Norway is a member of the Pet Travel Scheme which allows pet carnivores (dogs, cats and ferrets) from any of the countries covered by the scheme to enter the country without quarantine provided they meet specified anti-rabies, blood sampling and anti-worm/anti-tick hygiene requirements.
To qualify for the scheme, the pet must:
1. Be fitted with a microchip.
2. Be vaccinated against rabies.
3. Be blood tested to check the effectiveness of the Rabies vaccination.
4. Be issued with an Official Pet Passport (or a Pet Travel Scheme Certificate).
In order to bring small rodents, caged birds and rabbits into Norway, you are required to obtain an import permit from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. Rodents owned by persons travelling from Sweden are exempt from this requirement.
Added by Eamonn 8/1/09 - It should be noted that whilst most of the countries in the Pet Travel Scheme will recognise a rabies vaccination for 3 years Norway insists on vaccinations on an annual basis. If a vaccination is missed by 1 day then the whole process including bloodtests must be restarted. Animals however, can be flown directly from UK to Norway without the need for PETS documentation, though this is not adviseable. There is no need for documentation if the animal is travelling from Sweden either.
Friday, November 20, 2015
Norway - Retiring and Pensions
It is unusual for the nationals of other countries to retire to Norway due to the high cost of living there.
Norway has double taxation agreements with many other countries and if covered by one of these you will not be charged twice on your income, including your pension, when living in Norway.
Norway has double taxation agreements with many other countries and if covered by one of these you will not be charged twice on your income, including your pension, when living in Norway.
Norway - Leisure, Entertainment and Sports
Norwegians are very keen on sports, with around a third of the population reportedly participating regularly in some form of sporting activity. Winter sports are especially popular, and include various forms of skiing, alpine skating and snowboarding. Hiking and cycling are popular summer sporting pursuits. River sports including kayaking and rafting are also popular. Public swimming pools can be found in most cities and main towns.
Oslo and the other main cities offer a range of arts and entertainment facilities, including cinemas, theatres, nightclubs and discos. Entertainment is often held in the hotels and major restaurants. Restaurants are expensive in Norway, so dining out tends to be an occasional treat.
Shops in Norway close early, mostly by 5 p.m. on weekdays and 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Most shops are closed on Sundays. Some supermarkets and shopping malls now have extended opening hours until 8 p.m.
Norway has a rich culture, which is often celebrated in traditional song and costume-wearing, especially on the biggest public holiday, Constitution Day, on 17th May. On Midsummer's Eve, usually on 23rd June, celebrations are held on the beaches. The main Sami celebrations are at Easter, and include reindeer racing, and traditional concerts.
Oslo and the other main cities offer a range of arts and entertainment facilities, including cinemas, theatres, nightclubs and discos. Entertainment is often held in the hotels and major restaurants. Restaurants are expensive in Norway, so dining out tends to be an occasional treat.
Shops in Norway close early, mostly by 5 p.m. on weekdays and 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Most shops are closed on Sundays. Some supermarkets and shopping malls now have extended opening hours until 8 p.m.
Norway has a rich culture, which is often celebrated in traditional song and costume-wearing, especially on the biggest public holiday, Constitution Day, on 17th May. On Midsummer's Eve, usually on 23rd June, celebrations are held on the beaches. The main Sami celebrations are at Easter, and include reindeer racing, and traditional concerts.
Norway - Food and Drink
Food
Traditional Norwegian "farm" food is made by whatever can grow in the northern climate, be stored for a year until new crops come out, and contain enough energy for you to do hard work. Typical examples are variations of yeasted and unyeasted bread and other forms of bakery, porridges, soups, inventive uses of potato, salted and smoked meat, and fresh, salted or smoked fish. The National dish is fårikål. Fårikål is lamb's meat and cabbage cooked for several hours in a casserole. However, the regional variances in traditional food are huge and hence, and what is thought to be "typical traditional" for one Norwegian might be totally unknown to another.
Finer traditional food is usually based on hunted animals or fresh fish. Steak, medallions and meat balls from game, deer, reindeer and elk are highly appreciated foods with international reputation, so are fresh, smoked and fermented salmon varieties as well as a host of other fish products. Traditional pastries like lukket valnøtt (marzipan-covered whipped cream cake) are other original contributions to international cuisine. Cheese of various types is common, but one particularly Norwegian favorite is geitost (goat-cheese), a mild smoked cheese which bears a remarkable similarity to smooth peanut butter in color, texture and taste.
Today, Norwegians use plenty of sliced bread for almost any meal except dinner, whereas recipes for hot meals will be taken from almost anywhere in the world, including of course the traditional kitchen, but seldom the most extreme examples.
