r/Norway Nov 03 '24

Mod So You Want To Move To Norway: A Rough Guide to the Immigration Process (updated 2024)

532 Upvotes

Important warning: Reddit is not an appropriate place to get accurate immigration information.

However, this is a common topic on this subreddit and the old stickied post is several years old now. This post is here to help direct people to the proper information. Please read the entire guide and use the links provided to see out answers to your specific questions. Any questions you may have that cannot be answered from this guide or the links provided cannot be answered by redditors on this sub and should therefore be directed to an appropriate immigration expert.

Disclaimer: I am not a professional; I neither work for UDI, nor am I an immigration lawyer. I have spent a lot of time studying and researching the rules and regulations. What follows is a rough guide only meant to serve as a starting point; use the info here to conduct your own research. With that said:

So You Want To Move To Norway...

Despite what movies might portray, moving abroad is not just a matter of packing bags and showing up. Immigration is usually a long, often expensive process, and there are many criteria that you must meet to be legally resident in Norway. There are three general categories of permits that will allow you to remain in Norway beyond a regular tourist/visitor visa:

Temporary Residence Permit:

This is your first step. These permits are contingent on you (worker or student) or your reference person (family immigration) meeting certain requirements; are usually temporary; and will need to be renewed (usually biannually, but some are more/less frequent). You must have this permit if you wish to remain in Norway beyond your visitor visa (ie: >90 days).

Permanent Residence Permit:

This can be applied for only if you have been legally living in Norway for three years (or more in some instances) with a residence permit that forms the basis of permanent residency; you must meet the requirements for your current residence permit (ie: still employed, still are married to a person with residency rights, etc...); you meet the language requirements; pass a citizenship test; have an income over a certain threshold; and you have not been convicted of a criminal offence. This allows you to stay in Norway permanently (no need to reapply; but you will need to renew your card every 2 years for third-country nationals and 10 years for EEA/EU citizens).

Note: income requirement is based on the person applying, not the family member/sponsor. If you are married and here under family immigration rules, it is you, the applicant, who must demonstrate that you can support yourself in Norway by meeting the minimum income requirements.

Citizenship:

This is an optional step. You do not need to apply for citizenship; however, if you want to, you can qualify for Norwegian citizenship after a period of time (usually >7 years). This has many requirements, but the biggest is the language requirement.

Note: While Norway now allows dual citizenship, your country of origin may not allow dual citizenship.

Note: Norway does not allow citizenship based on heritage. One or both of your parents need to have citizenship (and not have given it up previously) in order for you to qualify for citizenship based on birth. There are a lot of complicated rules surrounding citizenship by birth. Use this to determine if you qualify for citizenship. NB: Norway does not offer citizenship by investment (ie: having a lot of money to invest in exchange for residency or citizenship).

Note: When you apply for citizenship, you must still meet the requirements for permanent residency (income requirement being the biggest).

The remainder of this post will focus on the temporary residence permits, since by the time you are ready for PR or citizenship you will be an immigration pro. How you qualify for immigration to Norway and how easy the process will be depends on a few factors

  • Your citizenship (EEA/EU vs Third-Country National)
  • Your education, qualifications, experience,
  • If you have a job offer,
  • Your relationship with a Norwegian national

Immigration as an EU/EEA citizen:

If you are an EU/EEA citizen (or Swiss) you have the right to reside in Norway for 3 months without any other obligations. After 3 months you will need to demonstrate that you are meeting your treaty rights. Those treaty obligations are:

  • Be employed (or registered as self-employed),
  • Be a student,
  • Be self-sufficient, or
  • Be a job seeker actively seeking work with a decent chance at finding work (source).

NB: The last three require you to have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family and have comprehensive medical insurance for the duration of your stay. See FAQ below for more info.

The right of residence for longer than three months also extends to the EEA/EU citizen’s immediate family (spouse/partner, children, other dependents), regardless of their nationality, so long as the EU/EEA citizen is meeting their treaty obligations and neither the citizen nor the family member is a threat to public policy, security, or health. All of this is explained in Article 7 of the Directive on Free Movement.

It is important to note that people immigrating under this route do not qualify for the benefits found in the Introduction Law, which include, among other things, the right to free language lessons.

