Norway

PROFILE
GEOGRAPHY
PEOPLE
HISTORY
GOVERNMENT
POLITICAL CONDITIONS
ECONOMY
FOREIGN RELATIONS
U.S.-NORWAY RELATIONS
TRAVEL

Compiled from the October 2007 Background Note and supplemented with additional information from the State Department and the editors of this volume. See the introduction to this set for explanatory notes.

Official Name:

Kingdom of Norway

PROFILE

Geography

Area: (including the island territories of Svalbard and Jan Mayen) 385,199 sq. km.; approximately the same size as New Mexico.

Cities: (January 2007 est.) Capital—Oslo (pop. 839,423, including suburbs). Other cities—Bergen (244,620), Stavanger (181,280, including suburbs) Trondheim (152,845).

Terrain: Rugged with high plateaus, steep fjords, mountains, and fertile valleys.

Climate: Temperate along the coast, colder inland.

People

Nationality: Noun and adjective—Norwegian(s).

Population: (July 2007 est.) 4,721,914.

Annual growth rate: (2006) 0.34%.

Population density: (2006) 15.2 per sq. km (excluding inland water).

Ethnic groups: Norwegian (Nordic, Alpine, Baltic), Sami, a racial-cultural minority of 40,000; foreign nationals (415,000) from Nordic and other countries.

Religions: (2004) Church of Norway (Lutheran), 88%; Pentecostal Christian, 1%; Roman Catholic, 1%; Other Christian, 2.4%; Muslim, 1.8%; other, none, or unknown, 8.1%.

Languages: Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami-and Finnish-speaking minorities, English is widely spoken (Sami is official in six municipalities).

Education: Years compulsory—10. Literacy—100%.

Health: Infant mortality rate (2006)—3.2 deaths/1,000. Life expectancy (2006 est.)—men 78.1 yrs; women 82.37 yrs.

Work force: (July 2007, 2.4 million) Government, social, personal services—37.6%; wholesale and retail trade, hotels, restaurants—17.5%; manufacturing and mining—12.7%; transport and communications—7.4%; financing, insurance, real estate, business services—12%; agriculture, forestry, fishing—3.9%; construction—6.7%; oil extraction—1.4%.

Government

Type: Hereditary constitutional monarchy.

Independence: 1905.

Constitution: May 17, 1814.

Government branches: Executive—king (chief of state), prime minister (head of government), Council of Ministers (cabinet). The Council is appointed by the monarch in accordance with the will of the Storting, to which the Council is responsible. Legislative—modified unicameral parliament (Storting, 165 members, elected for four years by universal adult suffrage). Judicial—Supreme Court, appellate courts, city and county courts.

Political parties: Labor, Progress, Conservative, Socialist Left, Christian Democratic, Center, Liberal.

Suffrage: Universal over 18.

Political subdivisions: 19 fylker (counties) and 431 municipalities, and Svalbard.

National holidays: (2008) January 1 (New Year's Day); March 20 (Maundy Thursday); March 21 (Good Friday); March 24 (Easter Monday); May 1 (Labor Day, Ascension Day); May 12 (Whit Monday); May 17 (Constitution Day); December 24 (Christmas Eve); December 25-26 (Christmas); December 31 (New Year's Eve).

Economy

GDP: (2006) $347.6 billion.

Annual growth rate: (2006) 2.8%.

Per capita GDP: (2006) Purchasing power parity $47,200.

Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, titanium, pyrites, nickel, fish, timber, hydropower.

Arable land: 2.7%.

Agriculture: Products—dairy, livestock, grain (barley, oats, wheat), potatoes and other vegetables, fruits and berries, furs, wool, pork, beef, veal, fish.

Industry: Types—petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper products, aluminum, ferroalloys, iron and steel, nickel, zinc, nitrogen, fertilizers, petrochemicals, hydroelectric power, refinery products, timber, mining, textiles, fishing, transport equipment, electronics.

