Norway asks for no general medical exam — the one hard rule is tuberculosis screening, and whether it applies to you depends on FHI's country list and your length of stay.
Overview
Norway imposes unusually light medical requirements on migrants: there is no general medical examination, no health questionnaire and no HIV test attached to visa or residence permit applications. The single mandatory screening is for tuberculosis, governed by the Tuberculosis Control Regulations under the Communicable Diseases Act and operationalised by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (Folkehelseinstituttet, FHI). The duty applies to everyone arriving from a country on FHI's high-TB-incidence list who will stay in Norway for more than three months — explicitly including migrant workers and students, not just humanitarian arrivals — and to all refugees and asylum seekers regardless of origin. Timing depends on the pathway: asylum seekers are normally examined at the arrival centre within 14 days, while quota refugees and family-reunification arrivals are invited by their settlement municipality within four weeks. Screening is free of charge. Beyond TB, the Directorate of Health recommends (but does not require) a broader health assessment for newly arrived refugees within three months, and routine healthcare access runs through the GP scheme (fastlege) once you are registered as a resident. Verified against fhi.no and helsenorge.no as of June 2026.
Who Must Take the TB Examination
- The three-month rule: Everyone coming from a country with high tuberculosis incidence who will be in Norway for more than three months has a duty to undergo TB examination — this includes migrant workers and students, a point that surprises many labour migrants who assume health screening only applies to refugees.
- All refugees and asylum seekers: The screening duty applies to all refugees and asylum seekers regardless of their country of origin.
- The country list: FHI maintains and publishes the list of high-incidence countries ('Countries with high tuberculosis incidence' on fhi.no) — check the current list rather than assuming; it is revised as WHO incidence data changes.
- Legal basis: The duty follows from the Tuberculosis Control Regulations (tuberkulosekontrollforskriften) under the Communicable Diseases Act — it is a legal obligation, not an optional health offer.
- Healthcare workers note: Stricter screening expectations apply to people who will work in healthcare or with vulnerable groups — employers in the health sector ask for TB documentation before you start work if you've stayed in a high-incidence country.
Continue reading — paid members only.
This guide is part of our full paid membership library. Upgrade to access all 10 Norway guides, plus Migration Fee Protection up to USD 25,000 if your application doesn't go ahead for a qualifying reason.
See Paid Plans →Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a medical exam to get a Norwegian visa or residence permit?
No. Norway has no general medical examination, health questionnaire or panel-physician requirement for visas or residence permits, and no HIV testing requirement. The only mandatory health measure is tuberculosis screening, which is a separate legal duty under the Tuberculosis Control Regulations — it is enforced after arrival rather than as part of the permit decision, and applies based on which country you come from and how long you will stay, not on the permit type.
I'm coming to Norway on a work permit. Does TB screening really apply to me?
If you are arriving from a country on FHI's high-incidence list and staying more than three months — yes. The duty explicitly covers migrant workers and students, not only refugees. Check FHI's current 'Countries with high tuberculosis incidence' list on fhi.no, then arrange the examination through the municipal health service after you register your address. It is free, and if you will work in healthcare your employer will require the documentation before you start.
When does the TB examination have to happen?
It depends on your pathway. Asylum seekers are normally screened at the arrival centre, within 14 days of arrival. Quota refugees and people arriving through family reunification are examined in their settlement municipality, which must invite them within four weeks of arrival. For workers and students the regulations attach the duty to arrival and residence — in practice you arrange it with the municipal health service promptly after registering; healthcare employers will not let you start patient-facing work without it.
What does the TB screening actually involve, and what happens if something is found?
Per FHI's screening guidance, adults are typically examined with an IGRA blood test and/or a chest X-ray, depending on age and risk profile. A negative screen ends the process. If results indicate latent or active TB infection, you are referred to a specialist for assessment and, where needed, treatment — TB diagnosis and treatment in Norway are free of charge under the Communicable Diseases Act, and having TB does not lead to loss of residence rights; the system's purpose is treatment and infection control, not immigration enforcement.
Is there an HIV test or vaccination requirement for moving to Norway?
No on both counts. Norway has no HIV testing requirement for any visa or permit category, and HIV status is not a ground for refusal. No vaccinations are required as an immigration condition either — FHI's national vaccination programme is recommended and available once you are resident, and a catch-up assessment is part of the (voluntary) three-month health assessment recommended for newly arrived refugees and family-reunification arrivals.
How do I get a doctor in Norway after I arrive?
Through the fastlege (regular GP) scheme, managed on Helsenorge. You need a Norwegian national identity number and membership of the National Insurance Scheme — a D-number alone does not entitle you to a fastlege, which is why completing your Folkeregisteret residence registration matters. You can change GP up to twice per calendar year via Helsenorge. Before your registration is complete, you can still use emergency services: the legevakt (out-of-hours urgent care) on 116 117, or 113 for life-threatening emergencies, regardless of registration status.