Published: February 28, 2025
This report is intended to supplement the U.S. Department of State Norway Travel Advisory and Norway Country Information Page.
Embassy & Consulate Contact Information
U.S. Embassy Oslo
Morgedalsvegen 36, Makrellbekken, Oslo.
Tel: +(47) 2130-8540; Consular: +(47) 2130-8540; Emergency after-hours: +(47) 2130-8540.
Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri, 0800-1700.
OSAC Country Chapter(s)
Oslo has an active country chapter currently consisting of 13 members. OSAC works closely with AmCham Norway, hosting seminars and tabletop discussions regularly.
Contact OSAC’s Europe team with any questions.
Norway Travel Advisory
The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses that travelers should exercise normal precautions.
Crime
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Oslo as being a LOW-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
Norway has a relatively low level of crime in comparison to the U.S. and Western European countries with large populations, and violent crime is uncommon. In 2023, Norwegian law enforcement registered 327,997 criminal offenses, the majority of which (34%) was property theft. Violent crime and sexual offenses collectively made-up 15 percent of the total crime reported to law enforcement.
The total number of crimes in 2023 is 7.7 percent higher than 2022, bringing the numbers back to the 2018 level. A large part of the increase is due to the higher numbers of crimes reported from businesses. Thefts from shops and other businesses saw the most significant increase in crime reports in 2023. The most likely forms of crime, especially in the Oslo metropolitan area, include residential and office burglaries and petty thefts.
In 2023, just 35 homicides were recorded, and the data reveals that such crimes are predominantly carried out by perpetrators that know their victims. The reports to the police also show an increase for violent crimes and abuse in 2023, with roughly 6.7 victims of such crimes per 1,000 inhabitants—an increase from 6.3 in 2022. Between 2004 and 2021, numbers fluctuated between 5.7 and 6.2 victims of violence and abuse per 1,000 inhabitants.
Organized crime does exist, but on a small scale. Drug trafficking, petty theft, and home burglary rings typify organized crime, which is often associated within immigrant youth communities or transiting criminal rings from outside of Norway.
In Oslo and the other major urban areas, crime focuses on the inner city and high-transit areas. Instances of pickpocketing and petty theft are common in major tourist areas, hotel lobbies, and areas around train and transit stations. Most hotels and tourist areas are located within walking distance of Oslo’s higher-crime areas, making instances of property crime and/or petty theft more likely for visitors. The Oslo Central train station is an especially popular area for pickpockets and bag snatchers.
Areas close to and immediately east of the main train station in downtown Oslo have higher instances of open drug use and crime in general, especially at night. Although rare, violent and weapons-related crimes do occur in areas known to have drug trafficking and gang problems, such as certain parts of eastern Oslo. Parks in Oslo, even in safer neighborhoods, have been the sites of several sexual assaults and muggings in the past few years. Targeted individuals have generally been either alone or in small groups, walking late at night in areas without much pedestrian traffic or ambient light. As in any other urban area, travelers should remain aware of their surroundings at all times.
Kidnapping Threat
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Kidnapping “K” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Norway.
Terrorism
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Oslo as being a LOW-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Terrorism “T” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Norway.
Terrorist organizations continue to consider Norway as an enemy, but not as a high-priority target for attacks, compared with certain other Western countries. Terrorist groups and those inspired by such organizations are intent on attacking U.S. citizens abroad. Terrorists are increasingly using less sophisticated methods of attack—including knives, firearms, and vehicles—to more effectively target crowds. Terrorists target unprotected or vulnerable targets, such as high-profile public events, like sporting events, political rallies, holiday events; hotels, clubs, and restaurants frequented by tourists; places of worship; schools; parks; shopping malls and market; or public transportation systems.
Norway’s law enforcement capacity for proactively detecting, deterring, and preventing acts of terrorism in its territory is strong, despite some underfunding issues. Norway is responsive to information requests and postured to prevent acts of terrorism, and its bilateral counterterrorism cooperation is strong.
