As a new resident of Asker Municipality you are sure to be seeking answers to many questions. You can find some information in English on this web site, but we also recommend that you make contact with our Service Centre (Servicetorget in Norwegian) on Tel. +47 66 90 90 90.
The Asker Municipality Service Centre is located in Asker town centre - see map.
Day care
There are many types of day care for pre-school children in Asker Municipality, ranging from full-time services five days a week to open centres where parents can drop in with their children on a voluntary basis. The municipality coordinates the selection process for placement in all private and municipal daycares, as well as the “family pre-schools”, which are based in private homes. More
Schools
The municipality is divided into 16 school districts. As a resident of Asker your child has the right to attend the school in the school district in which you reside. Parents also have the right to apply for admission to any other school within the municipality, though placement is then conditional on the given school’s capacity at the time. For children from 1st to 4th grades, all municipal primary schools provide an after-school activity programme for children on the school premises (called SFO in Norwegian). More
Health
Health care services in Asker Municipality compromise principally Bærum Hospital, five municipal health clinics, a maternity care centre, as well as a range of other services such as physiotherapy, ergotherapy, rehabilitation, detoxification and psychological health care. All residents of the municipality have the right to a personal doctor. New residents of the municipality must register with Office for Personal Doctors on Tel. 810 59 500 to be assigned a personal doctor. More
Norwegian language training
For newcomers to Norway residing in Asker, Norwegian language instruction is available at Asker Folkeuniversitet, centrally located adjacent to the railway station. Tel. 66989900 Refugees, asylum seekers and family members of Norwegian citizens have the right to at least 300 hours of free language instruction. For others, the Norwegian language course costs NOK 3,300 per month for full-time classes. The teaching is of excellent quality and comes highly recommended by former students.
Asker Folkeuniversitet also offers courses in other languages – English, French, Greek, Italian, Chinese, Dutch, Russian, Spanish, Sami and German – as well as a range of adult education programmes.
Building and renovating
If you are planning to build or renovate a house, you will require approval of your plan from Asker Municipality before you can proceed, and should therefore become familiar with the relevant municipal rules and regulations. It is recommended that you have your plan checked by an architect or engineer before you submit it to avoid wasting time in the application process. The municipality is obliged to respond to applications within a certain time period; this varies depending on the type of application.
Please contact the Service Centre for further information.
Garbage collection and recycling
Regular garbage is collected from private homes and businesses once a week. Recycled garbage is collected once every three weeks. Paper is separated into orange bags, while plastic is placed in clear plastic bags, both provided by the municipality. Click here for collection dates in your neighbourhood.
Culture, sports and recreation
Asker Municipality offers a wide variety of cultural, sports and recreation possibilities. The brand new Asker Culture House, located in the centre of Asker town, has a spacious library, a cinema and a theatre hall. Beside the railway station, you will find the newly-renovated Gallery Trafo and café. Asker Culture School at scenic East Asker Farm offers classes in music, dance, art, sculpture and more to young people up to the age of 20.
Asker is known to be a “green municipality” because of the abundance and proximity of forests, farmland, beaches and lakes, as well as extensive, well-maintained walking and ski trails.
Social services
Social services provided by Asker Municipality include counselling, economic assistance, addiction care, refugee settlement, residential loans and job training. The municipality has three work centres for people with mental or physical handicaps that produce handicrafts, clothes and wood products for sale. For people who are not in work or school, the municipality offers job training in IT, maintenance, gardening and resale of recycled goods. Special housing is available for certain groups. The municipality also manages the long-term care facilities for elderly people for whom home-stay is no longer possible.
The Women's Shelter in Asker and Baerum is a refuge for abused women and provides a 24-hour service. It receives women who have been subjected to abuse or sexual violence and provides an emergency service for girls and woman escaping from forced marriages or circumcision.
Refugees and immigrants
Asker Municipality receives about 40 refugees per year. They are assisted by the municipality’s “refugee team” during their first three years in finding accommodate, buying furniture and adjusting to life in Asker. Refugee settlement is jointly handled by Asker Municipality and the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration.
The environment
Drinking water is of high quality in Asker Municipality, and you can safely drink tap water. The distribution of water is managed by Asker and Bærum Waterworks, while treatment is the responsibility of Vestfjorden Sewage Company. The watering of gardens is restricted throughout the year, as follows: addresses with an odd number may water on odd dates, addresses with an even number may water on even dates.
Asker has a rich biological diversity due to its varied inland topography and extensive coastline. The municipality is home to over 100 species listed as “rare” on a regional or national basis.
Roads and traffic
Asker Municipality is responsible for 199 kilometres of roads, 59 kilometres of bicycle paths and 30 kilometres of sidewalks. The municipality installs speeds bumps and repairs roads from May to mid-July each year. Residents are encouraged to report damage to roads or bicycle paths that can hinder traffic safety. These are normally repaired within a week. Parking in public places within the municipality can normally be paid by coin, card or by mobile telephone. The municipality manages snow removal along roads, bicycle paths and sidewalks throughout the winter season.
Moving and change of address
Formalities related to moving to Norway are handled by Skattekontoret. Here you can obtain information about the following:
- Moving and names
- Tax deduction cards
- Tax returns
- Inheritance and gifts
- Value-added tax
- Employers’ contribution (social security)
Employment
The Norwegian Labour and Welfare Organisation (NAV) can help you to find work in Norway and in other EU/EEA countries through the EURES network. All EU/EEA citizens living in Norway can benefit from NAV services.
Further information
For information in English about other Norwegian government services, go to www.norway.no.
For more general information in English for new foreign residents in Norway, go to
www.nyinorge.no.
