Moving to Vadsø questions and answers

Vadsø is a small town with a short way to work, school, fjord and open country, and it has 143 registered clubs and associations. As a resident of the Action Zone you pay less tax, can have student loans written off and get a free nursery place. Read what people who live here say in With heart for Vadsø.

In 2026 the tax on ordinary income is 18.5% against 22% elsewhere in Norway, and you get an extra Finnmark deduction of NOK 45,000. You can have up to NOK 60,000 of student loans written off each year, nursery places are free, and household electricity is exempt from electricity tax. The rates change in the national budget every year — see the Action Zone.

Once you have lived and worked in Finnmark or Nord-Troms for 12 months, you can have up to NOK 60,000 of your student loan written off each year (2026). Primary and lower-secondary teachers can get NOK 20,000 more. You apply to Lånekassen, the State Educational Loan Fund. See the Action Zone.

Yes, nursery places are free throughout Finnmark. There are 5 municipal nurseries in town, and in Vestre Jakobselv the nursery and school are together in one centre. See Vadsø Municipality.

In town there are Vadsø barneskole, Vadsø ungdomsskole, Vadsø kulturskole and Vadsø videregående skole. In Vestre Jakobselv there is a school for years 1–10 in the community centre. See Vadsø Municipality.

The service office at Oscarsgata 21 is open Monday–Friday 09:00–15:00. The switchboard is +47 78 94 23 00, and the email address is [email protected]. See Vadsø Municipality.