Norway Forum

Jonty
Joined 2008
Posts: 66

12 years ago

Useful links

12 years ago

British male. Lived in Norway for tax purposes since 1989. Residence permit refused, tax stolen by Norwegian employers, 400,000NOK worth of other tax deductions disappeared, no reply to attempts to trace missing contributions.

Every year I pay tax to Norway but, because the Norwegian tax authorities and the Norwegian immigration authorities use completely different criteria for deciding if you "live" in Norway, I pay tax in Norway, am obliged to apply for a residence permit but this is refused on an almost annual basis.

It is important you understand the difference between working in Norway (and therefore being liable to pay tax to Norway) and "living" in Norway.

As you will see from the details at this link to the official Norwegian government immigration site, you need to have "lived" in Norway with the appropriate "residence permit" for the required amount of time before you can stand a chance of getting Norwegian citizenship. I have, apparently been living in Norway illegally despite paying tax to Norway for 22 years. There appears to be no way through this loophole (I've been trying for 22 years)

See here http://www.udi.no/Norwegian-Directorate-of-Immigration/Central-topics/Citizenship-/Requirement-for-completed-tuition-in-the-Norwegian-language-/

and this may be useful too ...

http://www.udi.no/Norwegian-Directorate-of-Immigration/Central-topics/Permanent-Residence-Permit/What-are-the-requirements-for-a-settlement-permit/

In respect of this link, as an EU citizen, you are allowed to stay in Norway if your stay lasts no more than three months. My work and visits to the UK to get medical attention I was unable to source in Norway resulted in me rarely being in Norway in Norway for more than 3 months at a time. The fact I was in Norway for less than three months at a time (because I was working on Norwegian registered boats sometimes) was the reason UDI gave for NOT renewing my residence permit. It becomes obvious the criteria needed for permament residence or citizenship becomes difficult to achieve if work, trips to see family at "home" or the need to see a specialist doctor force you to travel out of Norway. Working on Norwegian registered boats is regarded, if you're a foreigner as "leaving Norway" though you are still probably liable to pay Norwegian tax.

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