As a rule, everyone is entitled to stay in Norway for three months without a residence permit. However, the regulations vary for those foreign nationals who require a visa and those who do not, and there are also specific rules which apply to EU/EEA citizens.
Foreign nationals who require a visa must apply for a visa in order to stay in Norway/the Schengen area. The visa may be granted for up to three months, but the length of the stay may also be limited. If you wish to stay in Norway for longer than three months, you must apply for a residence permit. If you wish to work while you are in Norway, you must also apply for a work permit. Please bear in mind that, generally speaking, residence and work permits must be applied for from the country of origin.
Foreign nationals with no visa requirement may stay in Norway/the Schengen area for up to three months, within any six-month period, without any form of permit. During this period, you may enter and leave Norway freely, but it is your responsibility to ensure that you do not exceed the total limit of three months. If you wish to stay in Norway for longer than three months, you must apply for a residence permit. If you wish to work while you are in Norway, you must also apply for a work permit. Foreign nationals with no visa requirement must also, in general, apply for any permits from their country of origin.
There are various types of residence permit, each of which has different requirements:
In addition, a permit for up to a total of two years may be given to:
- Performing musicians, entertainers or artists
- Persons involved in spreading knowledge of Norway and Norwegian culture abroad
- Sportsmen and sportswomen
Residence for up to one year may be granted for:
- Medical treatment and as a necessary companion
For residence permits for accompanying/reuniting with close family, see separate rules on
family immigration.
Nordic citizens and seamen are exempt from the requirement for a residence permit.
To apply for a residence permit, you must complete an application form. The application must be submitted from your country of origin or another country where you have been legally resident for at least six months. You may not enter the country until your permit has been granted. The application must be submitted to your nearest Norwegian foreign service mission (embassy, consulate general). You will also be informed of the decision regarding your application via the foreign service mission.
However, some people may apply for a residence permit from within Norway. This applies to those who qualify as a skilled worker/specialist, and either:
- Have a residence or work permit lasting three months or more
- Have been granted a visa for three months
- Are entitled to live in Norway for three months without a permit (i.e. no visa requirement) or
- Have been granted a visa, i.e. a job seeker’s visa, for a period of less than three months
Applications made from within Norway must be submitted to the police in the district in which you live.
It is also a condition that you are not living in Norway while applying for asylum or while waiting to leave the country following a failed asylum application.
In addition to a completed application form, you must include:
The documentation required in addition to the list above varies depending on the type of permit you are applying for. You should therefore read the information regarding the specific permit.
NB: 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 order to obtain a part-time work permit, you must:
- Have been granted a residence permit
- Have a concrete offer of employment in the form of an employment contract
- You must also pay a fee
There are no requirements regarding type of work or wage. The working hours must amount to no more than 50% of a full-time job, up to a maximum of 20 hours per week. During the standard holidays, a permit may be granted to work full-time.
The application must be submitted to the police in the district where you live. You can either apply at the same time as you apply for a residence permit or on a separate form (GP-7115 B) once the residence permit has been granted.
The permit is linked to a particular job and a particular workplace. Therefore, you may not take any other work without first applying for a new work permit.
A part-time permit may be renewed in conjunction with the renewal of the residence permit.
A more precise definition of the conditions for the permit can be found in section 17 of the Immigration Regulations.
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.
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
Any questions?
For more information, see the UDI’s circular on students. If you are still unsure about anything relating to how you apply for a residence permit, you can contact your nearest Norwegian embassy or consulate, or the Information Service (OTS).
