.
