Norway

General Information
Business Hours
Business & social hints
Climate
Customs
Health
Immigration & Passport
Useful Contacts

General Information

Capital City:: Oslo
Population:: 4.8 million
Area:: 148,746 square miles
Language:: Norwegian
Electricity:: 220V AC 50Hz
Direct Dial:: 47
Driving:: Driving is on the right. National licence with log book or International Driving Permit required. Minimum driving age is 16 (motorbike), 18 (car)
Currency:: Norwegian Krone (NOK 1 = 100 Ore)

Business Hours

Bank:: 0815-1530 Mon-Wed & Fri (1500 in summer), 0815-1700 Thur
Office:: 0800-1600 Mon-Fri
Shops:: 0900-1700 Mon-Wed & Fri, 0900-1800 to 2000 Thur, 0900-1300 to 1500 Sat
Public Holidays:: 2010 1 Jan New Year's Day, 1 Apr Holy Thursday, 2 Apr Good Friday, 5 Apr Easter Monday, 1 May May Day, 13 May Ascension, 17 May Constitution Day, 24 May Whit Monday, 25 Dec -26 Dec Christmas.

Business and social hints

General:: Executives usually speak English. Alcohol is available but there are restrictions on its sale. Smoking is banned in all public places and on most public transport. On social occasions be punctual. Very strict laws against drinking and driving apply. The minimum drinking age is 18 years (Beer), 21 (Spirits)
Tipping:: A service charge is usually included in the bill, therefore tips are not necessary. Tips for taxis are around 10%
Clothing:: Mediumweights all year. Heavy topcoat and overshoes or Alpine wear are necessary during winter months. Rainwear recommended throughout the year
Emergency Services:: Police: 112. Fire: 110. Ambulance: 113
Hotel Classification:: There is no official hotel classification system in Norway. Arbitrary categories of ï¿½ up to ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ are given here based on rack rates, facilities and perceived quality which equate to the commonly used 1- to 5-star system. These categories serve only to compare relative standards within any given area.

The climate is changeable throughout the year. Rainfall usually falls as snow in winter. Inland areas have colder winters than the Atlantic coast but summers are warmer and drier. The interior highlands and Spitzbergen archipelago have an Arctic type climate, winters bring snow, severe frost and strong winds although summers have fine spells with fairly high temperatures and long sunshine hours

Oslo

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum Temperature °C	-2	-1	4	10	16	20	22	21	16	9	3	0
Minimum Temperature °C	-7	-7	-4	1	6	10	13	12	8	3	-1	-4
Average Humidity (mornings) %	86	84	80	75	68	69	74	79	85	88	88	87
Average Humidity (afternoons) %	82	74	64	57	52	55	59	61	66	72	83	85
Average Rainfall	49	35	26	43	44	70	82	95	81	74	68	63

Import Allowances:: For persons of 18 years of age or older: a) 200 cigarettes or 250gr of other tobacco products b) 1l of spirits over 22% volume and 1.5l wine, or 3l of wine; and 2l of beer up to 4.75% alcohol (travellers over 20 years of age) c) 50gr of perfume & 0.25 lit of eau de toilette d) Goods to the value of NOK 3000
Contraband:: Spirits over 60% volume (120% proof), certain foodstuffs totalling more than 10kg (including eggs, potatoes, meat, meat products, dairy products and poultry), narcotics, firearms and explosives

Participant of the European Health Insurance Card - EHIC scheme (formerly known as the E111) which allows visitors on short-term stays to other member countries to use the public health care sector for free or reduced-cost medical treatment with emergency care. For full details on eligibility and how to apply for a card please click <a href="http://bit.ly/9B8ipv">here</a> Please note: The EHIC is <b>NOT</b> an alternative to travel insurance. It will not cover any private medical healthcare or the cost of things such as mountain rescue in ski resorts, repatriation to the UK, lost or stolen property etc.

Compulsary Vaccinations: None.
Recommended Immunisations: None.
Risks: Tick Borne Encephalitis (TBE): Ticks live in forests, woods, grasslands, riverside meadows, marshes, brushwood and shrublands. They usually live in the undergrowth, where they can easily get onto the clothes or skin of passers-by. Travellers intending to visit such areas are recommended to get vaccinated.

1) Where a visa is not required passports must be valid for their intended length of stay 2) Where a visa is required passports must be valid 3 months beyond intended length of stay

The following DO NOT require a visa: 1) Nationals of Norway 2) For stays up to 3 months in a 6 month period by: a) Holders of British passports endorsed British Citizen or ï¿½right to abode in UKï¿½ label 3) Citizens of Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bermuda (holders of `British Dependent Territories Citizen (Bermuda)' passports only), Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Rep, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (S.A.R. passports only), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland Rep, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (South), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao (S.A.R. passports), Malaysia, Mauritius, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, St Kitts-Nevis, Sweden, Switzerland, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City & Venezuela

Embassy

Royal Norwegian Embassy 25 Belgrave Square London, SW1X 8QD tel: +44 20 7591 5500 fax: +44 20 7245 6993 e-mail: emb.london@mfa.no website: www.norway.org.uk hours: 1000-1200 (Mon-Fri) visas hours: 0900-1000 & 1400-1500 (telephone enquiries)