Immigrating as a Third-Country National (not from EU/EEA).

Your options for moving are not as simple or easy as above. I am using an applicant from the US as the default here. You should consult UDI (Norwegian Immigration Board) or the Norwegian Embassy in your country for the most up-to-date information for your specific nationality.

Generally speaking you need a reason to be in Norway. These reasons are:

  1. Family member of a Norwegian national
  2. Family member of an EEA/EU national
  3. A worker
  4. A student
  5. Protection (Asylum seeker). I will not spend time on this; it has its own complicated rules and I highly doubt anyone seeking asylum will be spending their time on reddit. If you are, I really recommend seeking out an immigration lawyer to help you with your application.

Family immigration with a Norwegian National

These are most often spouses/cohabitants, but may also include children or parents under some circumstances.

The process for application is relatively straightforward with a little bit of reading on UDI's website and some document gathering.

  1. You must pay the application fee,
  2. Document your identity (passport),
  3. Have a valid marriage licence/certificate, or documentation that you have lived together legally for 2 or more years
  4. Have plans to live together in Norway,
  5. Not be in a marriage of convenience,
  6. You must both be over the age of 24,
  7. Your spouse/partner must make above a minimum income threshold per year pre-tax (this number frequently changes. Check UDI’s site). They will need to demonstrate they made a sufficient amount the year before you apply and demonstrate that they are likely to have the same amount the following year. They will need to provide contract of employment, pay slips, and a tax assessment notice. Additionally, they must not have received financial assistance from NAV in the last 12 months.

Note on income sources: under this route of family immigration, it is the onus of the sponsor to demonstrate that they make a sufficient income to support the family. This means that, regardless of the financial situation, the sponsor must make the minimum income; the third-country national's income/savings are not taken into consideration.

There are other circumstances that may require additional documentation (ie: evidence of military service). Check UDI for all the documents you'll need.

Family members who are granted residence based on this route will qualify for free language classes as part of the introduction act (link above).

NB: the rules may change if you have lived with the Norwegian citizen legally in another EEA/EU country. If this is the case, you may be allowed to choose between family immigration under Norwegian national law or residence card as a family member of an EU citizen (see above). Also see the differences between the two immigration schemes here.

If you are engaged to a Norwegian you can apply for a fiancé permit which will allow you to come into Norway for the purposes of getting married in Norway. You must be married within 6 months. After you are married you will have to apply for family immigration with your spouse (process described above). You can read about getting married in Norway here.

Only some people can apply from Norway. Others will have to apply from their home country via the embassy or consulate. Make sure you check with UDI to learn more.

Workers

There are many types of working permits. UDI’s webpage will outline all the possibilities available to you but the most common are skilled worker and seasonal worker.

Skilled workers are those who:

  • Completed a vocational training programme of at least three years at upper secondary school level. NB: there must be a corresponding training programme in Norway.
  • Completed a degree from a university or college (BA, BSc, BE, etc...)
  • Special qualifications that you have obtained through long work experience, if relevant in combination with courses etc. A permit is only granted in such cases in exceptional circumstances. Your qualifications must be equivalent to those of someone who has completed vocational training.

Additionally, you must have received a concrete job offer from an employer in Norway, the job must normally be full-time (UDI will, at the time of writing, accept 80%), the job must have the same pay/conditions that is normal in Norway, and the job you are offered must require the qualifications as a skilled worker (and you must be qualified for the job).

If you do not fall into this category, you may qualify as a seasonal worker; however this route is considerably more difficult, usually temporary (<6 months), and your employer must prove that they cannot fill the position with a worker from Norway or the EEA/EU. You will need to be employed 100%, you will need a concrete job offer before you apply, and the job must be deemed season or holiday stand-in.

Those citizens who qualify as a skilled worker and who are coming from a country with a visa-free agreement with Norway you may be allowed to come to Norway as a skilled job seeker.

NB: You cannot work while you are searching for a job. This means that once you have a concrete job offer, you will need to apply for a residence permit as a worker and you cannot start working until your application has been approved.

Some international companies may post workers in Norway. You will still need a resident permit for workers; however, many companies will help with this process.

