Norway travel guide for Britons

UK citizens do not need a visa for Norway for short stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This applies to tourism, business visits and family visits. From 2026, an ETIAS travel authorisation will be required for visa-free entry to the Schengen area, including Norway. ETIAS is an online application, not a visa, and is expected to be valid for three years with multiple entries.

For longer stays, work, study or residence, you will need a separate permit from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). Check the official UDI website for current requirements.

Your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen area, and issued within the last ten years. You may be asked to show proof of sufficient funds for your stay and a return ticket. Border control may ask for your accommodation details.

The 90-day rule applies across the whole Schengen area, not just Norway. Days spent in other Schengen countries count towards your 90 days. If you plan to stay longer, you need a visa or residence permit.

The British Embassy in Oslo is the main point of contact for UK citizens in Norway. It provides consular assistance for passport, emergency and legal issues. For routine matters, the embassy website has guidance on services and appointments.

If you need urgent help while in Norway, call the embassy or the UK government's 24-hour consular assistance line. The embassy cannot help with visa applications – those are handled by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI).

Norway is expensive by UK standards. Budget for roughly £80–120 per person per day for a mid-range trip, including accommodation, meals and local transport. A meal at a mid-range restaurant costs about £20–30, a pint of beer £8–10, and a coffee £4–5. Hostels and budget hotels start around £40–60 per night.

Flights from the UK to Oslo take about 2 hours. Prices vary by season; book early for summer and winter. Once in Norway, trains and buses are efficient but not cheap – a single Oslo–Bergen train ticket can cost £50–100 if booked in advance. Consider a Norway Pass or regional travel cards to save.

Direct flights from London (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted) to Oslo take about 2 hours. Other UK airports with direct routes include Manchester, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. From Oslo, domestic flights connect to Bergen, Tromsø, Trondheim and other cities.

Flight prices vary widely. Budget airlines like Norwegian and Ryanair offer low fares, but check baggage fees. SAS and British Airways fly from London to Oslo. For the best deals, book 6–8 weeks ahead and avoid peak summer and Christmas periods.

Norway uses types C and F plugs, standard in continental Europe. The voltage is 230 V, 50 Hz, same as the UK. UK plugs (type G) will not fit, so bring a travel adapter. Most modern devices (phone chargers, laptops) are dual-voltage and work without a converter.

If you bring a device that is not dual-voltage (e.g., a hair dryer), you will need a voltage converter. Check the label on your device.

Tipping is not expected in Norway. Service charges are usually included in the bill. For good table service, rounding up or adding 5–10% is appreciated but optional. Taxi drivers and hotel staff do not expect tips. In restaurants, check if a service charge is already added.

In an emergency, dial 112 for police, 113 for ambulance, and 110 for fire. For non-urgent medical help, call 116 117 for the out-of-hours doctor. Norway is a safe country, but take normal precautions against pickpocketing in tourist areas, especially in Oslo. For more safety advice, see the Norway safety page.