Rush for the position in Warsaw. Norwegians reveal candidate lists
Warsaw has made it into the very top tier of destinations chosen by Norwegian diplomats. Twenty-five people are applying for the post of Norway’s ambassador to Poland, with only the missions in Lisbon, Zagreb and Belgrade attracting greater interest. The situation is completely different in Moscow, where only two candidates have applied.
The position of ambassador to Poland is attracting a large number of candidates in Norway.
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Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UD) announced recruitment in the summer of 2026 for 23 ambassadorial posts and other positions in the Norwegian foreign service. The number of candidates varies significantly depending on the country. Some European capitals attracted several dozen applicants, while Russian missions were at the other end of the ranking.
Warsaw attracts diplomats. 25 candidates for one position
The Norwegian embassy in Lisbon attracted the greatest interest. Thirty-five UD employees applied for the position of ambassador to Portugal, while 31 people want to take up the post in Zagreb. Twenty-six candidates applied for Belgrade. Warsaw came just behind them with 25 applications.
The Polish capital surpassed, among others, Helsinki, where 21 people are seeking the role of ambassador. Outside Europe, Abu Dhabi attracted the greatest interest, with 22 candidates wanting to move there. Tokyo attracted 18 people. Eleven employees of the Norwegian diplomatic service applied for Buenos Aires.
The Polish capital surpassed, among others, Helsinki, where 21 people are seeking the role of ambassador. Outside Europe, Abu Dhabi attracted the greatest interest, with 22 candidates wanting to move there. Tokyo attracted 18 people. Eleven employees of the Norwegian diplomatic service applied for Buenos Aires.
In the photo: Øystein Bø, the current Norwegian ambassador to Poland.Photo: Senior Master Sgt. Adrian Cadiz, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Moscow has two applicants. One of them currently works in Warsaw
Only two people have applied for the position of Norway’s ambassador to Moscow. One of them is Anniken Ramberg Krutnes, who served as Norway’s ambassador to the United States until 2024. The other candidate is Øystein Bø. He currently serves as Norway’s ambassador in Warsaw.
The list of candidates for work in St. Petersburg is similarly short. Only two candidates also want to take up the position of consul general there. By comparison, nine people are seeking the position of Norway’s ambassador to London. Four people have applied for the role of ambassador to the United Nations in New York.
The list of candidates for work in St. Petersburg is similarly short. Only two candidates also want to take up the position of consul general there. By comparison, nine people are seeking the position of Norway’s ambassador to London. Four people have applied for the role of ambassador to the United Nations in New York.
Norwegian diplomats are subject to a requirement to rotate between work in Oslo and postings abroad. As a rule, ambassadors are appointed for three years, with the possibility of extending their mission by another year. Among this year’s recruitment rounds, Warsaw is therefore one of the postings with the greatest competition in the Norwegian foreign service.
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