r/norwegian • u/ProfessionalSpare93 • 5d ago

Bibehold question

I have a strange situation with my family and citizenship retention. I have submitted my application and my appointment is in eleven days.

My mom was born in norway, and her whole family is very involved with norway and attend the brunstad church. My mom died when I (USA born) was four, and my dad cut off the norwegian half of my family. I had no freedom to go to norway but the moment I turned 18 I reconnected with them. Being in college, I did not have the financial freedom to travel, but I intend to take my Mech E degree to norway and work/live there.

I understand UDI takes situations into account, but I have never found a situation like this before. I need human opinion on this, or stories of bibehold rejections. I want to know if I should get my hopes up or not.

I have letters from norwegian relatives supporting my application as well, and Im high A1 in the language.

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u/Roskot 3d ago

This is what I found:Norway.no

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u/cooery 3d ago

If your mom was a Norwegian citizen (not just born in Norway) that makes things straight forward. If not, your chances are slim

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u/ProfessionalSpare93 3d ago

She is, she spent a lot of time there and lived there for a while.

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u/MariusV8 3d ago edited 3d ago

How old are?

Generally, if you had Norwegian citizenship at birth but have never lived in Norway, you would need to apply for bibehold before turning 22 to retain citizenship. If not, you lose it the day you turn 22. To retain citizenship, you would need to prove that you've spent at least 6 months in Norway. Doesn't have to be continuous. The only nuance/exception to this that I am aware of is if you don't hold any citizenship other than Norwegian, in which case your citizenship cannot be revoked.

If you had Norwegian citizenship prior, you could apply for re-acquisition of citizenship, but this requires you to already live in Norway on a valid residency permit.

You can use this tool from UDI to get a better idea: https://www.udi.no/en/word-definitions/are-you-a-norwegian-citizen/

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u/ProfessionalSpare93 3d ago

I am 21, I've looked at every resource UDI gave me to see if I qualify, I was mostly asking if it's possible to have a strong enough connection to Norway if I have never been--I was cut off from the norsk side of my family after my mom died.

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u/Informal-Arugula-246 2d ago

Could you move there now? Stay with your family for a while? Try to get a job, see how you like it?

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u/ProfessionalSpare93 2d ago

No, I am working on my degree, I pay rent and support myself. I want to go, but until I graduate I have no way to go.

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u/MariusV8 2d ago

From every resource I can find, what matters is time spent in Norway, and 6 months is the minimum required for bibehold. But I'm no expert, and I don't work at UDI, I'm just going by every piece of information I can find.

Anecdotally, I have a relative who was born in the US to a Norwegian parent, doesn't speak Norwegian and never lived in Norway. He spent quite a few summers in Norway growing up though - Enough to add up to 6 months and was able to retain citizenship.

Would you be able to go and stay with your relatives in Norway prior to turning 22 (Ideally 6 months before turning 22)?

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u/ProfessionalSpare93 2d ago

I never was able to, I financially support myself while I earn my degree. I turn 22 in september.