Immigrants and refugees may be granted Norwegian nationality after applying to the Directorate of Immigration. As a general rule, the person applying for citizenship must
- be at least eighteen years of age;
- have had permanent residence in Norway for the past seven years;
- have a record of good conduct; and
- must not owe significant maintenance payments.
Exemptions from these requirements may be allowed a person who has formerly been a Norwegian national, a person married to a Norwegian national, and in cases with special circumstances. For nationals of the Nordic countries, exemptions may be made to the requirement concerning the length of residence.