A British expat has said that Brexit was not the most difficult aspect of their move to Europe.
Robert, a Scottish resident, decided to up sticks and move to Norway following the vote to leave the European Union.
He moved to the Nordic nation in pursuit of a new job opportunity and has looked back on the experience as increasing numbers of Britons consider moving to the continent.
Speaking to GB News, the 30-year-old said separating from the EU had complicated his move to the country – which is within the European Economic Area (EEA) rather than inside the bloc itself.
The UK’s departure meant his wait for a work visa was several months long, but the real struggle didn’t come until after he had arrived.
Robert told GB News that Brexit had made things “a bit more complicated” and explained he had to wait “four or five months to get my work visa”.
The process wasn’t too difficult, he added, but considerably more so than it would have been if the UK was still part of the EU.
The UK’s departure from the bloc ended free movement, a policy that would have allowed EU, EEA and Swiss citizens to settle in other member nations without a visa.
Free movement for British citizens ended when Brexit took its final form in December 2020, meaning that people who wish to live and work on the continent require additional documentation.
But the move was still surmountable, Robert said, and he was able to successfully start his new job in Oslo, Norway’s capital.
He didn’t encounter his “biggest challenge” until he settled in the country and started the integration process.
Robert said the language barrier was his most significant obstacle, with proficient handling of Norwegian needed to fully integrate.
He said: “Even though you can get by with English, to properly integrate into society here, you need to speak the Norwegian language.”
Like many other Western European countries, a large proportion of the Norwegian population speaks fluent English, with most others speaking the language to some level.
But Norwegians primarily speak their own language, and most employers in the country, especially larger companies, will require potential employees to speak fluently.
