Learn Hardcore Norwegian: Saksbehandleren skriver at dokumentasjon må lastes opp, med mindre du møter opp med originalen. - The caseworker writes that documentation must be uploaded, unless you show up with the original.

Saksbehandleren is saksbehandler (case handler/administrative officer) + the definite ending -en, meaning the case handler. Norwegian often uses the definite form when a specific person is understood from context (e.g., the person handling your case), even if they haven’t been mentioned explicitly right before.

Why does the sentence use skriver at ...? Is at optional?

at introduces a subordinate clause after reporting verbs like skrive, si, forklare, etc. In careful written Norwegian, at is usually included:

Saksbehandleren skriver at ...

In more informal Norwegian, at can sometimes be dropped, especially in speech:

Saksbehandleren skriver dokumentasjon må lastes opp ... But in writing (especially formal messages), keeping at is the safest and most standard.

Why is dokumentasjon not dokumentasjonen or en dokumentasjon?

dokumentasjon is often treated like a mass/uncountable noun meaning documentation in general, so it commonly appears in the indefinite form without an article:

dokumentasjon må lastes opp

You can see dokumentasjonen if it means specific documentation that both sides already know about:

Dokumentasjonen må lastes opp (= that particular set of documents)

en dokumentasjon is less common in this administrative sense; it sounds more like a piece/type of documentation.

What does må express here? Could it be replaced by skal?

må expresses necessity/requirement (must/has to). In official instructions it often signals a rule or condition.

skal can also be used for requirements in Norwegian (and is very common in official language), but it can feel slightly more like a formal directive/standard procedure:

Dokumentasjon skal lastes opp (shall/is to be uploaded)

Both can work; må often feels a bit more like there is no alternative.

What grammar is lastes opp? Why not laster opp?

lastes is the -s passive (passive voice): is uploaded / must be uploaded.

Active (someone does it): (Du) laster opp dokumentasjon.
Passive focus (the action/result matters): Dokumentasjon må lastes opp.

So laster opp would typically require an explicit subject like du:

Du må laste opp dokumentasjon.

Norwegian has two common passive options:

-s passive: må lastes opp
bli-passive: må bli lastet opp They’re often interchangeable; -s passive is especially common in formal instructions.

Why is opp separated from the verb in lastes opp?

laste opp is a phrasal verb-like combination (verb + particle). opp is a particle meaning up, and together they mean upload.

In Norwegian, particles typically come after the verb:

å laste opp (infinitive)
dokumentasjon lastes opp (passive)
du laster opp dokumentasjonen (present)

What does med mindre mean grammatically, and how does it affect word order?

med mindre functions like a subordinating expression meaning unless. It introduces a subordinate clause.

After med mindre, you get normal subordinate-clause structure—BUT note that when the subject comes immediately after, it looks the same as main-clause order:

med mindre du møter opp ...

If you add an adverb, you can clearly see it’s subordinate:

med mindre du faktisk møter opp ... (not du møter faktisk opp)

What’s the difference between møte and møte opp?

møte = to meet (someone) / to attend (an appointment), depending on context.
møte opp emphasizes showing up/appearing in person, often at a place/appointment:

møte opp på kontoret = show up at the office

In administrative contexts, møte opp strongly suggests in-person attendance.

Why does it say med originalen (definite) instead of med en original?

originalen = the original (document)—the specific original that corresponds to the documentation being discussed.

Using the definite form signals that it’s a known, specific item:

med originalen = with the original (of it)

med en original would sound more generic, like with an original (some original copy), and is less natural here.

Why is there a comma before med mindre?

The comma marks a break before the conditional exception clause. In Norwegian, it’s common (and often recommended) to use a comma before longer subordinate clauses introduced by expressions like med mindre, especially in formal writing, to improve readability:

..., med mindre du møter opp ...

You may see variation, but the comma here is very standard in official-style sentences.