Moving to Norway
Once you have taken the life-changing decision to move to Norway you will have to start thinking about how you are going to transfer your personal belongings. Finding the right removal company to take care of transferring your personal effects from the UK to Norway will therefore play a big part in your planning process.
There are several considerations, frequently overlooked by people moving overseas rather than domestically. Will all my furniture fit in my new home? Do I need to leave certain items in storage while I figure out my new property or seek temporary rental accommodation?
Choosing White & Company, will ensure you are not only using a company that meets the highest standards within the removals industry but also has the necessary expertise and skill, as well as packing and storage solutions, to meet the demands of your move.
As founder members of BAR, FIDI & OMNI, we have successfully moved thousands of people all over the globe. Whether we transport your personal belongings by sea or road, we can help take the stress out of your move.
Survey
Our experienced surveyor will visit your home to conduct a pre-move survey to ascertain the volume of effects being shipped.
This involves him/her walking through the property room by room noting what items are to be exported and recording it on his electronic tablet.
The purpose of the survey is to determine the volume of effects you will be shipping.
The cost of shipment is based on the space your effects will take up in the container. Following the visit, you will receive a written quotation within 48 hours.
Storage
You may find you need to store some or all of your possessions for a period of time prior to moving abroad.
White & Company have storage facilities at all our 19 branch depots across the UK. All our warehouses are clean, dry, secure and accredited to European standard BS EN 14873.
Our partners in Norway can also offer you storage. You may be renting for a while and may not need all of your effects to be delivered immediately.
You can arrange for certain items to be delivered and once settled in your new home, the rest can follow. Please note that storage rates may apply.
Packing
When our quotation has been accepted and a move date has been secured, the vehicle and removal team will arrive at residence.
The removal team will proceed to export pack and wrap all items being shipped and load onto vehicle for delivery to our closest depot.
We use a modern range of environmentally friendly, purpose-made packing materials and can pack everything for you prior to your move. All china and glassware will be wrapped in special paper and then packed in double-thickness cartons.
Furniture can be wrapped in bubble blanket for extra protection. Items requiring specialist care, such as antiques, can be packed in made-to-measure wooden crates.
Shipping to Norway
All effects are transferred to the export warehouse to await loading into a 20ft or 40ft container. The container is booked with the shipping line onto the first available vessel destined to the closest port of entry to your final destination in Norway.
Upon arrival at your residence in Norway, our trusted agents will place boxes and furniture in appropriate rooms as directed. They will unpack your belongings onto flat surfaces and dispose of all packing materials.
Moving to Norway? Get a Quick Quote
Why Move to Norway?
Referred to as the ‘land of midnight sun’, due to a bizarre natural phenomenon in which the sun never sets for 76 days during the Summer months of May and July, Norway is an awe-inspiring splendour of steep-sided fjords, rocky coastal towns and permanent sunsets.
It’s not just Norway’s unique position in the northern hemisphere that has garnered the country a reputation as being one of the most liveable destinations in the world. Having traditionally derived income from fishing and shipping, Norway has recently emerged as an economic powerhouse, in large part down to smart investments in oil production and hydroelectric power.
The strong economy and jobs market is backed up by strong egalitarian principles which guarantee free education and some subsidised medical services to all its citizens. A strong onus on gender equality makes Norway incredibly family friendly also, with paid paternity leave split evenly between the sexes.
Norway’s sparse population and natural environment also make it an excellent place to raise a family. From camping under orange-tinged skies in the summer to skiing mountains under the Northern lights in the winter. The word ‘ski’ is in fact itself Norwegian, meaning ‘piece of wood’ and children grow up learning the sport from a young age, often before they can even fully walk!
Those moving to Norway can expect both a high standard of living and excellent opportunities to work and socialise. One complaint levelled by both locals and expats alike however is the inability to save money, with the cost of living and accommodation correspondingly high. For the extended hours of sunlight in the summer months, you can also expect reduced daylight in the winter.
In exchange for high taxes and social contributions you can expect a clean and incredibly well organised country with a very low crime rate. All of which is making Norway an increasingly popular expat destination for families with children looking for a safe and exciting new environment.
Visas
Norway is in the European Economic Area (EEA) which guarantees freedom of movement to citizens from within the EU.
As an EU citizen you therefore have the right to work, study or live in Norway. After three months you will have to register with the police and are automatically eligible for permanent residence after five years.
Finding work
More than 10,000 Brits live and work in Norway, many in the country’s vital energy industries. Large multinationals with headquarters in Norway have been known to hire expats and so this is probably a very good starting point.
Norwegians have an excellent command of the English language as a second language, however learning Norwegian would be highly advantageous in terms of both social integration and securing the best paid jobs outside of prearranged work placements.
