Who can be granted a residence permit as a service recipient?
It is a condition for this type of permit that you shall receive a service in Norway for a limited period and that you shall pay for it. Private schools or private hospitals are examples of services you pay for. Tourists can also come under the service recipient category if they reside in Norway for more than three months.
There are no transitional rules for this type of permit, i.e. citizens from Bulgaria, Rumania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia can also apply for this type of residence permit.
A more precise definition of the conditions can be found in the Immigration Regulations s. 176 litera c}.
- The purpose of your stay in the realm is to receive a service.
- You must pay for the service. This excludes public services that are free of charge.
- Your stay and the receipt of the service must be of limited duration.
How do I apply?
To apply for a residence permit, you must fill in the
application form for EEA citizens. The application can be submitted to your nearest Norwegian foreign service mission in your home country, or in another country in which you have legally resided for a minimum of 6 months. You can also apply from the realm. If you decide to apply from the realm, you can reside in Norway for three months before you have to apply for a permit.
Applications submitted from Norway must be delivered to the police district where you live.
Service recipient applications must always be sent to the UDI for processing.
- Documentation of the type of service you are going to receive.
- Documentation that you are paying for the service.
You must also enclose:
- A copy of your passport or approved identity card.
- A passport photo/photo that meets specific requirements.
We encourage everyone to apply well in advance. In order to avoid the processing of applications taking longer than necessary, it is important to be accurate when filling in the application form and to enclose all the requested documentation.
Remember that you can reside in Norway while you are waiting for your application to be processed.
The permit’s content
The permit entitles you to start receiving the service stated in your application.
The permit is issued for as long as the service is to be received.
Family members can come to Norway pursuant to the regulations for
family immigration pursuant to the EEA Agreement. If the family’s application is submitted simultaneously with the main applicant’s application, they will be processed together.
An application for the renewal of a residence permit must be submitted at least one month prior to the expiry date of the permit.
Applications for renewal should be submitted to the police in the district where you live.
When applying for a renewal, you must enclose documentation showing that you are still in receipt of a service.
Can I appeal against a rejection?
If your application for a residence permit is rejected, you may appeal the decision. If you appeal, your application will be reconsidered by the UDI. The UDI can overturn the decision and grant the application. If not, the case will be sent to the
Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) for new processing.
The revocation of a residence permit means that you are obliged to leave Norway, unless you satisfy the requirements for being granted a permit on other grounds.
The Immigration Directorate (UDI) decides the revocation of permits. If the UDI believe there are grounds for revoking your permit, they shall, as a rule, inform you, so that you have an opportunity to state your point of view before they make a decision. You also have the right to appeal a revocation decision.