Norwegians are also known for eating a lot of frozen pizza. Try the national frozen pizza "Grandiosa" or "Graendis"
Places to eat
Eating out is expensive, with fast food starting from 50 kr and sit-down meals in a decent restaurant nearly always topping 100 kr or more for a main course. One way to cut costs is self-catering, as youth hostels and guesthouses often have kitchens for their guests. Breakfast is often hearty and buffet-style, so pigging out at breakfast and skipping lunch is also an option. Buy/bring a lunchbox before attending breakfast, as most of the bigger hotels will allow you to fill it up for free from the breakfast buffet for eating later in the day.
For a cheap quick snack Norwegian-style, look no further than the nearest grill or convenience store, which will dish up a pølse sausage or kjempegrill hot dog in either a hot dog bun (brød) or wrapped in a flat potato bread (lompe) for around 20-30 kr. In addition to ketchup and mustard, optional toppings include pickled cucumber.
Whale anyone?
Yes, Norwegians eat whale. However, it's very seldom found in most ordinary restaurants, and chances are it might be overly expensive. Young Norwegians did not grow up with eating whale because of the moratium in the 1980's. Although whaling started up again in the early 1990's, whale is no longer a staple food as it once was in the coastal areas.
Vegetarians
Very few Norwegian cuisine restaurants have vegetarian meals on the menu, but will make something if asked, with varying success. Some of the few chains of stores/restaurants where you will always have a vegetarian option is Dolly Dimple's, SubWay and Esso/On the run (spinach panini).
Food safety
Food safety is very good in Norway. Salmonella is very rare compared to other countries, and health officials inspect restaurants at a regular basis. Also tap-water is usually very nice; Voss water from Vatnestrøm in Aust-Agder is actually exported abroad, including USA.
Drink
Norway is often described as a "dry" country, because alcohol is highly priced and glass of wine/beer in a restaurant is in the range of 60 kr (£6/$9/€9). When in cities/towns with many students (Oslo/Bergen/Trondheim in particular), you can very often find prices to be lower. Ask at your place of accomnodation or young people in the streets for hints and tips of where to go. Beer can be bought at the supermarkets, however wine and stronger alcoholic beverages have to be purchased in state owned liquor stores (Vinmonopolet). The price of alcohol, however does not stop the locals from having a good time. They are often found drinking and carrying on in local street parties and on their porches.
The high prices are most likely part of the reason why the tradition to hold vorspiel and nachspiel before going out is very popular in Norway. The words derives from german and can be translated into pre- and afterparty. If going out in the weekend, it is not unknown for norwegians to gather at a friends house and not leave there until after twelve in the evening. So if you've seen Norwegian drinking culture abroad, and are shocked by the empty bar/club at ten o'clock, call your Norwegian friend and ask where the vorspiel is. It's likely to be a whole lot of fun. However this is mostly true in weekends, during normal weekdays, you will often find Norwegians sitting in bars enjoying a couple of beers or a bottle of wine.
You must be at least 18 years old to purchase beer/wine and 20 years old to purchase spirits (alcohol levels of 22% and above) in Norway.
Technically, you're not allowed to drink in public. This law is very strict, and even encompasses your own balcony, if other people can see you! Luckily, the law is very seldom enforced (I've never heard of anyone being fined in their own balcony, for instance), and Norwegians indeed do drink in parks. There are calls for modifying the antiquated law, and recently, there has been a debate in media: most people seem to agree that drinking in parks is alright as long as people have a good time and remain peaceful. However, if you bother others and get too intoxicated or a policeman happens to be in a bad mood, you may be asked to throw away your alcohol, and in a worst-case scenario, fined. Drinking openly in the street is probably still considered somewhat rude, and it would be more likely to bring the police's attention than a picnic in a park, and is advised against. Having a glass of wine in an establishment that legally serves alcohol at the sidewalk, of course, is not a problem.
In Norway, all alcohol with a volume percentage of under 4,75% can be sold at regular shops. This means you can get decent beer all over the place. The price varies, but imported beer is usually expensive (except Danish/Dutch beers brewed in Norway on licence like Heineken and Carlsberg). Shopping hours for beer are very strict: The sale stops at 8 pm (20.00) every weekday, and at 6 pm (18.00) every day before holidays (incl sundays). This means the beer will have to be PAID before this time. If it's not paid, the person behind the counter will take your beer, and tell you "Sorry pal, too late!". On Sunday, you can't buy alcohol anywhere except bars/pubs/restaurants.