Norway’s Police Security Service (PST) assesses the terrorist threat to the country on a five-step scale, with level 1 meaning there is no terrorist threat and level 5 meaning there is a critical terrorist threat. The threat level is determined based on an assessment of the degree of severity or damage potential in the event of a terrorist attack, the uncertainty and extent of deficiencies in the intelligence relating to current threat actors, and the authorities’ ability to implement counterterrorism measures before threats come to fruition. In November, PST lowered the threat level from high (level 4) to moderate (level 3). It had previously raised the threat level in October to high based on the assessment that the continuing escalation of the conflict in the Middle East and Iran-linked actors intensified the threat against Jewish and Israeli targets. PST maintains that the threat posed by extremists against Jewish and Israeli targets in Norway is still heightened.
In its National Threat Assessment for 2024, Norwegian authorities expect right-wing extremists and extreme Islamists to continue to pose the greatest terrorist threats to the country, assessing there is an even chance that right-wing extremists as well as extreme Islamists will attempt to carry out terrorist acts in the country this year. However, Norwegian authorities assess the threat from Islamist extremists to be somewhat more serious than from right-wing extremists. The threat assessment highlights that statements or actions perceived to insult the Islamic religion may contribute to radicalization and motivate acts of terrorism in Norway.
- In June 2022, an Iranian-born Norwegian conducted a mass shooting in Oslo during LGB events, killing two and wounding nine. The perpetrator had sworn allegiance to ISIS prior to the attack and received a 30-year sentence, the highest penalty since Norway changed its terrorism legislation in 2015.
The right-wing extremism threat is largely from young adults and minors radicalized online. Any potential extreme right-wing terrorist act in Norway will probably be attempted by an individual acting alone. Attacks would probably be in the form of mass damage attacks or the assassination of a particular individual. The targets would likely be groups or individuals who fit the stereotypical image of the “enemy;” this could be people with a non-Western appearance, Muslims, Jews, dignitaries, LGB individuals, or traditional media.
After the school shooting in Örebro, Sweden, February 2025, PST reiterated the concern regarding an ideologically motivated school shooting taking place in Norway. For minors in general, they see a continued focus on schools as a target. For potential attackers, schools are a familiar and easily accessible target, where people who are part of their enemy image reside.
Authorities assess it unlikely that anti-government extremists will try to commit terrorist acts, and highly unlikely that left-wing extremists and activists motivated by climate-related, environmental, or nature conservation issues will carry out terrorist attacks.
Political Violence and Civil Unrest
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Oslo as being a LOW-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Civil Unrest “U” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Norway. Civil unrest can develop quickly without prior notice, often interrupting logistics and services. Avoid demonstration activity, as even those planned to remain peaceful have the potential to turn violent.
Elections/Political Stability
Norway is a parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. The government consists of a prime minister, a cabinet, and a parliament (Storting), which is elected every four years and may not be dissolved. The monarch generally appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister with the approval of parliament. Observers considered the multiparty parliamentary elections in 2021 to be free and fair. Norway’s next parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held September 8, 2025.
Protests & Demonstrations
Norway is a very peaceful nation, and civil unrest is extremely limited. The police in Oslo have greatly increased the training of their officers in riot control techniques. The police have not increased the training but have changed the way they perform riot control. Instead of using officers to create a barricade between protesters and counter protesters, they now utilize vehicles. This has alleviated the necessity of pepper spray and tear gas. There were complaints of excessive use of force in 2019 and again in 2020 when police in riot gear used tear gas and pepper spray on counterdemonstrators at rallies in Oslo and Bergen, with one instance coming after counterdemonstrators jumped police barriers and physically assaulted the leader of a far-right group that espoused racist politics.
Anti-U.S./Anti-Western Sentiment
Anti-U.S. activities can best be characterized as small, planned, and generally peaceful demonstrations, either against a particular U.S. policy or advocating that a particular course of action be taken by the U.S. government. For instance, demonstrations have focused on the U.S. policy regarding Palestinian and Israeli issues, U.S. actions in Iraq, relations with Cuba, and capital punishment in the United States. These protests have generally occurred outside the U.S. Embassy or in the central areas of Oslo and have not targeted U.S. nationals.
