Welcome to Longyearbyen

With the establishment of the Longyearbyen Local Council on January 1, 2002, local democracy was established in Longyearbyen. Our elected body is the Local Council, which consists of 15 members. This is also the highest body in the Longyearbyen Local Council. The establishment of the Longyearbyen Local Council has given the local population a say in important areas such as community and land-use planning, infrastructure, business development, and growing up conditions.

The Longyearbyen Local Council's area of responsibility is limited to its own planning area in and around Longyearbyen, covering approximately 260 km2. Within this area, the Longyearbyen Local Council can carry out activities of public interest that are not covered by the state. The Longyearbyen Local Council has responsibilities that are similar to those of a municipality on the mainland, including primary and secondary schools, cultural schools, after-school programs, kindergartens, libraries, sports, culture, and infrastructure.

You can read more facts about Longyearbyen here

Here you can read a report from Statistics Norway from 2023 on social conditions in Svalbard External link.

If you are a resident of Longyearbyen, you can find a lot of information in a dedicated app.

This can be downloaded from both the App Store and Google Play (search for Longyearbyen resident) or use the QR code at the bottom of the page.
Not only does the app have an updated calendar with everything that is happening, but you also get relevant news from LL, the Governor, flight times, avalanche warnings, and everything you need to know before moving here.

It is a good idea to accept notifications when you download the app, as you will receive useful information as a resident.

We also send out regular newsletters, where we collect current issues. Click here to sign up

Read more about the resident app here

If you follow this link you will get information in english for foreigners moving to Svalbard.

Many people who visit or move to Longyearbyen find the road system complicated.

If you follow this link to our map portal, you can search for the address you are looking for:

Map of Longyearbyen External link, opens in new window.

If you would like a city map produced by Visit Svalbard, you can view or download it here:

City map of Longyearbyen External link.

If you are looking for a map of the whole of Svalbard, you should use the map provided by the Norwegian Polar Institute:

TopoSvalbard External link.

Although the locals live ordinary lives up here, you will soon see that Longyearbyen is quite extraordinary. It takes many years of experience to truly understand this. 

Visit Svalbard has drawn up "Community guidelines" – which are worth reading through, whether you are settling here or just visiting.

Read them here:

Longyearbyen Community Guidelines  External link.

There are two taxi companies ready to drive you around town, into the valley, and out to the airport. Longyearbyen Taxi External link, opens in new window. and Svalbard Buss og Taxi External link. are open 24 hours a day.
Svalbard Buss og Taxi External link. also offers bus services.

The airport bus stops at all accommodation providers in the town. Throughout the polar summer, you can borrow city bikes from the Tourist Information Center, and Arctic Autorent External link, opens in new window.has rental cars available.

LNSS operates the roads in Longyearbyen in accordance with an agreement with the Longyearbyen local council. 

If you would like to know more about snow clearing, road tolls, and traffic safety, follow this link.

Would you like to visit Longyearbyen's cafés, restaurants, museums, galleries, and shops? Remember that most shops and attractions are also open on Sundays!

You can find the opening hours by clicking on this link. External link.

The port is part of the Longyearbyen local government. Bykaia and turistkaia are Longyearbyen's public quays, used by cruise ships and tourist boats, fishing/hunting/research vessels, cargo ships, coast guard vessels, etc.

Here you can download the list of ships and boats calling at the port:

Port of call list Longyearbyen External link.

More information about the port service can be found at: www.portlongyear.no External link, opens in new window.
and Strategic Port Plan pdf, 4 MB, opens in new window.

Longyearbyen has two kindergartens plus a combined primary and secondary school. In addition, the school has a high school department and we have an after-school program.

The two kindergartens are Kullungen Barnehage and Polarflokken Barnehage.

Both offer full-day kindergarten places for children aged 1-6 years from two/three to five days per week.

Longyearbyen School is a combined primary and secondary school with students from grades 1-10 and an after-school program. The school also has a high school department. The activities of the culture school are held on the school premises.

If you are moving to Longyearbyen with children, it is important that you read this first:

Longyearbyen has its own regulations for the Kindergarten Act. The regulations for kindergarten activities in Longyearbyen define which parts of the Kindergarten Act apply in Longyearbyen, and we would like to draw your attention to the fact that Section 31 of the Kindergarten Act, which deals with the right to special educational assistance, does not apply in Longyearbyen.