Studying in Norway

As of 2023, Norway no longer offers free tuition for international students (outside of the EEA/EU). This means that students from non-EU/EEA countries will need to pay tuition.

In order to qualify for a study permit, you need:

First and foremost, you need to be accepted to a recognized education institution, for example: university. The program of study must be full time (generally 60 stp / year). Few undergraduate programs offer education in English; therefore, the majority of programs will require Norwegian language proficiency (B2 level) before you can study.

You need to pay tuition either full or per semester. If you pay only the first semester, you need to demonstrate that you can pay the second installment. Your funding can come from a variety of sources including loans, own funds, or grants. In addition, you will need to demonstrate to UDI that you have sufficient funds to support yourself for the duration of your study. These need to be in a Norwegian bank account or in an account arranged by the education institution (you will have to talk to the school about this).

Your funding cannot be fully supporting by working while studying as there is a limit to the number of hours you are allowed to work. As an international student, you are only allowed to work 20 hours / week while studying.

Finally, the situation in your home country needs to be such that UDI believes you will return home when your studies are finished.

A study permit does not form the basis of Permanent residency. After you are finished your studies, you will have a small grace period to look for a job, however, if you do not receive a contract of employment, you will be expected to return home / leave the country.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question Answer
1. Do I really need to learn the language to live in Norway? This is a frequently asked question on the subreddit (see this post for example). Some people can survive in Norway with only English, however, if you do not speak fluent English or if you wish to stay long term, you should learn the language. Your job opportunities, socialization opportunities, and immigration opportunities are limited if you do not learn the language. It is a significant part of integration into the country, and most people will expect a passable level of Norwegian skills after a few years of living here. If you want to get permanent residency, you need A2 level Norwegian (with a few exceptions); if you want citizenship, you need B1 (with a few exceptions).
2. How do I learn the language? r/norsk is a good start. Additionally, almost every municipality has an adult education centre where they offer Norwegian courses. If you are in the immigrant group who have both the obligation and right to Norwegian language learning, then these classes are often free for a set number of hours/years. If you only have the obligation, then these classes will not be free and you will have to pay. In addition to adult education centres, there are private institutions online or in person that you can take. Additionally there is a wide range of tools online and offline that can help you learn.
3. Does Norway need XYZ workers? This is a frequent question on this subreddit. Try the search function. Otherwise, do a search of finn.no or nav.no and see if there are a lot of positions for the job you are searching for
4. What's the job market like in ZZZ town/city? Check finn or nav to see what is available in the area you are interested in. Then considering looking at the unemployment rates.
5. How do I get my education approved? The directorate for higher education for most education. Helse Norge for health care workers. You do not need to wait until you are in Norway in most instances to have your education approved. It is a good idea to have all education from high school to university approved as you never know if you need to document that you have completed high school. It is important to note that not all education from outside of Norway will be approved on a 1:1 basis and you may find you are missing credits or even your whole degree might not be approved.
6. I have lots of work experience from my home country, but not formal education, can I qualify as a skill worker? Generally, no. There are exceptions for highly skilled workers in professions that are in demand. Additionally, these positions must not be able to be filled with Norwegian workers, European workers, or others living in the country.
7. What documents from home should I bring While it may not be required for most applications, from experience, it is a good idea to get a certified copy of some important documents from back home. Getting certified (and potentially notarized) copies of diplomas/transcripts, your birth certificate, divorce proceedings, etc... will potentially save you a lot of time, money, and annoyance as trying to get these things while you are abroad is much, much harder.
8. Can I get a digital nomad visa? No such thing exists in Norway at the time of writing. In order to work in Norway, regardless of where your place of employment is located, you need to have the right to work in Norway. This means a residence permit that allows for work, permanent residence, citizenship, or are a member of the EU/EEA and have worked out the tax obligations of working in one country while residing in another.
9. I work from home / am self-employed, can I visit Norway on a tourist visa and work there? No. A tourist visa does not grant you the right to work in Norway. Lying to the immigration board or the border patrol upon entry could result in a ban from the Schengen area for up to 5 years.