Law Enforcement
The national police have primary responsibility for internal security. Police may call on the armed forces for assistance in crises. In such circumstances the armed forces operate under police authority. The National Police Directorate, an entity of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, oversees the police force. Police have a counter-terrorism squad, which consists of specially trained officers who can respond quickly to large-scale emergencies. Civilian authorities maintain effective control over the security forces. Members of the security forces did not commit any abuses.
The Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) is Norway’s domestic intelligence and security service and is also an entity of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security. PST’s main responsibility is to prevent and investigate crimes that threaten national security.
The Norwegian Intelligence Service (NIS) is Norway’s foreign intelligence service and reports to the Chief of Defense. NIS’s main tasks are to provide information on external threats against Norway and high-priority Norwegian interests. The Norwegian National Security Authority (NSM) is Norway’s directorate for protective security services and its main responsibility is to improve Norway’s ability to protect itself from espionage, sabotage, terrorism, and hybrid threats.
Private security companies are prevalent and perform duties in train stations, shopping malls, and movie theaters. The private security companies are professional but often suffer high employee turnover rates due to relatively low pay and limited room for employee advancement. The government must authorize any private security company, and guards must go through prescribed training before they can perform any security guard services.
Police Response
Foreign travelers can count on the police to provide adequate services. The police are generally responsive, professional, and cooperative. Law enforcement personnel have excellent training, and almost all speak fluent English. Their emergency response time is good, except in remote areas, and their equipment is excellent. Uniformed police patrol on foot, motorcycle, bicycle, horse, and car. Police usually do not come to the scene of routine non-violent crimes (non-injury vehicle accidents, residential burglaries). Official corruption is extremely rare and is punishable under the law.
The police emergency line in Norway is 112. For non-emergencies, call 02800.
Travelers with Special Considerations
For specific traveler concerns in Norway, review the local laws and circumstances on the Department of State’s Country Information Page.
Rule of Law, Arbitrary Detention, Official Harassment, Corruption, & Transparency
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Risk of Wrongful Detention “D” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Norway.
The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by officials, and the government generally implements the law effectively. There have been no recent reports of government corruption.
Cybersecurity
According to the Norwegian National Threat Assessment for 2024, cyber operations will be among one of the most important methods used by foreign intelligence services in Norway to gather information and foment uncertainty in society. The Norwegian government assesses that the primary targets in Norway for state cyber actors are the government and decisionmakers; the Armed Forces; individuals in diaspora communities, refugees, and regime critics; and organizations in the finance, health, research and education, aerospace, technology, telecommunications, logistics and transportation, energy, and the maritime sector.
In 2022, a Norwegian company was subjected to digital industrial espionage by a North Korean cyber actor, who contacted an employee on LinkedIn and tricked the employee into opening a file containing malware. The malware gave the North Korean’s access to the company’s network.
Import/Export Restrictions
The following categories of goods may be restricted from importation: alcohol; tobacco; food, plants, seeds, and animals; endangered animal and plant species; medicines; waste; explosives, fireworks, and hazardous substances; weapons, weapons parts, and ammunition; and cultural monuments and antiques.
There are no restrictions on the import of satellite phones, but satellite phones cannot be used to call emergency numbers (110, 112, or 113). For assistance in emergency situations, contact the Main Rescue Center, HRS/North (75-55-90-00) and HRS/South (51-51-70-00)
Norway does not allow the import of some medications that are legal in the U.S. by prescription. Review Norway’s rules on medications. For more information regarding import of medication for personal use, visit the Norwegian Medical Products Agency website.
There are strict laws regulating the use of airborne sensor systems, such as drones, in multiple areas of Norway. Operating drones in restricted areas can be penalized with a fine of up to 12000 Nok. Visit the CAA Norway website for more information.
A country-specific listing of items/goods prohibited from being exported to the country or that are otherwise restricted is available from the U.S. International Trade Agency website.
Additional resources and reports can be found in the OSAC Traveler Toolkit.
