Foreign nationals covered by the EEA Agreement and the EFTA Convention may apply for this type of residence permit.
A residence permit for educational purposes is, generally speaking, issued to those who wish to complete a vocational course of study. A vocational course of study means study at an upper secondary school, vocational training or study at university level.
However, if you wish to attend compulsory school or take general studies at upper secondary school, you may do so as long as the requirements are met for a residence permit for foreign nationals who receive fixed periodic benefits or have their own means.
Foreign nationals covered by the EEA Agreement and the EFTA Convention may apply for the residence permit from within Norway. The application must be submitted to the police in the district where the applicant is living.
If you wish, you can also apply for a residence permit through a Norwegian foreign service mission in your country of origin or the country where you have held a residence or work permit for the past six months.
In addition to a completed application form, you must include the following documents:
- Passport photo/other photo which meets the set requirements
- Documentation of admission to an approved educational institution
- Declaration or documentation showing that subsistence is ensured
- Health insurance that is valid for the entire period of study. This may either be private insurance, an E-form or the European Health Insurance Card from your country of origin. The health insurance must cover all the risks under Norwegian legislation, i.e. cover during illness, including treatment by a doctor and any hospitalisation
- Copy of passport
There is no fee for processing applications from EEA citizens.
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 (OTS) 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.
EEA/EFTA citizens may start their studies while waiting for their application to be processed.
- The permit is issued for the same length of time as the studies, up to a maximum of one year at a time. The student work permit entitles the holder to work up to 50% of full-time.
- The applicant’s closest family may accompany the applicant to Norway. Spouses, cohabitants of at least two years and children are entitled to a residence permit for family immigration. Other family members may also apply for a residence permit. Family members are granted a permit equivalent in duration to the student’s permit. Family members are granted a general permit to take employment. There are no requirements regarding the extent of the work for family members.
The permit may be renewed.
An application for renewal must be submitted at least one month before the current permit expires, and must be submitted to the police in the district where you live.
If your application for a residence permit is rejected, you may appeal against this decision. If you appeal, your application will be re-examined by the UDI. The UDI may reverse the decision and grant the requested permit. If the UDI upholds the decision, the case is sent on to the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) for new consideration.
A residence permit may be withdrawn
When applying for a residence permit in conjunction with family immigration with a student, the following documents must be included:
- Kinship must be documented in the form of a birth certificate and, if applicable, a marriage certificate
- Two years of cohabiting must be documented, for example in the form of a proof of residence, rental contract, or similar
- Declaration or documentation showing that subsistence is ensured for the family members during their stay in Norway
- The family members must have health insurance that is valid for the entire period of their stay. This may either be private insurance, an E-form or the European Health Insurance Card from your country of origin. The health insurance must cover all the risks under Norwegian legislation, i.e. cover during illness, including treatment by a doctor and any hospitalisation
- Copy of the applicant’s passport
Any questions?
For more information, see the UDI circular on residence permits for students (2002-128). If you are still unsure about how to apply for a residence permit, you can contact your nearest Norwegian embassy or consulate, or
the Information Service (OTS).