Only the Longyearbyen local government can operate kindergartens and primary schools in Longyearbyen. The services and rights available in Svalbard are governed by the Svalbard policy in force at any given time. (Meld. St. 32) External link, opens in new window.

School services in Longyearbyen have some limitations compared to the school services available to pupils in their mainland municipality. It is important that you familiarize yourself with this before moving to Longyearbyen with children.

Read about primary and secondary education in Longyearbyen here

Most people in Longyearbyen get access to housing through their employer, but some have bought their own private homes. The largest property owners are Statsbygg and Store Norske Boliger AS. The latter also rents out homes to private individuals. Useful channels for finding private homes for sale and rent are finn.no and Facebook.

All homes in Longyearbyen are heated by district heating supplied by the power station. 

If you are moving into an unfurnished apartment, you should bring the furniture and furnishings you need with you from the mainland, although you may be able to buy some items in Longyearbyen. We recommend that you look into this before you arrive. It is possible to buy white goods, but there is little furniture available, except for second-hand items sold in connection with people moving. Equipment, cups, and cutlery can generally be bought in Longyearbyen, but the selection is limited.

Most removals are transported by boat. The weather over the Arctic Ocean can be harsh, so we recommend that you pack your belongings extra carefully. Plan your move well and reserve your boat space in good time. Contact Bring Svalbard External link, opens in new window. for prices and sailing schedules.

If you plan to buy new furniture before moving up and have the store ship the items to you, remember that Svalbard is exempt from VAT. You can therefore ask the store to send the goods to you without VAT. However, the store is not required to deduct VAT. If they do not want to do so, we recommend that you try another store. Contact the Customs Service in Svalbard External link. if you have any questions about VAT refunds.

Are you sending or transporting moving goods to or from Norway? Here are some important tips and rules you should be aware of to ensure smooth and correct customs clearance:

Sending household goods by mail
You can send household goods by mail, but it is important that you:

• Declare the shipment as household goods
• Enclose a list of contents (inventory list)
• Enclose a signed declaration of household goods
• CN23 alone is not sufficient.

These documents provide more specific information about the household goods and are necessary to obtain exemption from customs duties and taxes.

This provides the customs authorities with the necessary information about the contents and simplifies processing.

Parents transporting removal goods for students

If parents are transporting the removal goods for a student, they must:

• Have a power of attorney from the student
• Bring an inventory list
• When importing to Norway: a signed declaration of household goods

The parents then declare on behalf of the student.

Important points to remember:

• Read the explanations on the back of the form carefully.
• This will give you a clear understanding of the requirements and help you avoid common mistakes.

This link will take you to the declaration of removal goods form that you must complete. External link.

Longyearbyen has a diverse and active cultural and sporting life tailored to different target groups and needs. The Longyearbyen Local Council wants to help promote and strengthen inclusive cultural, sporting, and leisure activities.

The purpose of the unit is to manage the cultural, leisure, and sports activities of the Longyearbyen Local Council. We will facilitate voluntary cultural work and help to create activities that are as inclusive as possible in terms of age groups, interests, and needs.

Here you can read more about what we offer in terms of culture and sports

In our calendar, you can see which events are planned External link.

Longyearbyen and Svalbard offer many opportunities for active outdoor life.

Organized hiking, hunting, fishing, skiing, and snowmobiling. If you prefer the city, you can join "Aktiv i friluft" (Active Outdoors), which organizes weekly trips in the surrounding area.

Follow this link to find out more about the opportunities available in and around Longyearbyen.

Longyearbyen Hospital is a small emergency hospital. In addition, the hospital serves as the daily doctor's office for Svalbard residents. Unlike hospitals on the mainland, it provides both primary and specialist health services. However, health services on Svalbard are limited, and the hospital has far fewer services than other Norwegian hospitals.

Longyearbyen Hospital has a doctor, dentist, physiotherapist, public health nurse, and midwife. However, the hospital has limited capacity for medical examinations and surgery, no psychologist, no delivery room, and no CT or MRI scanners.

Emergency patients are transferred to the mainland by air ambulance, but transport is dependent on both weather conditions and available aircraft.

Contact information for Longyearbyen Hospital can be found here. External link.

