Svalbard and Jan Mayen are an archipelago and at the same time a Norwegian territory located in the Arctic Ocean. It is located north of the Norwegian mainland and south of the North Pole. Svalbard is part of the Kingdom of Norway, but has its own charter (Svalbardtraktaten), which grants them some degree of autonomy, but they are still subject to Norwegian authorities and laws.
The capital is the city of Longyearbyen, which is located on the island of Spitsbergen.
The climate on Spitsbergen is arctic. It is very cold in winter, with temperatures that can drop to -30°C and below, while in summer average temperatures range from 3°C to 7°C. Since these islands are located at a high northern latitude, the polar night here is from late October to February, and the polar day from mid-April to August.
The population is several thousand people. The local population consists of Norwegians, Russians and representatives of other nationalities who work here on a temporary basis.
The official language in Svalbard and Jan Mayen is Norwegian. However, the local population also speaks Russian and other languages. English is also common in the tourism industry and among foreign visitors.
The territory's economy is based on several key industries: coal mining, although this has declined greatly in recent years, research - there are several research stations located here, and tourism - one of the most important industries. These islands attract tourists for their unique nature, arctic landscapes and wildlife viewing opportunities.
The standard of living here is high, due to high incomes and social support from the Norwegian government. However, the cost of living on these islands is also high due to the remoteness and specific conditions.
The level of medical care and education in Svalbard and Jan Mayen generally corresponds to Norwegian standards, which means high quality medical care and access to education. Here you can even get higher education at the northernmost university in the world - Svalbard International University.
The level of security on the islands is high as it is part of Norway and Norwegian laws and safety standards apply. However, the arctic nature of the islands can pose certain threats - such as hypothermia and polar bears.
The process for obtaining Svalbard and Jan Mayen citizenship is identical to the process for obtaining Norwegian citizenship.