Currently there are vacancies in the education and teaching, healthcare, nursing agriculture, engineering, building and construction sectors.
Below is a list of some helpful job sites to aid you in your search:
Property
As a UK citizen there are no restrictions on purchasing property in Norway. It is generally considered good business to purchase, especially if you are planning to stay for a while.
The purchasing process is relatively straight forward compared to other European destinations with more opaque rules. In Norway, the real estate agent represents both the seller and the buyer. This fee is typically shouldered by the buyer.
Property is very expensive however. Property rental and purchase costs vary from city to city. As a guide, to rent a 3-bedroomed home in a city centre such as Oslo, the capital, you can expect to pay an average of Kr 20,588 (£1,885) per month. Outside the city this drops to Kr 16,075 (£1,472).
If you purchase a 3-bedroomed property in the city centre you would currently pay approximately Kr 74,588 (£6,830) per square metre. On the outskirts this drops to Kr 52,144 (£4,774).
Despite the high cost Norway boasts one of the highest levels of home ownership in Europe, with almost 80% of Norwegians owning rather than renting.
Schools
Public education is Norway is free for all children between the ages of seven and sixteen as long as you are a Norwegian citizen or a legal resident.
The Norwegian school system is divided into three parts, starting with elementary school (Barneskole, ages six to 13), lower secondary school (Ungdomsskole, ages 13 to 16), and finally upper secondary school (Videregående skole, ages 16 to 19). The marks they achieve in Ungdomskkole will determine whether they are accepted into their high school of choice.
Norwegian’s are very well educated with a high proportion of the country holding Masters level degrees. The main structure is a ‘3+2+3 model’, which works out as a three-year bachelor‘s degree, two-year master‘s degree and a three-year doctoral programme.
There are very few international or private schools in the country. However, there are a number in Oslo. These schools offer the International Baccalaureate (IB), although there are also French- and German-curriculum schools and those which offer the British IGSCE at middle school level.
Fees for international schools are often hugely expensive and spaces limited. You will need to apply as early as possible to ensure a place for your child.
The following site has some useful information regarding education in Norway:
www.lifeinnorway.net/education-in-norway/
www.expatarrivals.com/norway/education-and-schools-in-norway
Contacting White & Company
For further information on our removals service to Norway, or any other international destination, contact our international office on 01489 858678. Alternatively complete the form below with your details and we will contact you.
Public Transport
Norway’s public transport systems are generally run to a high-standard and although not cheap, they certainly work out cheaper than owning a car as fuel prices are high.
Public transport in, and around cities is well developed and extremely efficient. Transport consists of trains, busses and ferries, most of which are timed to link with each other.
Even the most remote destinations have viable transport links with the world-at-large, and for those who live there this is important confirmation that they are part of the greater community.
Driving
Any driving licence issued in any European country is valid in Norway as long as it is valid in the issuing country. A foreign driving licence does not entitle the holder to drive a car in Norway until the age of 18 years old. Below are some general tips for driving in Norway:
Driving is on the right-hand side
Speed limits vary from 30kph to 90kph depending on whether you are driving in a residential area or an expressway.
Do not drink and drive — only 0.1 milligrams of alcohol is allowed, whereas in the UK it is 0.4 milligrams
Be aware of wildlife — sheep and reindeer and elks are almost always present on or near the country and busier main roads.
All cars must be fitted with studded or special tyres designed for winter.
For further information, the RAC has a very good web site with great tips and advice for Brits driving in Norway:
Healthcare
Per head, Norwegian expenditure on healthcare is the highest in the world. Although treatment is not free, there is an annual limit on how much any one individual must pay for healthcare.
If you are planning to work in Norway for at least a year, you automatically become a member of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme from your first day of work. This means you must pay Norwegian national insurance contributions in order to be entitled to its services and benefits.
If you plan to stay for less than a year you should ensure that you have adequate health insurance cover before you arrive in Norway, which while costly is worth taking.
Below are some web sites with further information on healthcare provision in Norway:
www.lifeinnorway.net/healthcare/
legemiddelverket.no/english/about-us
White & Company
Providing European Removals since 1871
We recommend a visit from one of our Surveyors for all European moves, so that we can assess your requirements, and the volume of goods to be moved.
Below is a guide to the largest cities in Norway:
Allesund
Bergen
Drammen
Fredrikstad
Kristiansand
Oslo
Sandnes
Stavanger
Tromso
Trondheim
What Others Say…
Wayne Middleton and Brian Witherford were professional and extremely helpful. Did a brilliant job. Would recommend Whites to anyone. Thanks very much.
Have used this company regularly for 5 years including my time in the armed forces. They are professional and efficient. Will use them again on our next move.
The move went very smoothly and they were very polite.
A very smooth move by White and Co. The team worked very hard and were polite, professional and helpful.