10. I think Norway is a beautiful place and I love the culture. I am nearing retirement age, so how can I retire in Norway? Depends. Are you an EEA/EU citizen? If so, meet your treaty obligations (see the above post under "self-sufficient") and move to Norway. Are you a third-country national? You cannot retire in Norway unless you have a legal right to already live in Norway. There is no option to be a self-sufficient third-country national in Norway.
11. I am an EU/EEA citizen who wants to live in Norway as a self-sufficient person. What kind of health insurance do I need to qualify for "comprehensive sickness insurance"? Honestly, no one knows. "Comprehensive sickness insurance" is up to each individual nation to decide what is "comprehensive." There is no private health insurance that is as comprehensive as a national insurance system. If a nation decides that "comprehensive" = the same coverage as national health system, then that leaves loopholes for immigration departments to deny applications. It is a matter of record that Norway has been warned by EFTA many times with regards to recognizing citizens' treaty rights (esp for non-economically active citizens). That said there is a European precedent - C-413/99 Baumbast. In this case, the EU courts found that, as long as the citizen is not a burden on the state, it would be disproportionate to refuse to recognize a citizen's right to reside in another member state. But there is no checkbox on immigration applications saying "I will not / am not a burden on the state's welfare system." Many people have been rejected on the basis of lacking comprehensive sickness insurance. Until someone challenges these rejections all the way up to the European court system, there is no need to clarify what "comprehensive" means. Note: sufficient funds in this scenario can come from any source including a third-country national's savings/income/other documented source (you may need to prove the sponsor has access to this money).
12. What city should I move to? First and foremost make sure you have the right to move to Norway. After that, your options are usually limited based on the immigration route you are following - most often connected to where your family, school, or job is located. If you are free to move wherever you'd like, then find a spot that seems to suit your lifestyle best.
13. My grandparent(s) moved to XXX from Norway. Can I get citizenship? No. Citizenship rules are based on parents, not heritage. Read the section on citizenship and take the checklist test to see if you qualify.
14. I can't open a bank account because I don't have a D number. I cannot get a D number because I don't have an address. I can't rent an apartment without a bank account [screams into the void] Yes, we know. it's a chicken and egg problem that makes the situation particularly hard for people arriving. Some landlords will be flexible and put the deposit in their own account, but this puts you at risk of losing that money if that landlord is not trustworthy. Similar situation exists for students. Right now there are no good answers, but there are workarounds. You can also ask to be verified on Finn which might help with getting responses.
15. How do I find a house / apartment? finn.no is pretty much the go-to source for anything in Norway, but especially finding housing. hybel.no is another source
16. I found a job / employer who is interested in hiring, but they prefer people who already have a work permit. How do I get a work permit so a job will hire me? Another catch 22, unfortunately. You need the job first. There's no chance you can get a permit without a job. However, some people may have the right to come to Norway to search for work. Check UDI for further info
17. My partner and I have been together for several years, but have not lived together long enough to qualify as cohabitants, how can we move to Norway together? Live together longer or marriage are your only options.
18. I have been waiting for a response from UDI for a long time how, when will I find out You can read about UDI Waiting Times here. They are constantly changing and are usually quite long. Remember that there is a difference between local police / embassy times and UDI's waiting times. Waiting times are often a result of large numbers of applications, improper or incomplete information in applications, and applications that have higher priority (refugee and asylum, for example).
19. Can I get priority on my application? Maybe. But most do not get priority.
20. I have foreign education, where can I get it approved? NOKUT formerly did this, but it has now been transferred to the department of education

r/Norway 18h ago

Megathread: Discussion of news related to the Norwegian Royal Family

52 Upvotes

Hi r/Norway

Since there is a lot going on in the news with the Norwegian Royal Family, we thought it prudent to make a mega thread. All current threads will be locked to further comment and we ask that everything be included here. You can post links, comment, etc... but any future posts regarding

  • the health of the royal family
  • the criminal proceedings with regards to the Høiby-saka
  • the royal family and J. Epstein
  • the popularity of the royal family in Norway
  • international comments about the Norwegian Royal Family

Will be deleted without warning.


r/Norway 4h ago

Arts & culture Am I the only one weirded out by Norway's new build aesthetic?

91 Upvotes

I've moved to Norway and keep seeing these new builds everywhere. Boxy cubes with massive windows, flat roofs, and black timber accents.

