The new year will see Norway ring in several changes, ranging from extending the working lives of seniors to new restrictions on nicotine products and and energy drinks, as well as a new tax system for EVs.
A huge list of new laws take effect in Norway on January 1st 2026.
Because bills that are adopted by parliament are usually written to take effect the following January or July, the beginning of the year sees many come into force across all areas of government.
We’ve summarised some of the key laws likely to affect life in Norway for foreign residents below, and the full list can be found on the Norwegian government website.
More people to be allowed to work until the age of 72
Access to company-specific age limits under the Working Environment Act are being phased out as of January 1st.
This includes the general retirement age for state employees being raised from 70 to 72.
“There is no reason why employers should have to dismiss people simply because they have turned 70 when both the employer and the employee want the employment to continue,” Employment Minister Tonje Brenna said when the law was proposed.
“We need more people in work… [and] now more people will be able to remain in work, in central and local government as well as in the private sector,” Brenna added.
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Electricity support threshold adjusted
A government scheme designed to help households with high energy prices will be adjusted as of January 1st, reducing the price level that triggers state support.
The threshold will rise from 75 to 77 øre per kilowatt-hour before VAT, an inflation-based adjustment. When the electricity price for a given hour exceeds this level, the state covers 90 percent of the amount paid by the customer above the threshold.
The change means that the rules for the various energy schemes will be updated accordingly, the government states, including a more recent adjustment to the scheme which expanded it to include households on district heating.
READ ALSO: How Norway’s new fixed-price electricity scheme can reduce your bill
Ban on sale of energy drinks to youngsters
The sale of energy drinks to anyone under the age of 16 will be prohibited in Norway from January 1st.
“Excessive consumption of energy drinks leads to restlessness, sleep problems and difficulty concentrating. It can also cause damage to the cardiovascular and central nervous systems,” Minister of Health Jan Christian Vestre said in August.
Norway’s government announced its intention to crackdown on energy drink sales in the spring and held a period of consultation to get expert views.
Most agreed with the move, including the country’s Directorate of Health. However the country’s national medical and dental associations has called for the drinks ban to apply for all under 18s rather than under 16s.
READ ALSO: Norway announces ban on sale of energy drinks to youngsters
Ban on importing nicotine products
A ban on purchasing tobacco and nicotine products from abroad comes into effect on January 1st.
The rules will mean you will not be able to order the products from abroad to be sent to Norway.
“The purpose of the new rules is to prevent illegal tobacco and nicotine products from entering the Norwegian market and to protect the health of children and young people,” Erlend Bø, department director at the Norwegian Directorate of Health, said in a statement earlier in December.
“We know that availability is an important factor in whether young people start using cigarettes, snus or vapes. These products have been easy to obtain from abroad via the internet, often marketed illegally on social media,” he added.
The rules apply to all goods crossing the border after January 1st. It will still be legal to bring tobacco with you from abroad when you travel, provided you stay within the duty-free allowance.
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Changes to tax on electric vehicles purchases
Norway leads the world in electric vehicles (EVs). New data from the Norwegian Road Traffic Information Council (OFV) shows that electric cars now account for 31.78 per cent of all passenger cars in the country, marking a major milestone.
Remember the new tax year
The start of a new year doesn’t just mean new legislation. January 1st also signals the start of a new tax year. The Norwegian Tax Administration should have already sent you your tax card for the year. If you haven’t received it already, you will need to reach out to the tax authority or your employer, or face being taxed at 50 percent.
You will also need to check that the details on your tax card are correct and that you are not taxed too much or too little.
READ ALSO: The key things you need to know Norway’s tax deduction cards