Latest news with #AstriAas-Hansen
Local Norway
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Local Norway
'A reasonable level': Foreigners in Norway relaxed about new language demand
'I think A2 is a reasonable level to request from people who want permanent status in Norway,' said Victoria, a 38-year-old from Bristol, UK. 'A2 is still relatively basic, and to work or integrate in Norwegian culture, it's the minimum needed.' This echoes the argument made by Norway's justice minister, Astri Aas-Hansen, when announcing the higher requirement on June 26th. 'Foreigners who want a permanent residence permit in Norway should have a certain level of oral Norwegian. Being able to speak and understand the Norwegian language is an important prerequisite for being able to participate in education and work,' she said. READ ALSO: Q&A: What's Norway's stricter language requirement for permanent residency? Advertisement Victoria, who has studied at Folkeuniversitetet, Alfa Skole and Berlitz, among other language schools, is already studying at the higher, lower intermediate B1 level. 'I'm not too concerned, although I'll now need to focus more specifically on the A2 topics. That will take a bit of extra time and attention,' she said. She plans to take the language test for residency later this year, before applying for permanent residency in December or January. However, she questions the speed at which the new rules are being introduced. 'The only thing I think is a bit unfair is the timing. As I understand it, the new rules come into force in September. That's not much time for people who had only prepared for A1 to now achieve A2 and pass,' she said. 'It would maybe be fairer to bring it in next year—give those at a lower level a chance to improve.' For now, Victoria is studying independently and plans to dedicate more time during the summer, including booking private tutoring sessions to prepare for the exam. Other language learners were less sanguine. One user shared their concerns in a Reddit forum, where users were discussing how to prepare for the new A2 requirement. 'I've mostly used Duolingo so far, but now I feel I need a proper course or a tutor who can guide me on what to focus on," she wrote. "I think I can pass the A2 test, but I still need to work on grammar—especially verbs and auxiliary verbs—to feel confident.' The changes were officially announced in June and will apply to applications for a permanent residence permit submitted after 1st September 2025. The new requirements include exemptions for those with special circumstances related to health or personal reasons. This particularly applies to adult immigrants with limited or no formal education, elderly people, and individuals with low literacy skills. Advertisement In addition, the requirements for language and social studies tests will be moved from the Integration Act to the Immigration Act. This could indicate a change to streamline the process, reducing the need for assessments by local municipalities. In 2024, 10,554 individuals were granted permanent residency in Norway.
Local Norway
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Local Norway
Q&A: What's Norway's stricter language requirement for permanent residency?
This week, the Norwegian government announced changes to the language requirements for foreigners seeking permanent residence permits. While the previous requirement for spoken proficiency at A1 level, applicants must now demonstrate A2-level or higher. 'Foreigners who want a permanent residence permit in Norway should have a certain level of oral Norwegian. Being able to speak and understand the Norwegian language is an important prerequisite for being able to participate in education and work', said Minister of Justice and Public Security Astri Aas-Hansen (Labour Party). The language levels refer to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). At level A2, individuals can understand simple everyday language, express themselves on personal and basic topics such as family, and manage simple conversations. However, the new requirements include exemptions for those with special circumstances related to health or personal reasons. This particularly applies to adult immigrants with limited or no formal education, elderly people, and individuals with low literacy skills. In addition, the requirements for language and social studies tests will be moved from the Integration Act to the Immigration Act. This could indicate a change to the streamline process, reducing the need for assessments by local municipalities. In 2024, 10,554 individuals were granted permanent residency in Norway . To clarify what the new rules mean in practice, The Local contacted the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security to help us answer some of the frequently asked questions from applicants: Advertisement What exactly has changed regarding Norwegian language requirements? Under the new rules, applicants for permanent residency must pass an oral Norwegian test at level A2 or higher, replacing the previous A1 requirement. What about the social studies (samfunnskunnskap) requirement? Applicants are still required to pass the social studies test, but they are no longer obligated to submit documentation of having completed a course. The legislation mandates a passed test taken in a language the applicant understands. Who does this affect? The changes apply to people seeking permanent residence aged 18–67, including outside‑EU/EEA. The 18-year age limit is calculated based on the time of application and the 67-year age limit is calculated from the time of the decision (the time the application is decided). Advertisement When do these new rules take effect? The changes were officially announced June 26th, 2025, and apply to applications for a permanent residence permit submitted after September 1st 2025. Are there any exceptions? Yes. Applicants can be exempt from the spoken Norwegian test if they can document special health conditions or personal circumstances beyond their control that make it impossible to pass the A2-level test. This applies especially to adult immigrants with little or no schooling, limited reading and writing skills, or older age. People with learning difficulties, cognitive challenges, or mental health conditions such as neurological disorders, may also qualify for an exemption. Are there still written or reading exams required? No. The requirements to obtain a permanent residence permit are to pass an oral Norwegian language test at level A2 and to pass the social studies test.
