Is Norway in the EU?

Norway voted against joining the European Union in referendums in 1972 and 1994, so it is not an EU member state. Through the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement and EFTA, Norway takes part in the EU single market, which gives EU/EEA and Swiss citizens free movement to live and work in Norway (with a registration step for stays over three months). Norway is also part of the Schengen Area, so short-stay Schengen visa rules apply. Because it sits outside the EU, Norway operates its own national immigration system through the Directorate of Immigration (UDI) rather than applying EU residence directives.