For strong beer, wine and hard alcohol, you will have to find a Vinmonopolet branch. The state shop have a marvellous choice of drinks, but at mostly sky-high prices. The general rule is that table wines are more expensive than in nearly any other country. Expect NOK 80-90 for a decent, "cheap" wine. However, as the taxation is based on the volume of alcohol per bottle rather than the initial cost, you can often find more exclusive wines at comparably lower prices than in private establishments in other countries. Vinmonpolet is open until 5 pm (17.00) Mon-Wed, 6 pm (18.00) Thu-Fri, and 3 pm (15.00) on Sat.
Traditional Norwegian "farm" food is made by whatever can grow in the northern climate, be stored for a year until new crops come out, and contain enough energy for you to do hard work. Typical examples are variations of yeasted and unyeasted bread and other forms of bakery, porridges, soups, inventive uses of potato, salted and smoked meat, and fresh, salted or smoked fish. The National dish is fårikål. Fårikål is lamb's meat and cabbage cooked for several hours in a casserole. However, the regional variances in traditional food are huge and hence, and what is thought to be "typical traditional" for one Norwegian might be totally unknown to another.
Finer traditional food is usually based on hunted animals or fresh fish. Steak, medallions and meat balls from game, deer, reindeer and elk are highly appreciated foods with international reputation, so are fresh, smoked and fermented salmon varieties as well as a host of other fish products. Traditional pastries like lukket valnøtt (marzipan-covered whipped cream cake) are other original contributions to international cuisine. Cheese of various types is common, but one particularly Norwegian favorite is geitost (goat-cheese), a mild smoked cheese which bears a remarkable similarity to smooth peanut butter in color, texture and taste.
Today, Norwegians use plenty of sliced bread for almost any meal except dinner, whereas recipes for hot meals will be taken from almost anywhere in the world, including of course the traditional kitchen, but seldom the most extreme examples.
Norwegians are also known for eating a lot of frozen pizza. Try the national frozen pizza "Grandiosa" or "Graendis"
Places to eat
Eating out is expensive, with fast food starting from 50 kr and sit-down meals in a decent restaurant nearly always topping 100 kr or more for a main course. One way to cut costs is self-catering, as youth hostels and guesthouses often have kitchens for their guests. Breakfast is often hearty and buffet-style, so pigging out at breakfast and skipping lunch is also an option. Buy/bring a lunchbox before attending breakfast, as most of the bigger hotels will allow you to fill it up for free from the breakfast buffet for eating later in the day.
For a cheap quick snack Norwegian-style, look no further than the nearest grill or convenience store, which will dish up a pølse sausage or kjempegrill hot dog in either a hot dog bun (brød) or wrapped in a flat potato bread (lompe) for around 20-30 kr. In addition to ketchup and mustard, optional toppings include pickled cucumber.
Whale anyone?
Yes, Norwegians eat whale. However, it's very seldom found in most ordinary restaurants, and chances are it might be overly expensive. Young Norwegians did not grow up with eating whale because of the moratium in the 1980's. Although whaling started up again in the early 1990's, whale is no longer a staple food as it once was in the coastal areas.
Vegetarians
Very few Norwegian cuisine restaurants have vegetarian meals on the menu, but will make something if asked, with varying success. Some of the few chains of stores/restaurants where you will always have a vegetarian option is Dolly Dimple's, SubWay and Esso/On the run (spinach panini).
Food safety
Food safety is very good in Norway. Salmonella is very rare compared to other countries, and health officials inspect restaurants at a regular basis. Also tap-water is usually very nice; Voss water from Vatnestrøm in Aust-Agder is actually exported abroad, including USA.
Drink
Norway is often described as a "dry" country, because alcohol is highly priced and glass of wine/beer in a restaurant is in the range of 60 kr (£6/$9/€9). When in cities/towns with many students (Oslo/Bergen/Trondheim in particular), you can very often find prices to be lower. Ask at your place of accomnodation or young people in the streets for hints and tips of where to go. Beer can be bought at the supermarkets, however wine and stronger alcoholic beverages have to be purchased in state owned liquor stores (Vinmonopolet). The price of alcohol, however does not stop the locals from having a good time. They are often found drinking and carrying on in local street parties and on their porches.
The high prices are most likely part of the reason why the tradition to hold vorspiel and nachspiel before going out is very popular in Norway. The words derives from german and can be translated into pre- and afterparty. If going out in the weekend, it is not unknown for norwegians to gather at a friends house and not leave there until after twelve in the evening. So if you've seen Norwegian drinking culture abroad, and are shocked by the empty bar/club at ten o'clock, call your Norwegian friend and ask where the vorspiel is. It's likely to be a whole lot of fun. However this is mostly true in weekends, during normal weekdays, you will often find Norwegians sitting in bars enjoying a couple of beers or a bottle of wine.
