Short answer: no, you cannot sign up for Google Voice from Norway. Google Voice is only available to people located in the United States with a US phone number, and Google checks. But if you are moving to Norway from the USA, Google Voice is still one of the most useful tools you can set up, as long as you do it before you leave.
Why Google Voice matters for expats
When you move abroad, your US phone number is your lifeline back home. Banks, credit cards, the IRS, and every two-factor authentication code in your American life assume you still have a US number. Cancel your US plan without a replacement and you will quickly discover how many services refuse to send codes to a +47 number.
How to set it up (before you move)
While still in the US, port your existing US mobile number to Google Voice. Google charges a one-time porting fee of about $20. Once ported, your number lives with Google: calls and texts arrive in the Google Voice app or Gmail, over any internet connection, anywhere in the world, for free.
The steps are simple. First, unlock your number with your US carrier. Second, go to voice.google.com and start the porting process. Third, keep your old plan active until the port completes, usually within a few days. Then cancel your US plan and move to Norway with your American number safely in the cloud.
What works from Norway
Receiving calls and SMS works well, including most two-factor codes (some banks block VoIP numbers, so test your critical accounts before you leave). Outbound calls to US numbers are free. It costs nothing monthly, which beats paying T-Mobile or AT&T for a plan you never use.
What to do once you land
Get a Norwegian SIM for daily life. See our guide to setting up a Norwegian cell phone, and if Google Voice is not an option for you, there are other approaches to forwarding your phone number. Your phone will happily run both: Norwegian number on the SIM, American life on the app.