Trade: (2006) Exports (f.o.b.)— $125.5 billion. Major markets: U.K. 26.8%, Germany 12.3%, Netherlands 10.2%, France 8.3%, U.S. 5.7%, Sweden 6.3%. Imports (f.o.b.)—$64.1 billion. Major suppliers: Sweden 15.0%, Germany 13.3%, Denmark 6.7%, U.K. 6.3%, China 5.5%, U.S. 5.3%, France 3.8%).

GDP by sector: (2006) Agriculture, hunting, forestry, fishing, and fish farming—1.3%; oil and gas extraction incl. services and mining and quarrying—25.2%; manufacturing—8.42%; electricity, gas, and water supply—2.4%; construction—4.1%; wholesale and retail trade, motor vehicle repair, hotels and restaurants—8.8%; transport industries—4.9%; post and telecommunications, financial intermediation, dwellings, business services—17.1%; public administration and defense—3.8%; education, health and social work, and other social and personal services—13.7%.

GEOGRAPHY

Norway's northern regions lie within the Arctic Circle, where there are borders with Finland and Russia, while much of the long border with Sweden runs through the Scandinavian mountains. This range, sloping to the southeast, is 1,530 km in length and has its highest areas in the south of Norway, where Galdhøpiggen, Norway's highest point, reaches a height of 2,469 m (8,100 ft). Almost all of Norway is high ground; in the north the country becomes narrower, with mountains overlooking the fjords and the islands along the coast, and in the center and south the mountains form a high plateau, where there are permanent ice fields. The only area of low ground is around the Oslo fjord and along the coast to Stavanger. The principal rivers are the Glomma, the Lagen, and Tanaelv. Some 6% of Norway's total area is inland water—mostly long, thin lakes. Two-thirds of the country is tundra, rock, or snowfields, and one-quarter is forested, so good agricultural land is rare. Less than 3% of Norway is cultivated, and these areas are in the southeast and in the river valleys. The mountains of Norway are rich in minerals; there are deposits of iron ore, copper, titanium, coal, zinc, lead, nickel, and pyrite, and large offshore reserves of petroleum and natural gas.

Although Norway crosses the Arctic Circle, the climate is not as cold as might be expected, since the North Atlantic Drift brings warm, damp air to the whole country. The geographical conditions give rise to great climatic variation: it is cooler inland and to the north, where winters are long and dark with much snow, but where the sun shines day and night for part of the summer. It is wetter on the west coast, where about 2,000 mm (78.7 inches) of rain falls annually on Bergen; the mean annual rainfall in the capital, Oslo, is 730 mm, most of which falls during the summer. Temperatures in Oslo are highest in July, when the average is 17.3°C (64°F), and lowest in January, when the average falls to -4.7°C (24°F).

PEOPLE

Ethnically, Norwegians are predominantly Germanic, although in the far north there are communities of Sami who came to the area more than 10,000 years ago, probably from central Asia. In recent years, Norway has become home to increasing numbers of immigrants, foreign workers, and asylum-seekers from various parts of the world. Immigrants now total over 400,000; some have obtained Norwegian citizenship.

Although the Evangelical Lutheran Church is the state church, Norway has complete religious freedom. Education is free through the university level and is compulsory from ages 6 to 16. At least 12 months of military service and training are required of every eligible male. Norway's health system includes free hospital care, physicians' compensation, cash benefits during illness and pregnancy, and other medical and dental plans. There is a public pension system.

Norway is in the top rank of nations in the number of books printed per capita, even though Norwegian is one of the world's smallest language groups. Norway's most famous writer is the dramatist Henrik Ibsen. Artists Edvard Munch and Christian Krogh were Ibsen's contemporaries. Munch drew part of his inspiration from Europe and in turn exercised a strong influence on later European expressionists. Sculptor Gustav Vigeland has a permanent exhibition in the Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo. Musical development in Norway since Edvard Grieg has followed either native folk themes or, more recently, international trends.

