Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Norway, you are subject to its laws. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own, and criminal penalties will vary from country to country. This can be especially true in countries such as Norway which may seem similar to the United States, yet travelers may not be aware of subtle legal and cultural differences. Norwegian family law, for example, can be very different from that in the United States; visitors and long-term residents are encouraged to familiarize themselves with this law to avoid potential problems. Persons violating Norway’s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Norway are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. In Norway, driving under the influence (defined generally as 0.02% Blood Alcohol Content) could land you immediately in jail. If you break local laws in Norway, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. You can be prosecuted in the United States for engaging in sexual conduct with children or for using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country regardless of the legality of these activities under that country’s laws. Counterfeit and pirated goods are illegal in the United States and if you purchase them in a foreign country, you may be breaking local law as well.

Arrest notifications in host country: While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in that country, others may not. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: We are not aware of any special currency or customs circumstances for this country.

Svalbard: The Svalbard archipelago consists of nine main islands located midway between mainland Norway and the North Pole. Svalbard’s largest island, Spitsbergen, is also home to its largest settlement and administrative center, Longyearbyen. As a territory of Norway, Svalbard is administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice through a governor (Sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen. Unlike Norway’s mainland, Svalbard is not party to the Schengen Agreement and air travelers to Svalbard from Norway will depart the Schengen Zone prior to boarding. This means you need a passport to enter Svalbard.

In recent years, Svalbard has become increasingly accessible to tourist travel, with air and ocean transportation options available from the Norwegian mainland. Travelers to Svalbard, however, face unique hazards given the extreme weather conditions and limited transport infrastructure. Although road systems exist within the three largest towns, Longyearbyen, Barentsburg, and Ny-Alesund, they do not connect with each other, making sea, snowmobile, or limited air service the only options for traveling throughout Svalbard. Further, tourism to Ny-Alesund is restricted due to its status as a research facility and the danger of polar bear attacks. There have been several reported instances of death or injury to tourists in the Svalbard archipelago due to animal attacks and boating incidents, often involving unpredictable weather or ocean conditions. In cases of illness or injury, a clinic in Longyearbyen can provide limited emergency care until medical evacuation to Tromsoe is available. 

You should consult the Sysselmann’s Office and the Svalbard Tourist Board for the latest travel conditions and information before you go. It is very important to verify that you have adequate travel and medical insurance to cover the potential costs of medical treatment or repatriation before you travel to Svalbard. The U.S. Embassy has no direct representation on Svalbard, limiting its ability to provide emergency consular services.

WOMEN TRAVELER INFORMATION: If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.

LGBT RIGHTS: There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBT events in Norway. For more detailed information about LGBT rights in Norway you may review the State Department’s annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. For further information on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) travel, please read our LGBT Travel Information page.

ACCESSIBILITY: While in Norway, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from in the United States. Oslo Gardermoen International Airport is accessible to wheelchair users and the staff is very helpful with accessibility issues. The Oslo subway/light-rail system (T-banen) has above-average wheelchair accessibility. Taxi drivers are generally helpful in assisting wheelchair users. It is possible to order taxis with wheelchair lifts. From December to March it is impossible for wheelchair users to navigate Oslo’s streets without assistance due to snow and ice.

Shopping malls are generally accessible to wheelchair users. However, individual shops with street entrances are not. Shopping malls, hotels, public buildings, and most modern structures will have handicap accessible toilets. Less than half of the restaurants in Norway are wheelchair accessible and many have restrooms located up or down a flight of stairs. Many modern public structures, such as shopping centers, substitute inclined moving walkways/ramps for elevators, which are difficult for wheelchair users to use safely. The website of Norway’s Tourist Board offers accessibility information specifically for ferries.