Learning Norwegian: free courses, your rights, and paid tutors

Do you get free classes? It depends on your residence permit

Adult immigrants aged 18–67 can have a right, an obligation, or a right and obligation to Norwegian tuition (Ny i Norge):

• Right – free, voluntary.
• Obligation – mandatory, but you pay yourself (225 hours).
• Right and obligation – free and mandatory.

According to IMDi, people with a work permit from outside the EU/EEA generally have the obligation but not the right (they pay). EU/EEA and Nordic nationals have no obligation, and tuition is not free. Ask your municipality – it decides your category and runs the courses.

Free ways to practise

Ny i Norge lists free options including NTNU's Norwegian on the Web (NOW), Duolingo, Memrise, NRK radio/TV in easy Norwegian, and Kompis. Many places also run free informal practice groups and language cafés with volunteers.

Paid one-to-one tutoring

If you're paying anyway, online tutors let you fit lessons around work:

• Preply – online language tutors. Visit Preply Advertising/affiliate link (placeholder)
• italki – online language teachers. Visit italki Advertising/affiliate link (placeholder)

See also the checklist step learn Norwegian and meet people.

Sources

• https://www.imdi.no/en/norwegian-language-training/norwegian-language-training-and-social-studies
• https://www.imdi.no/kvalifisering/regelverk/norsk-og-samfunnskunnskap/malgruppe-for-opplaring-i-norsk-og-samfunnskunnskap
• https://www.nyinorge.no/en/learn-norwegian/