HISTORY

The Viking period (9th to 11th centuries) was one of national unification and expansion. The unification of Viking settlements along the Norwegian coast was well advanced by the death, in 1030, of St. Olav, who had overseen the population's conversion to Christianity. A period of civil war ended in the 13th century when Norway expanded its control overseas to parts of the British Isles, Iceland, and Greenland. Norwegian territorial power peaked in 1265, and the following year the Isle of Man and the Hebrides were ceded to Scotland. Competition from the Hanseatic League and the spread of the Black Death weakened the country. The Norwegian royal line died out in 1387, as the country underwent a period of union with Denmark under King Olaf; union with Sweden followed in 1397. Attempts to keep all three countries united failed, with Sweden finally breaking away in 1521. By 1586, Norway had become part of the Danish kingdom.

The Napoleonic War saw Denmark side with France in 1807, following the British attack on Copenhagen. With Sweden joining the coalition against Napoleon in 1813, the Treaty of Kiel in 1814 transferred Norway to

the Swedish King following Denmark's defeat. The Norwegians ignored this international agreement and chose the Danish Prince as their king and adopted the liberal Eidsvoll Constitution. After a few months a Swedish-Norwegian union was agreed under the Swedish crown, with Norway being granted its own parliament (Storting) and government. However, the Swedish King attempted unsuccessfully to revise this constitution in the 1820s and 1830s, and parliamentary control over the executive was only obtained following a struggle during the 1870s and 1880s. Norwegian nationalism was associated with the creation of a national standard for written Norwegian based on dialects, rather than the Danish-based official language. There were numerous disputes between the Norwegian Government and Sweden, notably over requests for a Norwegian consular service to reflect the importance of Norway's expanding merchant fleet. In 1905 the union between the two countries was dissolved following two plebiscites in Norway, one opting for independence and one for a constitutional monarchy. Danish Prince Carl was unanimously elected as King by the Storting in 1905 and took the name of Haakon VII (after the kings of independent Norway) on his arrival in Norway. Haakon died in 1957 and was succeeded by his son, Olav V, who died in January 1991. Upon Olav's death, his son Harald was crowned as King Harald V.

Norway was a nonbelligerent during World War I, but as a result of the German invasion and occupation during World War II, Norwegians generally became skeptical of the concept of neutrality and turned instead to collective security. During the German occupation 736 Norwegian Jews perished; Norwegians saved more than 900 Jews by hiding them and smuggling them across the border into Sweden. Norway was one of the signers of the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949 and was a founding member of the United Nations. The first UN General Secretary, Trygve Lie, was a Norwegian. Under the terms of the will of Alfred Nobel, the Storting (parliament) elects the five members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee who award the Nobel Peace Prize to champions of peace.

GOVERNMENT

The functions of the king are mainly ceremonial, but he has influence as the symbol of national unity. Although the 1814 constitution grants important executive powers to the king, these are almost always exercised by the Council of Ministers in the name of the king (King's Council). The Council of Ministers consists of a prime minister—chosen by the political parties represented in the Storting—and other ministers. The 169 members of the Storting are elected from 19 fylker (counties) for 4-year terms according to a complicated system of proportional representation. After elections, the Storting divides into two chambers, the Odel-sting and the Lagting, which meet separately or jointly depending on the legislative issue under consideration.

The special High Court of the Realm hears impeachment cases; the regular courts include the Supreme Court (17 permanent judges and a president), courts of appeal, city and county courts, the labor court, and conciliation councils. Judges attached to regular courts are appointed by the king in council after nomination by the Ministry of Justice.

Each fylke is headed by a governor appointed by the king in council, with one governor exercising authority in both Oslo and the adjacent county of Akershus.

POLITICAL CONDITIONS

Until the 1981 election, Norway had been governed by majority Labor Party governments since 1935, except for three periods (1963, 1965-71, and 1972-73). The Labor Party lost its majority in the Storting in the 1981 elections.