You must be at least 18 years old to purchase beer/wine and 20 years old to purchase spirits (alcohol levels of 22% and above) in Norway.
Technically, you're not allowed to drink in public. This law is very strict, and even encompasses your own balcony, if other people can see you! Luckily, the law is very seldom enforced (I've never heard of anyone being fined in their own balcony, for instance), and Norwegians indeed do drink in parks. There are calls for modifying the antiquated law, and recently, there has been a debate in media: most people seem to agree that drinking in parks is alright as long as people have a good time and remain peaceful. However, if you bother others and get too intoxicated or a policeman happens to be in a bad mood, you may be asked to throw away your alcohol, and in a worst-case scenario, fined. Drinking openly in the street is probably still considered somewhat rude, and it would be more likely to bring the police's attention than a picnic in a park, and is advised against. Having a glass of wine in an establishment that legally serves alcohol at the sidewalk, of course, is not a problem.
In Norway, all alcohol with a volume percentage of under 4,75% can be sold at regular shops. This means you can get decent beer all over the place. The price varies, but imported beer is usually expensive (except Danish/Dutch beers brewed in Norway on licence like Heineken and Carlsberg). Shopping hours for beer are very strict: The sale stops at 8 pm (20.00) every weekday, and at 6 pm (18.00) every day before holidays (incl sundays). This means the beer will have to be PAID before this time. If it's not paid, the person behind the counter will take your beer, and tell you "Sorry pal, too late!". On Sunday, you can't buy alcohol anywhere except bars/pubs/restaurants.
For strong beer, wine and hard alcohol, you will have to find a Vinmonopolet branch. The state shop have a marvellous choice of drinks, but at mostly sky-high prices. The general rule is that table wines are more expensive than in nearly any other country. Expect NOK 80-90 for a decent, "cheap" wine. However, as the taxation is based on the volume of alcohol per bottle rather than the initial cost, you can often find more exclusive wines at comparably lower prices than in private establishments in other countries. Vinmonpolet is open until 5 pm (17.00) Mon-Wed, 6 pm (18.00) Thu-Fri, and 3 pm (15.00) on Sat.
Norway - Driving and Public Transportation
EEA nationals are allowed to drive in Norway on the driving licence issued in their home country, for the period of its validity, but also have the option of exchanging their licence for a Norwegian one. The nationals of many other countries are allowed to use their own licence for up to a year, after which time they are required to apply for a Norwegian licence and will be required to take a test. For those who are not permanent residents of Norway, the Norwegian licence they are given will be valid for an initial four years.
Driving is on the right hand side of the road in Norway. Outside the city centres, traffic is often very light. Major and secondary roads are generally of a high standard, but some smaller rural roads may not be well-maintained, and can be dangerous in icy conditions. The road system is linked by many car ferries across the fjords. Tolls are payable on some roads.
It is compulsory under law to wear seat belts in the front seats of cars, and in the back seats where fitted. Dipped headlights are required at all times, even in daylight. The maximum blood/alcohol ratio is 0.5% and there are severe penalties for drink driving. The speed limits are 80 to 90 kph (around 50-60 mph) outside built-up areas and 50 kpm (around 30 mph) in built-up areas.
Domestic air travel is used a lot in Norway, due to the vast distances between cities and the icy conditions for much of the year. There are three main domestic airlines: SAS, Braathens and Widerøe Norsk Air, which serve around 50 airports throughout the country. Many discounted fares are available.
There are also long-distance bus services connecting every main city and some remote areas. Services are of a high standard and there is usually no need to pre-book tickets.
There is a well developed rail network with services operated by the Norwegian State Railway (NSB), but for cross-country travel this is geographically limited to four main regional lines from Oslo to Stavanger, Bergen, ÃâEUR¦ndalsnes and Bodø. Trains pass through some spectacular mountain and fjord scenery.
Many ferries, express boats and hydrofoils serve Norway's coastal towns and villages, even in the most remote areas. The 'Hurtigruten' ferry service leaves daily from Bergen for Kirkenes near the Russian border, calling at 35 ports en route and taking 11 days to reach its destination.
Within Norway's cities there are well developed public transport systems, and many residents do not own cars, which are very expensive in Norway. Oslo has an underground rail system and a tram system.
Driving is on the right hand side of the road in Norway. Outside the city centres, traffic is often very light. Major and secondary roads are generally of a high standard, but some smaller rural roads may not be well-maintained, and can be dangerous in icy conditions. The road system is linked by many car ferries across the fjords. Tolls are payable on some roads.