Local Norway
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Local Norway
Norway to raise language requirement for permanent residency
The minimum required Norwegian language level will be raised from A1 to A2 effective from September 1st, the government said in a statement. "Foreign nationals who want to obtain long-term residency in Norway should master spoken Norwegian to a certain standard," Justice Minister Astri Aas-Hansen said in the statement. "Being able to speak and understand the Norwegian language is an important requirement for participating in education and employment,' she added. The change means that applicants will need to demonstrate the ability to understand and use simple, everyday language, as well as engage in basic conversations. Advertisement The updated requirement will apply to all applications submitted after it takes effect. Exceptions will be made for people with specific health issues or personal circumstances that prevent them from meeting the language standard.
Local Norway
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Local Norway
'General armament': Why police in Norway could soon carry guns
Can Norwegian police bear arms today? Police in Norway - like their counterparts in the IK (apart from Northern Ireland), New Zealand, Ireland, and Iceland - do not carry weapons when carrying out general duties. Weapons are locked in patrol cars or at police stations, with officers required to obtain permission from the chief of police or someone designated by him/her before they can collect and use weapons. Some specialized units, like the Emergency Response Unit, or Delta Force, are armed whenever deployed. Police can also be temporarily armed, as happened in 2024 when there was a widespread threat to mosques around the country during the Eid al-Fitr festival. READ ALSO: Police in Norway can now patrol streets with firearms What is the new law and when was it passed? The new law, Changes to the police law: armament in daily service, will give Norway's National Police Directorate the power decide to arm police officers firearms in their daily work. The directorate will be able to arm officers without any time limit and regardless of whether there is a severe threat - previously a condition for temporary armament. The directorate will also decide when officers should be unarmed, such as when working with children and youth, during school visits, preventive assignments, hospital security, contact with relatives, or when officers are testifying in court. The directorate can also decide to leave local police forces the right to make an assessment over when or whether armament is necessary. Advertisement When will the new law come into force? The justice ministry hopes that the new law will come into force some time in 2026, after which it will be up to police chiefs to set the terms and extent of arming officers, depending on location, timing and assignment. What's the rationale for the change? There is growing unease over gang crime in Norway, with 38 homicides in 2024, the highest number since 2013. Norway has also suffered several terror attacks over the past few decades, such as the 2022 Oslo shooting, the Bærum mosque shooting, and the 2011 twin attack on Oslo's government quarter and the island of Utøya. "There has been a change in crime patterns whereby organized criminal networks are now armed," Norway's justice minister Astri Aas-Hansen (Labour Party) told VG when she presented the proposal in May. "The police are encountering armed people out there, the threat situation has become sharper. And the police have been very clear in their professional advice to us." Police Chief Ida Melbo Øystese said: "I am grateful for the trust that politicians in the government and the parliament show when they place so much emphasis on the fact that we in the police believe that general armament has become absolutely necessary." Advertisement Who voted for the proposal? The change was passed with a large majority: 81 in favour and only 20 against. Only four of the country's 11 parliamentary parties opposed the proposal, the Social Left Party, the Liberal Party, the Red Party, and he Green Party. Ingvild Wetrhus Thorsvik, from the Liberal Party, said that by passing the law Norway had "crossed a line that marks a radical change for our rule of law". "With widespread arming, the police lose their civil character," she told Norwegian news agency NTB.
Local Norway
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Local Norway
Police in Norway can now patrol streets with firearms
Lawmakers overwhelmingly backed a proposal from the minority Labour government to allow the widespread arming of police. It will be up to police chiefs to set the terms and extent of arming officers, depending on location, timing and assignment. No exact date has been set for the law to come into effect but the country's justice ministry, which is in charge of internal security, is targeting sometime next year. "Everyone in Norway must feel safe. The police must be able to deal with constantly evolving crime," Justice Minister Astri Aas-Hansen said last month when the proposed law change was unveiled. Norway's crime rate is low compared to other countries around the world but is edging upwards. Advertisement The Scandinavian country, which is home to 5.6 million people, saw 38 homicides in 2023 -- the highest number since 2023, according to police violent crime figures. Currently, Norwegian police can only carry weapons for limited periods and in special circumstances. Normally, they are unarmed, although weapons may still be carried in the boot of their vehicle. Lawmaker Ingvild Wetrhus Thorsvik, whose centrist Liberal Party was one of the few to oppose the proposal, said Norway had "crossed a line that marks a radical change for our rule of law". "With widespread arming, the police lose their civil character," she was quoted as saying by Norwegian news agency NTB.