From 1981 to 1997, governments alternated between Labor minority governments and Conservative-led coalition governments. The first government coalition, led by Christian Democrat Kjell Magne Bondevik, came to power in 1997, but fell in March 2000 over the issue of proposed gas-fired power plants, opposed by Bondevik due to their impact on climate change. The Labor Party's Jens Stoltenberg, a Brundtland protégé, took over in a minority Labor government but lost power in the September 2001 election when Labor posted its worse performance since World War I. Bondevik again became Prime Minister, this time as head of a minority government with the Conservatives and Liberals in a coalition heavily dependent upon the rightpopulist Progress Party. The September 2005 elections ended the Bondevik government, and the Labor party came back with its most substantial victory in years, securing 60 of the 169 seats in parliament. While this election result once more made Labor the undisputed heavyweight in Norwegian politics, Stoltenberg, chastened by his previous stint as the head of a minority government, reached out to the far left Socialist Left party and agrarian Center party to form a coalition government that commanded a majority of seats in parliament. The current government is the first majority government in Norway in over 20 years, but the governing coalition has had to bridge substantial policy differences to build this majority.

The new government that took office in October 2005 issued a Northern Policy that represented a compromise among petroleum, fishing, and environmental interests in the use of Norway's northern offshore area. This “High North” strategy has remained one of the constant themes of this government and encompasses many of the government's highest priorities, including environmental protection, responsible development of energy resources, maintaining a security presence in the Arctic, and developing Norway's relations with Russia.

Principal Government Officials

Last Updated: 2/1/2008

King: HARALD V

Prime Minister: Jens STOLTENBERG

Min. of Children & Equality: Manuela RAMIN-OSMUNDSEN

Min. of Culture & Church Affairs: Trond GISKE

Min. of Defense: Anne-Grete STROM-ERICHSEN

Min. of Education: Bard Vegar SOLHJELL

Min. of the Environment & Development Cooperation: Erik SOLHEIM

Min. of Finance: Kristin HALVORSEN

Min. of Fisheries & Coastal Affairs: Helga PEDERSEN

Min. of Food & Agriculture: Terje Riis JOHANSEN

Min. of Foreign Affairs: Jonas Gahr STORE

Min. of Health & Social Care: Sylvia BRUSTAD

Min. of International Development: Erik SOLHEIM

Min. of Justice & Police: Knut STORBERGET

Min. of Knowledge: Oystein DJUPEDAL

Min. of Labor & Social Affairs: Bjarne Hakon HANSSEN

Min. of Local Govt. & Regional Development: Magnhild Meltveit KLEPPA

Min. of Modernization: Heidi Grande ROYS

Min. of Petroleum & Energy: Aslaug HAGA

Min. of Research & Higher Education:Tora AASLAND

Min. of Trade & Industry: Dag Terje ANDERSEN

Min. of Transport & Communications: Liv Signe NAVARSETE

Governor, Bank of Norway: Svein GJEDREM

Ambassador to the US: Wegger Christian STROMMEN

Permanent Representative to the UN, New York: Johan Ludvik LOVALD

Norway maintains an embassy in the United States at 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel. 202-333-6000) and consulates in Houston, Minneapolis (may be closed in 2008), New York, and San Francisco.

ECONOMY

Norway is one of the world's richest countries in per capita terms. It has an important stake in promoting a liberal environment for foreign trade. Its large shipping fleet is one of the most modern among maritime nations. Metals, pulp and paper products, chemicals, shipbuilding, and fishing are the most significant traditional industries.

Norway's emergence as a major oil and gas producer in the mid-1970s transformed the economy. Large sums of investment capital poured into the offshore oil sector, leading to greater increases in Norwegian production costs and wages than in the rest of Western Europe up to the time of the global recovery of the mid-1980s. The influx of oil revenue also permitted Norway to expand an already extensive social welfare system. Norway has established a state petroleum fund that is expected to exceed $387 billion by the end of December 2007. The fund is primarily designed to help finance government programs once oil and gas resources become depleted. Norway is currently enjoying large foreign trade surpluses thanks to high oil prices. Unemployment remains low (3%range), and the prospects for economic growth are encouraging thanks to the government's expansionary fiscal policy and economic recovery in the United States and Europe. As yet, the country does not have a significant industrial or manufacturing base and, in banking and financial services, the country is in the process of liberalizing and consolidating the industry. Norway's restricted labor market has limited the country's ability for mainland growth, although growth in the service sector has been stronger than in manufacturing. Labor costs have increased at a rate higher than those in its major trade rivals, causing a continued loss in Norway's competitive advantage. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has applauded Norway's strong economic outlook, with high growth expected to continue.

