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Is Norway safe for LGBTQ+ travellers?

Marriage, legal gender, protection against discrimination and where to get help.

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Short answer

Norway has strong legal protection for LGBTQ+ people, including same-sex marriage since 2009 and a ban on discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Since July 2016, people over 16 can change their legal gender by applying themselves, without medical treatment, and conversion therapy has been a criminal offence since 2024.

a shield icon with a check mark next to a tent and a small no-campfire sign on a green hillside

Why

  1. The Storting passed a common marriage act for heterosexual and homosexual couples in June 2008, and it took effect on 1 January 2009.
  2. The Act on changing legal gender took effect on 1 July 2016: people over 16 apply themselves, and children aged 6–16 apply together with their parents.
  3. A ban on conversion therapy, meaning systematic attempts to change another person's sexual orientation or gender identity, took effect on 1 January 2024.

Details

The Storting repealed the ban on sex between men on 21 April 1972. Since an amendment adopted in November 2020, the hate speech section of the Penal Code (section 185) names sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression among the protected grounds. The Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act, in force since 1 January 2018, covers the same grounds: the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud gives guidance, and complaints from individuals are decided by the tribunal Diskrimineringsnemnda.

Tip

If you experience harassment or threats, report it to the police on 02800, or call 112 in an emergency; for discrimination, the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud gives free guidance on +47 23 15 73 00.

People also ask

  • Is Norway safe for trans people?
  • Is Norway LGBT-friendly?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud before you travel.

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    Dumpster diving is generally not legal in Norway, because the bins usually stand on private property and the waste belongs to the business until it is collected.

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    The City of Oslo counted 1,459 homeless households in its own survey in late 2024, using the national definition of homelessness.

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