Norway has said it is in talks with the Netherlands to rent prison space and export some prisoners while carrying out urgent maintenance work and to ease overcrowding.
Several practical issues must be dealt with before Norway can rent the Dutch cells, including whether Dutch wardens can guard the prisoners, said justice ministry spokesman Vidar Brein-Karlsen.
Mr Brein-Karlsen said Norway currently has 1,300 people waiting to serve prison time.
Dangerous inmates, such as Anders Behring Breivik who killed 77 people in 2011, will remain in Norway, he added.
Such a deal would be part of a broader plan to renovate Norwegian prisons.
A vote in parliament is needed and expected later this year.