How do I apply for family immigration?

People living in Norway are entitled, if they meet certain conditions, to bring their closest family members here. It is the family members abroad who must apply for family immigration. NB: Separate rules apply for citizens of EU/EEA countries.

How do I apply?
What must the application include?
How long will it take to process my application?
Can I appeal against a decision?

How do I apply?

If you are living in Norway, you must submit your application to the police in the district where you live. If you are living abroad, the application must be submitted at the Norwegian foreign service mission responsible for citizens from your country. If you are living in a country of which you are not a citizen, you must as a rule have had a residence permit in this country for the 6 months preceding submission of the application.

What must the application include?

The requirement for documentation varies from country to country, and may change over time. You should therefore check what requirements currently apply by contacting the Norwegian embassy in the country from which you are applying.

In general in addition to a completed application form, you must include the following documents:

Your birth certificate
Copies of all the pages of your passport (also blank pages)
Documentation of the relationship
Documentation of subsistence
Documentation of housing
A declaration of consent for children (when only the parents have/will be granted a residence or work permit in Norway)
Passport photo/other photo which meets the set requirements
In addition a fee must be paid when submitting an application to the police/foreign service mission. (Children under the age of 18 need not pay a fee)

As a main rule, it is sufficient that copies of the documents are sent with the application. However, you have to produce the original documents when you hand in your application.

All documents attached to the application have to be translated into English or Norwegian.

How long will it take to process my application?

Case processing times vary. For an overview of average processing times for the various types of permit, visit www.udi.no/caseprocessingtime, or contact the Information Service by e-mail or by calling (+ 47) 23 35 16 00.

We urge everyone to allow plenty of time for their application. In order to avoid unnecessary case processing delays, it is important to take care when completing the application form and to include all the requested documentation.

Can I appeal against a decision?

If your application is rejected, you can appeal. The deadline for appeals is normally 3 weeks from the date on which you receive the decision. Basically it is only you, as the applicant, who is entitled to appeal under the Immigration Act.