Norway - Country Information

Film Commissions

Norwegian Film Commission
Tel: 55 56 43 43 Fax: 55 56 43 48
E-mail: post@norwegianfilm.com
Website: www.norwegianfilm.com
Managing Director: Truls Kontny

Western Norway Film Commission
Tel: 55 56 05 10 Fax: 55 56 03 55
E-mail: post@wnfc.no
Website: www.wnfc.no
General Manager: Torill Svege

General Information

Location: Europe
Local Time: From 30 Mar 08 to 26 Oct 08 GMT +2
From 26 Oct 08 to 29 Mar 09 GMT +1
From 29 Mar 09 to 25 Oct 09 GMT +2
Capital City: Oslo
Population: 4.5 million
Area: 324,220 square km, 125,181 square miles.
Language(s): Norwegian
Dialling Code: 47
Emergency: Police: 112. Fire: 110. Ambulance: 113
Directory Enquiries:
TV Standard: PAL
Driving: Driving is on the right. National licence with log book or International Driving Permit required. Minimum driving age is 16 (motorbike), 18 (car)
Electricity: 220V AC 50Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: Norwegian Krone (NOK 1 = 100 Ore)
Notes: NOK: 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000
Coins: NOK: 1, 5, 10, 20. Ore: 50

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Credit cards and travellers cheques are accepted

Opening 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
2008
Jan 1 New Year's Day, Mar 16 Palm Sunday, Mar 20 Maundy Thursday, Mar 21 Good Friday, Mar 23 Easter Sunday, Mar 24 Easter Monday, May 1 May Day, May 1 Ascension, May 11 Whit Sunday, May 12 Whit Monday, May 17 Constitution Day, Dec 25 Christmas, Dec 26 Boxing Day

Business/Social Hints: 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%

Health

Reciprocal health: Participant of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC scheme) 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 and emergency care.

Compulsory vaccinations: None.

Recommended immunisations: Tick-borne encephalitis*
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Risks:

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Passports

Required, but NOT by the following:
1) Nationals of Denmark, Finland, Iceland & Sweden for journeys between these countries provided holding identity papers
2) Holders of National Identity Cards issued to nationals of Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain & Switzerland

Passport Validity: 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

Passport Notes:

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Nationals of Norway
2) Citizens of United Kingdom
3) Citizens of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, 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, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City & Venezuela

The following DO require a visa:
a) Bolivia

Air Transit

Exit Permits

Special Notes

1) All visitors are recommended to hold onward/return tickets, documents required for next destination & sufficient funds for length of stay
2) Member of Schengen Visa Agreement, however we strongly recommend that travellers make enquiries prior to travel with the appropriate Embassies of the countries within the agreement which they plan to visit

Climate

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

Clothing

Mediumweights all year. Heavy topcoat and overshoes or Alpine wear are necessary during winter months. Rainwear recommended throughout the year

Charts for Oslo

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

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

UK Tourist Office
Innovation Norway
Charles House, 5 Regent Street
London, SW1Y 4LR
tel: +44 02 7389 8800
fax: +44 20 7839 6014
e-mail: infouk@invanor.no
website: www.visitnorway.com

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)