Norway voted against joining the European Union (EU) in a 1994 referendum. With the exception of the agricultural and fisheries sectors, however, Norway enjoys free trade with the EU under the framework of the European Economic Area. This agreement aims to apply the four freedoms of the EU's internal market (goods, persons, services, and capital) to Norway. As a result, Norway normally adopts and implements most EU directives. The present government has agreed not to open the question of full membership in the EU during the 2005-2009 legislative term. Norwegian monetary policy is aimed at maintaining a stable exchange rate for the krone against European currencies, of which the euro is a key operating parameter. Norway is not a member of the EU's Economic and Monetary Union and does not have a fixed exchange rate. Its principal trading partners are in the EU; the United States ranks sixth.

Energy Resources

Offshore hydrocarbon deposits were discovered in the 1960s, and development began in the 1970s. The growth of the petroleum sector has contributed significantly to Norwegian economic vitality. Current petroleum production capacity is more than 3 million barrels per day. Production has increased rapidly during the past several years as new fields are opened. Total production in 2006 was about 248 million cubic meters of oil equivalents, over 65% of which was crude oil. This represents a slight decline in crude oil production over the past year, accompanied by sharp increases in gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production. Hydropower provides nearly all of Norway's electricity, and all of the gas and most of the oil produced is exported.

Norway is the world's fifth-largest oil exporter and third-largest gas exporter, providing much of western Europe's crude oil and gas requirements. In 2006, Norwegian oil and gas exports accounted for nearly 60% of total merchandise exports. In addition, offshore exploration and production have stimulated onshore economic activities. Foreign companies, including many American ones, participate actively in the petroleum sector.

Petroleum resources are expected to become less abundant and less commercially exploitable over time and may be reaching a plateau. However, innovative use of extraction technologies has extended the lives of fields far beyond their expected closures. Declines in petroleum extraction revenue may be offset by increased revenue from the extraction of natural gas. New fields such as Troll and Snohvit and the new LNG plant constructed in Hammerfest will increase Norway's natural gas production. Nevertheless, given that the energy industry affects virtually every sector in the economy, diversification remains Norway's greatest challenge.

FOREIGN RELATIONS

Norway supports international cooperation and the peaceful settlement of disputes, recognizing the need for maintaining a strong national defense through collective security. Accordingly, the cornerstones of Norwegian policy are active membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and support for the United Nations and its specialized agencies. Norway also pursues a policy of economic, social, and cultural cooperation with other Nordic countries—Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland—through the Nordic Council and bilaterally. In addition to strengthening traditional ties with developed countries, Norway seeks to build friendly relations with developing countries and has undertaken humanitarian and development aid efforts with selected African and Asian nations. Norway also is dedicated to encouraging democracy, assisting refugees, promoting a global response to climate change, and protecting human rights throughout the world.

U.S.-NORWAY RELATIONS

The United States and Norway enjoy a long tradition of friendly association. The relationship is strengthened by the millions of Norwegian-Americans in the United States and by about 10,000 U.S. citizens residing in Norway. The two countries enjoy an active cultural exchange, both officially and privately.

Principal U.S. Embassy Officials

Last Updated: 2/19/2008

OSLO (E) Henrik Ibsens gate 48, 0244 OSLO, APO/FPO AmEmbassy Oslo, PSC 69 Box 1000, APO/AE 09707, [47]2130-8550, Fax +47-2243-0777, Workweek: 0800-1630, Website: http://oslo.usembassy.gov.

TRAVEL

Consular Information Sheet

October 4, 2007

Country Description: Norway is a highly developed stable democracy with a modern economy. The cost of living in Norway is high and tourist facilities are well developed and widely available.