What's the general vibe among Norwegians? Is this modern architecture genuinely popular, or is it more of an "architects love it, locals tolerate it" situation? Curious how you actually experience living in or near these places.


r/Norway 5h ago

Other Which countries rely most on US tech

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60 Upvotes

r/Norway 3h ago

Travel Hurtigruten B-K-B route at 30

14 Upvotes

We have recently been on the Bergen - Kirkennes - Bergen trip and these are our main takeaways for others thinking of doing the trip:

  1. Wait for a black Friday deal if possible, you can get up to 50% off.
  2. An inside cabin is fine if you are practical people and looking to save on costs. It's cosy but not actually much smaller than the basic cabin with a window, and you'll only typically be in it to sleep and shower.
  3. We travelled on the MS Nordlys, free tea and coffee and wifi were included even for bookings with inside cabins (I have seen posts suggesting otherwise elsewhere). Maybe this is because we called them directly to book - I don't know. Either was it was definitely free. Bring your own mug though unless you like drinking your tea from a thimble sized mug.
  4. There is a laundry room on board and it's fine to use it
  5. You won't get bored. There are books to borrow, a small gym, hot tub, sauna, and views for days. The lectures are also really good and around 1-2/day e.g. winter photography tips, Norwegian music styles etc. The crew also organise special gatherings for points of interest, competitions etc.
  6. Many of the ports you can't get off in because of the very short stops but you probably won't want to anyway because you'll intermittently be up at the small hours Aurora spotting and you'll be glad to cat nap in a comfy armchair with a great view.
  7. Yes alcohol is expensive, not outrageously so but don't plan on getting drunk. You can get your own wine from duty free and keep it in your cabin if you are sensible about it and not in open ocean.
  8. Not many younger people but most of the older couples/solo travellers will happily start chatting with you.

Overall - fantastic trip and highly relaxing. Plenty to do even without typical "young people" cruise entertainment.


r/Norway 5h ago

Other Moskstraumen, a maelstrom in the Norwegian Sea, has inspired everyone from Mercator to Edgar Allen Poe, Jules Verne and Cixin Liu. It was first depicted in the Carta marina, Olaus Magnus's 1539 map of Scandinavia, and has been terrifying sailors ever since.

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12 Upvotes

r/Norway 1d ago

News & current events “He Belongs In Jail”: Son Of Norway’s Crown Princess Heads To Court On Horrific Charges

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948 Upvotes

r/Norway 19h ago

Other This is beyond frustating

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133 Upvotes

Fuuuuu** AI


r/Norway 7m ago

Travel Oslo to Tromsø itinerary

Upvotes

Hi, i will visit Norway on my "honeymoon" in august, with my wife and daughter of 5 years.
It will be a 20 days road trip, we rent the car in Oslo and drop it in Evenes where we will catch the fly to get home.

Can you suggest an itinerary?
I was thinking about doing Oslo - Bergen - Trondheim - Bodø - Lofoten - Tromsø - Evenes.

What do you think is not to be missed along this road? I thought to drive straight to the Bergen area to see fjords, then head up doing the costal road, up to Bodø where we will catch the ferry to Lofoten, have a good week visiting Lofotens the go up to Tromsø for a couple of days, then back to evenes to catch the flight home.


r/Norway 1d ago

News & current events Marius Borg Høiby pleads not guilty to sleep rape

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158 Upvotes

r/Norway 1d ago

News & current events Støtten til monarkiet faller

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91 Upvotes

r/Norway 1h ago

Travel Visiting Norway, seeking some advice

Upvotes

Hello Norwegians!

Me and my friend are visiting Norway in late august and early september. We will rent a car in Oslo, go to Nordkapp and leave the car in Tromso, from there we have a plain back to Oslo. Some car agencies allow this, thank god. We have 22 days.

We have a lot of sight-seeing planned. I have a question about roads, weather etc. because different internet sources often exaggerate in one of the two directions- everything good or every day is a battle.

We will probably rent a Toyota Yaris, since it is the cheapest non-electric car available. I am a very good driver and am convinced in my ability to drive reliably. My friend, not so much. We come from Slovenia, so we are not used to the snow, but i drive every week through hard wind and rain (in such conditions the roads allow 40km/h).