Telenor provides standard mobile coverage in Longyearbyen and the Isfjord area on 4G/5G.

In Longyearbyen, all residential units are connected to Telenor's Svalbard fiber network and can offer high-speed internet and TV connections. 

Longyearbyen has DAB coverage for radio, as does the mainland. For information and emergency purposes, NRK is available on AM radio throughout Svalbard.

See the mobile coverage map here  External link.

In Longyearbyen, we deliver our daily waste to communal container stations located around the town; each station has one container for residual waste and one for sorted waste. You can view the sorting guide here.

Businesses order containers for their waste from LL as needed.

Larger items/bulky waste and hazardous waste, as well as commercial waste, are delivered directly to the Environmental Station.

In Longyearbyen, it is mandatory to have food waste disposers installed in all buildings with kitchens. You can read the user manual here.

Taxes in Svalbard are lower than on the mainland. Salaries or other remuneration for work in Svalbard are taxed according to the rules on payroll deductions when a person is resident in Svalbard for tax purposes, or when the individual stay in connection with the work lasts for at least 30 days.

You can find the tax rates for Svalbard here External link..

Contact information for the Svalbard Tax Office can be found HERE. External link.

NAV Svalbard is located in the Government Building in Longyearbyen.  

Nav Svalbard's visiting address is Statens hus, in the pedestrian zone at Vei 227 1.

Appointments can be made by telephone: 55 55 33 33.

Work and residence in Svalbard

If you are a member of the National Insurance Scheme before you settle or take up residence in Svalbard, you will retain your membership.

You will continue to be a member regardless of whether you are:

• economically active
• not working
• self-employed or
• an employee.
• a student

If you are not a member of the National Insurance Scheme before you arrive in Svalbard, you will become a member as an employee of a Norwegian employer who operates there. Membership lasts as long as you have an existing employment relationship under an employment contract, and for up to one month after the employment relationship has ended, provided that you are still residing in Svalbard during this period. Membership also applies when you are on sick leave from work or on leave in connection with childbirth.

It is not possible to apply for voluntary membership of the National Insurance Scheme. This is because, in principle, it is your employment that forms the basis for your stay in Svalbard.

General information about the legislation

Through the Svalbard Treaty External link. of 1920, Svalbard became part of the Kingdom of Norway. Norway adopts and enforces the laws that apply in Svalbard. However, the legislation must not conflict with the provisions of the Svalbard Treaty. As a general rule, Norwegian private law, criminal law and Norwegian legislation apply. Other legal provisions do not apply, except where specifically stipulated.

The EEA regulations do not apply to Svalbard. However, the Nordic Convention on Social Security External link. (lovdata.no) does apply. This means that the social security rules in the EEA Agreement also apply to Svalbard for persons who had social security rights in a Nordic country before coming to Svalbard.

The Immigration Act does not apply in Svalbard. This means that all citizens of states that are parties to the Svalbard Treaty have the right to enter and stay on the archipelago, regardless of whether they have a residence permit in Norway. It is a prerequisite that you have a place to live and can support yourself. No social assistance is provided in Svalbard.

Read more about the legislation in Svalbard at Sysselmesteren.no External link.

Contact information for NAV Svalbard: tel. 55 55 33 33, where you can make appointments and get insight into your own case.

Longyearbyen has approximately 45 km of roads. If you live in the center of Longyearbyen, you may not need a car at all. In Svalbard, you do not pay customs duties or value added tax on cars. Contact the Norwegian Public Roads Administration External link. in Svalbard for more information.

More information about customs and duties can be found on the website of the Norwegian Customs and Excise Directorate External link, opens in new window..

The Customs Service External link. has its own office in Longyearbyen.

On behalf of the Ministry of Finance, the Norwegian Customs and Excise Authority established a physical presence and control of goods transport in Svalbard from May 2022. This means that the Norwegian Customs and Excise Authority can control goods transport to and from Svalbard.

Follow this link to read more about the Norwegian Customs and Excise Authority's work in Longyearbyen. External link.

In Longyearbyen, we have our own post office located in the pedestrian zone at 227.

On the Norwegian Post's website, External link. you will find prices for sending parcels from Svalbard.