It is compulsory under law to wear seat belts in the front seats of cars, and in the back seats where fitted. Dipped headlights are required at all times, even in daylight. The maximum blood/alcohol ratio is 0.5% and there are severe penalties for drink driving. The speed limits are 80 to 90 kph (around 50-60 mph) outside built-up areas and 50 kpm (around 30 mph) in built-up areas.
Domestic air travel is used a lot in Norway, due to the vast distances between cities and the icy conditions for much of the year. There are three main domestic airlines: SAS, Braathens and Widerøe Norsk Air, which serve around 50 airports throughout the country. Many discounted fares are available.
There are also long-distance bus services connecting every main city and some remote areas. Services are of a high standard and there is usually no need to pre-book tickets.
There is a well developed rail network with services operated by the Norwegian State Railway (NSB), but for cross-country travel this is geographically limited to four main regional lines from Oslo to Stavanger, Bergen, ÃâEUR¦ndalsnes and Bodø. Trains pass through some spectacular mountain and fjord scenery.
Many ferries, express boats and hydrofoils serve Norway's coastal towns and villages, even in the most remote areas. The 'Hurtigruten' ferry service leaves daily from Bergen for Kirkenes near the Russian border, calling at 35 ports en route and taking 11 days to reach its destination.
Within Norway's cities there are well developed public transport systems, and many residents do not own cars, which are very expensive in Norway. Oslo has an underground rail system and a tram system.
Norway - Communications (Telephone, Post, Internet, TV, Radio)
You can register online for a telephone service from Telenor, Norway's national telecommunications company, but it can sometimes take up to three months for the line to be installed. Although overseas calls are expensive, fixed-line calls within Norway are relatively cheap, and special off-peak low rates apply between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. Telephone bills are issued every three months.
There is internet access in most areas, with broadband facilities available in the main populated areas of the south. Wireless internet facilities are also available, but in some areas access is intermittent. There are many internet service providers.
Norway's mobile phone companies have roaming agreements with companies in other countries, so if covered by one of these you may be able to use your existing mobile phone in Norway. However, some types of phone issued abroad may not work in Norway.
Post Offices are widely available, and are generally open until 5 p.m. on weekdays and until 1 p.m. on Saturdays. It reportedly takes between two and four days for airmail to reach addresses within Europe.
Norway's national broadcaster, NRK, operates two TV channels: NRK-1 and NRK-2, while TV3 Norge operates a commercial channel. Many American TV programmes are shown here with Norwegian sub-titles. There are also many public and commercial radio stations.
Both cable and satellite TV are available in Norway. A digital terrestrial TV service is also being developed.
There is internet access in most areas, with broadband facilities available in the main populated areas of the south. Wireless internet facilities are also available, but in some areas access is intermittent. There are many internet service providers.
Norway's mobile phone companies have roaming agreements with companies in other countries, so if covered by one of these you may be able to use your existing mobile phone in Norway. However, some types of phone issued abroad may not work in Norway.
Post Offices are widely available, and are generally open until 5 p.m. on weekdays and until 1 p.m. on Saturdays. It reportedly takes between two and four days for airmail to reach addresses within Europe.
Norway's national broadcaster, NRK, operates two TV channels: NRK-1 and NRK-2, while TV3 Norge operates a commercial channel. Many American TV programmes are shown here with Norwegian sub-titles. There are also many public and commercial radio stations.
Both cable and satellite TV are available in Norway. A digital terrestrial TV service is also being developed.
Norway - Utilities (Electricity, Gas, Water)
220 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are of the European round two-pin type.
When moving into a Norwegian home, you will usually find that the utilities have not been disconnected and you just need to have the electricity and water accounts transferred into your name. Electricity is the main form of energy used for heating in Norwegian homes.
Charges for electricity vary throughout the year. Utilities bills are usually sent out monthly and have giros attached, which you need to complete and submit along with your payment. Payment can be made at a bank, post office or by mail. It is also possible to pay your bills online if you use internet banking.
It is safe to drink the water straight from the tap in Norway.
When moving into a Norwegian home, you will usually find that the utilities have not been disconnected and you just need to have the electricity and water accounts transferred into your name. Electricity is the main form of energy used for heating in Norwegian homes.
Charges for electricity vary throughout the year. Utilities bills are usually sent out monthly and have giros attached, which you need to complete and submit along with your payment. Payment can be made at a bank, post office or by mail. It is also possible to pay your bills online if you use internet banking.
It is safe to drink the water straight from the tap in Norway.
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