Applying for retention of citizenship

For general information about loss of citizenship and application for retention, please go to the UDI website.

All enquiries about application for retention of Norwegian citizenship should be addressed to UDI or the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Canberra. The staff at the Norwegian Consulates cannot be expected to answer enquiries about retention of Norwegian citizenship.

To qualify for retention of citizenship, you must have stayed in Norway for a total of six months. These six months can consist of several short stays/holidays. If you have not stayed in Norway for a total of six months, you can still keep your Norwegian citizenship if you have have a strong connection to Norway. When the UDI decides whether you have a strong connection, they will put emphasis on whether you are currently living in Norway, or you have by mistake been issued a Norwegian passport that is valid after you turn 22.

You must apply before you turn 22. If you apply after you turn 22, UDI can nevertheless consider your application if you cannot be blamed for failing to meet the deadline, or if it would be unreasonable if you were to lose your Norwegian citizenship.

If you turned 22 before 1 September 2006, special rules apply. Please contact the UDI to clarify what rules apply in such cases.

When registering your application online, UDI will provide you with a checklist tailored for your specific situation. You must gather all the documents in the checklist before submitting your application. 

Please note that your passport and official documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates, diplomas etc.) must be handed in in original. In addition you must provide copies of the same documents. Some documents may require an apostille or legalisation.

Original passports and official documents are returned to you during your appointment.

Before you can hand in your passport and other documentation at the embassy, you must register your application in the Application Portal. If this is the first time that you are registering an application in the portal, you will first need to create a user account.

Once you have registered, you will receive confirmation by email, with a cover letter attached. The cover letter will confirm that you have filled in the application form. You need to print this letter and submit it together with the other required documentation within 6 months of submitting the online registration.

Applications for retention of Norwegian citizenship must be submitted in person and by appointment only at the embassy in Canberra within 6 months of online registration. To make an appointment, please book your appointment online.

The embassy will check the documents before transferring the case electronically to UDI for processing.

Applications for retention of Norwegian citizenship must be submitted before the applicant reaches the age of 22 years.

Applications for retention of citizenship are processed by UDI. You will find information about the processing time on UDI’s website. 

The decision letter will be sent to you by post when your application has been processed.

If you have been granted retention, you will not lose your Norwegian citizenship due to no close relationship with Norway when you turn 22. There is no requirement to renounce your other citizenship if you are granted retention of Norwegian citizenship.

The decision letter must be presented with all future applications for Norwegian passport.

If your application has been rejected, you will receive a written explanation as to why it was rejected. You can appeal the decision.