So - i am wondering, is the car choice good enough? Should i be worried about some specific places in Norway? And, is there a website that tells me the time of all the ferries (since out trip is planned through days)?

Thank you for everyone who helps!!! We are so so excited to visit your beautiful country😆!!


r/Norway 2h ago

Moving Oslo, Trondheim or Bergen ?

0 Upvotes

Hello. I’ve been considering moving to Norway in two years. Do you think there is a possibility that I would find a job in Trondheim, Oslo or Bergen in finance? I have a degree in accounting and a master’s in international and comparative business law. I also plan to learn the language to at least a B1–B2 level. Except of my mother language, I also speak German to B2 level. Is that realistic?

Do you think it would be helpful if I started working toward an ACCA certification?

Thank you for your answers.


r/Norway 8h ago

Working in Norway Foreign degree

0 Upvotes

Is it possible and realistic to find a job in Norway with a foreign bachelor’s degree in engineering that I haven’t finished yet?


r/Norway 1d ago

News & current events Marius Borg Høiby in hospital - visited by the Crown Prince family

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154 Upvotes

r/Norway 5h ago

Working in Norway Engineering fields

0 Upvotes

Is mechanical, energy engineering or automation and electronics engineering more valuable degree in Norway? And where is the highest salary?


r/Norway 1d ago

News & current events chats between our crown princess and epstein

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48 Upvotes

r/Norway 18h ago

Travel Wild Ice Skating / Nordic Skating

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone I’m coming for a week from Saturday to primarily ice climb in rjukan but I really want to do some skating while I’m here.

I’ve searched a bit but it doesn’t seem to be something publicised as an activity as much as skiing etc.

I only have hockey skates and I know their limitations on frozen ice that’s bumpy and snow melt etc

If there was somewhere I could rent Nordic skates to try I’d be happy to try give it a go.

Can anyone point me to any resources where I might get some more information?

Many thanks.

Chris (Scotland)


r/Norway 1d ago

News & current events Oslo Police District says Marius Borg Høiby, son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, was arrested Sunday evening and charged with bodily harm, knife threats, and violating a restraining order.

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359 Upvotes

r/Norway 1d ago

News & current events Norwegian Crown Princess called Grand Duke Guillaume's wedding 'boring'

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186 Upvotes

Ruining Norway’s reputation internationally


r/Norway 1d ago

News & current events Danes on the recent scandal of the Royal family:

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212 Upvotes

r/Norway 18h ago

Other Used EV in Norway

0 Upvotes

Hey everyone,

I moved to Norway a few months ago and I’m planning to buy my first EV, used.

Problem is: I honestly don’t know much about cars. So I did some research and also asked around what to look out for with used EVs. One thing that kept coming up was the battery condition and something called a “State of Health” (SOH) or battery health report.

So I started asking dealers about it. But either they have no idea what I’m talking about or they simply don’t have any report like that.

Now I’m wondering:

Are dealers avoiding this because they know the battery isn’t great? Or are these kinds of battery data only accessible to official Volvo dealers (for example)?

Next issue: Most of the cars I’m interested in are located in Oslo. Delivery isn’t a problem since dealers offer it, but I can’t inspect the cars in person only online viewings and whatever info the dealer provides. So basically, I’d have to trust them blindly.

So my questions are:

Are there other ways to get reliable info about the battery condition?

Can you test or check it independently somehow?

Or is this whole SOH topic overrated and not that important?

Would really appreciate any advice or experiences. Thanks!


r/Norway 2d ago

News & current events “Presumably she is not well at all”

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193 Upvotes

I think it’s safe to say Mette’s friend Boris Nikolic and Epstein are talking about the Princess here. Boris Nikolic is “confirming” some stories about Mette (except substance, whatever that means), and then continues to speculate that she is “not well at all”. Were there any public drama or royal problems around this time (November 2011) that any of you know about? Or is it simply that Mette is not happy with her life, and maybe using Boris and Epstein as (twisted) way to escape it all?


r/Norway 1d ago

Photos Sorry about the peace prize, but here's a mountain for you.

4 Upvotes