Entry Requirements: A valid passport is required. Norwegian entry visas are governed by the rules of the Schengen Agreement. U.S. citizens may enter Norway for tourist or general business purposes without a visa for up to 90 days. That period begins when you enter any of the Schengen countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. Contact the Royal Norwegian Embassy at 2720 34th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008-2714, tel:202-333-6000, web site: http://www.norway.org or the nearest Norwegian Consulate. Consulates are located in Houston, Minneapolis, New York City, and San Francisco. Information can also be obtained from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration at http://www.udi.no.

Note: Although European Union regulations require that non-EU visitors obtain a stamp in their passports upon initial entry to a Schengen country, many borders are not staffed with officers carrying out this function. If an American citizen wishes to ensure that his or her entry is properly documented, it may be necessary to request a stamp at an official point of entry. Under local law, travelers without a stamp in their passports may be questioned and asked to document the length of their stay in Schengen countries at the time of departure or at any other point during their visit, and could face possible fines or other repercussions if unable to do so.

Safety and Security: Norway remains largely free of terrorist incidents. However, like other countries in the Schengen area, Norway's open borders with its Western European neighbors allow the possibility of terrorist groups entering/exiting the country with anonymity. The U.S. government remains deeply concerned about the heightened threat of terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and interests abroad. In the post-9/11 environment, Norway shares with the rest of the world an increased threat of international Islamic terrorism. Norway was among a list of countries named as legitimate targets in al-Qaida audiotapes released in 2003, 2004, and 2006. Americans are reminded to remain vigilant with regard to their personal security and to exercise caution.

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the State Department's web site, where the current Worldwide Caution Travel Alert, Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts can be found.

Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States, or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.

Crime Information: Norway has a relatively low crime rate. Most crimes involve the theft of personal property.

Residential burglaries, auto theft, and vandalism to parked cars can also occur. Most high-end value vehicles, especially in Oslo, have visible alarm system indicators to discourage joy riders or thieves. Persons who appear affluent or disoriented may become targets of pocket-pickers and purse-snatchers, especially during the peak tourist season (May-September). Thieves frequently target tourists in airports, train stations and hotels, particularly lobby/reception and restaurant areas. Often such thieves work in pairs, and use distraction as a method to steal purses or briefcases. While passports are frequently stolen in the course of these thefts, money, credit cards, and jewelry are the actual objects of interest. In some cases stolen passports are recovered. Violent crime, although rare, occurs and appears to be increasing. Some thieves or burglars may have weapons. The emergency phone number for the police in Norway is 112.

Information for Victims of Crime: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for assistance. The embassy/consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, to contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney, if needed.

Norway has a program to provide financial compensation to victims who suffer serious criminal injuries. Claimants can obtain application forms from the Norwegian Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority at http://www.voldsoffererstatning.no/index.php?id=10 Please contact the U.S. Embassy in Oslo for further information.

Medical Facilities And Health Information: Medical facilities are widely available and of high quality, but may be limited outside the larger urban areas. The remote and sparse populations in northern Norway, and the dependency on ferries to cross fjords of western Norway, may affect transportation and ready access to medical facilities. The U.S. Embassy in Oslo maintains a list of emergency clinics in major cities.

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international travelers at 1-877FYI-TRIP (1-877394-8747) or via the CDC's web site at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization's (WHO) web site at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith/en.

Medical Insurance: Healthcare in Norway is very expensive and healthcare providers sometimes require payment at time of service. The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Norway is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Public transportation in Norway is generally safe, and the maintenance and condition of urban roads are generally good. Rural road conditions are fair, and the availability of roadside assistance is limited. Most roadways beyond the city limits of Oslo and other major cities tend to be simple two-lane roads. In mountainous areas of Norway, the roads also tend to be narrow and winding, with many tunnels. The northerlylatitude can also cause road conditions to vary greatly, depending on weather and time of year. Many mountain roads are closed due to snow from late fall to late spring. The use of winter tires is mandatory on all motor vehicles from November to April.