Not all online stores ship to Svalbard, so it is a good idea to check before you order anything. You should also ask someone who has lived here a little longer, as they will know more about which online stores ship here. And remember that you do not have to pay VAT on goods you buy that are shipped here. Some online stores deduct this automatically, while others require you to request a refund.

You can also get a VAT refund for goods you buy on the mainland. However, this must be agreed with the store where the goods were purchased. Contact the Customs Service in Svalbard External link. for more information.

The Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries (NFD) owns all land in Longyearbyen and a number of other places on Svalbard. The NFD owns a total of 98.75 percent of the land on Svalbard. 

All this land is managed by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, which has a local office in Longyearbyen.

Here you can read more about the management of state-owned land in Svalbard. External link.

Longyearbyen is a modern and forward-looking community located at 78 degrees north. It has around 2,500 inhabitants and
offers a wide range of opportunities within research, development, business, and education. The tourism industry accounts for the largest share of employment.

Longyearbyen has modern infrastructure, including an airport and a port. It has an established fiber optic network which, together with forward-looking solutions for mobile communications, makes it possible to develop commercial activities. 

Running or establishing a business in Longyearbyen differs from the mainland in many ways. Business in Svalbard is subject to some special conditions, which you can read more about HERE.

The Svalbard Business Association External link. regularly invites people to meetings and also has its own Facebook page External link..

In Longyearbyen, we have a tradition of taking off our shoes in the hallway as soon as we come indoors. This stems from earlier times when there was a lot of coal dust in the air. That is why many public agencies, hotels, and other establishments have shoe racks and shoe storage right inside the entrance. So remember to bring indoor shoes that are easy to change into.

The Longyearbyen local government also has a second-hand shop where you can find free clothes and equipment for both children and adults.

The store is located at Lia vei 224 no. 8.

For more information, see here External link.. 

Please only deliver items to Bruktikken during opening hours. Items must be clean, in good condition, and usable by others. It is also possible to deliver usable items to Miljøstasjonen during opening hours.

When it comes to clothing, it is important to have both warm and windproof clothing. Visit Svalbard External link, opens in new window. has an informative page about this, see here External link, opens in new window..

The polar bear is the world's largest land predator and is found throughout Svalbard. This means that as soon as you leave the settlement of Longyearbyen, it is recommended that you carry protection and deterrents against polar bears. To carry a weapon, you need a weapon license, which you can apply for from the Governor of Svalbard, see here External link, opens in new window..

The University of Svalbard, UNIS, External link. is one of the organizations that offers safety courses on polar bear protection.

Read more about traveling in Svalbard here. External link, opens in new window.

The Governor of Svalbard is the government's highest representative on the archipelago and acts as both police chief and state administrator. Administratively, the Governor is subordinate to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, but also performs tasks for a number of other ministries. The agency is headed by the Governor, who is appointed by the government in the Council of State.

More information about the Governor of Svalbard can be found here External link, opens in new window..

Longyearbyen has an active cultural and sporting life. Longyearbyen got a new cultural center in 2010, where movies, concerts, and other cultural events are held. Svalbardhallen is a multi-purpose hall with a sports hall, swimming pool, shooting range, spinning room, gym, and meeting rooms. The sports club Svalbard Turn offers many activities both here and outdoors; see their website here External link, opens in new window..

We also have our own resident app with a calendar that provides an overview of most of what is happening, whether it be lectures or cultural events. This can be downloaded from both the App Store and Google Play (search for "inbygger Longyearbyen"). The calendar is also available on the front page of our website.

All visitors to Svalbard must pay an environmental fee of NOK 150, which is automatically included in the price when purchasing flight and cruise tickets. Permanent residents of Svalbard must pay the fee, but they can have it refunded. Permanent residents are defined as anyone who is registered in the population register for Svalbard.

Find information about reimbursement of the environmental fee at sysselmesteren.no. External link, opens in new window. 

The sale of alcoholic beverages is subject to quotas in Svalbard. If you are a permanent resident, you must print out your permanent residence certificate, which you can find on the tax authority's website. Bring this to Nordpolet, and you will receive an alcohol card.

If you are a visitor, you must show your airline ticket/boarding pass when purchasing alcohol, as with other duty-free purchases.

You can find more information about importing and exporting alcohol and tobacco on the Governor of Svalbard's website External link, opens in new window..