Norwegian law requires that drivers always use their vehicle headlights when driving. Norwegian law also requires drivers to yield to vehicles coming from the right. In some, but not all, instances, major roads with “right of way” are marked. Seatbelts are mandatory for drivers and passengers.

Norway has some of the strictest laws in Europe concerning driving under the influence of alcohol; those laws prescribe heavy penalties for those convicted of even a low blood alcohol level. Frequent road checks with mandatory breathalyzer tests and the promise of stiff jail sentences encourage alcohol-free driving. The maximum legal blood alcohol content level for driving a car in Norway is 0.02 per cent. Automatic cameras placed by the police along roadways help to maintain speed limits, which are often lower than in other European countries. Fines—and sometimes jail time—are imposed even for slight infractions. For specific information concerning Norwegian driver's permits, vehicle inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance, contact the Norwegian Tourist Board office at PO Box 4649, Grand Central Station, New York, New York 10163-4649 (tel.: 212-885-9700; fax: 212/ 885-9710) or visit their web site at http://www.norway.org/travel.

Aviation Safety Oversight: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government ofNorway's Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Norway's air carrier operations. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA's web site at http://www.faa.gov.

Criminal Penalties: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses.

Persons violating Norway'laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Norway are strict and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in illicit sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States.

Children's Issues: For information on international adoption of children and international parental child abduction, see the Office of Children's Issues website at http://travel.state.gov/family.

Registration and Embassy Locations: Americans living in or visiting Norway are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration web site, https://travelregistration.state.gov, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Norway. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located in Oslo near the Royal Palace at Henrik Ibsensgate 48; tel. 47/2244-8550 (24 hours), consular fax 47/2256-2751. The Embassy's web site is http://norway.usembassy.gov.

International Adoption

October 2006

The information in this section has been edited from a report of the State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of Overseas Citizens Services. For more information, please read the International Adoption section of this book and review current reports online at http://travel.state.gov/family.

Disclaimer: The information in this flyer relating to the legal requirements of specific foreign countries is based on public sources and current understanding. Questions involving foreign and U.S. immigration laws and legal interpretation should be addressed respectively to qualified foreign or U.S. legal counsel.

Please Note: There are very few children eligible for intercountry adoption from Norway, with a long waiting list of Norwegian prospective adoptive parents. While legally possible, intercountry adoption of a Norwegian orphan by foreigners is unlikely.

Patterns of Immigration: For at least the last five years, no Norwegian orphans have received U.S. immigrant visas. Within Norway, in 2003 (the latest year for which statistics are available), 870 orphans were adopted, most of them step-children.

Adoption Authority: The Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs (known by the Norwegian acronym “Bufdir”), a unit of the Ministry of Children and Family Affairs, is the authority on both domestic and intercountry adoptions in Norway. The Act on Adoption, which came into force on January 1, 1987, and government guidelines constitute the regulations for adoptions in Norway. Bufdir supervises the work of the Norwegian adoption organizations, maintains central adoption records and assigns a government grant to those who receive approval to adopt a child. Bufdir is also the Central Authority for the Hague Intercountry Adoption Convention, which came into force for Norway January 1, 1998.

Barne-ungdoms-og familiedirektoratet
Postboks 8113 Dep
Universitetsgata 7, 0032 Oslo
Tel: 47/2404-4000
Fax: 47/2404-4001
Email: [email protected]
Web sites: www.bufdir.no

Eligibility Requirements for Adoptive Parents: Applications by parents who are 45 years or older than the prospective child are given additional scrutiny. There are cases, for example, in which one of the spouses is considerably younger than the other, or the family has already adopted a child. The prospective parents must show documents certifying their good health status, stable financial situation and have a clean police record. Those who apply together must be married, generally for at least two years. Persons living in registered partnership are not eligible to apply to adopt a child from outside Norway.

Residency Requirements: Temporary visitors to Norway cannot apply to adopt in Norway.

Time Frame: In general, it takes close to a year to prepare the required reports about the applying family.

Adoption Agencies and Attorneys: Prospective adoptive parents are advised to fully research any adoption agency or facilitator they plan to use for adoption services. For U.S.-based agencies, it is suggested that prospective adoptive parents contact the Better Business Bureau and/or the licensing office of the appropriate state government agency in the U.S. state where the agency is located or licensed.

Adoption Procedures: In nearly all cases, the adoption is arranged through one of three accredited adoption organizations (specified on Bufdir web site). In intercountry adoptions, the Professional Board for Adoptions, composed of a medical doctor and two psychologists/psychiatrists, is responsible for the procedure.

If Bufdir reaches a negative conclusion about a requested adoption, the matter may be appealed to the Ministry of Children and Family Affairs.

Required Documents: Documentary requirements include, but are not limited to:

a social report detailing the prospective adoptive parents' background, marriage, everyday life, interests and motives for wanting to adopt a child from abroad;

• the social worker's written impression of the applicants and their suitability to be adoptive parents;
• birth and marriage certificates;
• doctor's reports;
• police certificates, and;
• documentation of financial standing.

Royal Norwegian Embassy in
Washington
2720 34th St., NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
Tel: 202/333-6000
Fax: 202/337-0870
Email: [email protected]
Web site: www.norway.org/Embassy

Norway has Consulates General in New York, Houston, San Francisco and Minneapolis. See http://www.norway.org

U.S. Immigration Requirements: Prospective adoptive parents are strongly encouraged to consult USCIS publication M-249, The Immigration of Adopted and Prospective Adoptive Children, as well as the Department of State publication, International Adoptions. Please see the International Adoption section of this book for more details and review current reports online at http://travel.state.gov/family.

U.S. Embassy
Henrik Ibsens Gate 48
0244 Oslo
Tel: 47/2244-8550
Fax: 47/2256-2751
Email: [email protected] site: www.usa.no

Additional Information: Specific questions about adoption in Norway may be addressed to the U.S. Embassy in Norway. General questions regarding intercountry adoption may be addressed to the Office of Children's Issues, U.S. Department of State, CA/OCS/CI, SA-29, 4th Floor, 2201 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20520-4818, toll-free Tel: 1-888-407-4747.

International Parental Child Abduction

February 2008

The information in this section has been edited from a report of the State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of Overseas Citizens Services. For more information, please read the International Parental Child Abduction section of this book and review current reports online at http://travel.state.gov/family.

Disclaimer: The information in this flyer relating to the legal requirements of specific foreign countries is provided for general information only. Questions involving interpretation of specific foreign laws should be addressed to foreign legal counsel.

The Ministry of Justice and Police, the Department of Civil Affairs, has been designated as the Central Authority for Norway for the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Being an administrative authority, the Ministry itself has no jurisdiction to make a decision on whether the child should be returned or not. This jurisdiction belongs entirely to the courts.

Immediately upon receiving an application from the Central Authority of another contracting state, the Ministry will give the application a preliminary examination, to ensure that it is in conformity with the formal conditions laid down by the Convention, and that the documents required in Article 8 are enclosed. If that is not the case, the application will immediately by returned to the requesting state for completion, or the lacking information will be asked for more informally by telephone or telefax to the requesting state. If the documents are not in English or Norwegian, the transmitting authority will be asked to provide a translation.

When all formal requirements are met, the application will immediately be sent to the competent local court for decision.

For more information, please read the International Parental Child Abduction section of this book and review current reports online at http://travel.state.gov/family.

Appeals: A decision by the local court can be brought before the High Court (Appeals Division) by either party. A decision by the High Court (Appeals Division) can be brought before the Supreme Court if the Court agrees to hear the case.

Central Authority for Norway
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Police
Department of Civil Affairs
PO Box 8005 DEP.
N-0030 Oslo
NORWAY
Telephone: 011-47-2224 9090
Telefax: 011-47-22-242722
E-mail: [email protected]

For further information on international parental child abduction, contact the Office of Children's Issues, U.S. Department of State at 1-888-407-4747 or visit its web site on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov/family. You may also direct inquiries to: Office of Children's Issues, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 20520-4811; Phone: (202) 736-9090; Fax: (202) 312-9743.