Students from outside EU/EEA/EFTA

Start the Process Early

As a general rule, the residence permit should be applied for and granted before you arrive in Norway.

The processing of applications may take up to 6-10 weeks and we therefore recommend that you obtain all the required documents as early as possible. Among the required documents are your Letter of Acceptance, documentation of financing, and documentation of accommodation in Bergen. You will find up to date information about requirements to documentation at UDI's website.

How to Apply

The application can normally be submitted online at the UDI's Application Portal, with a few exceptions. Please refer to UDI's website for updated information regarding the application procedures in your country.

For those of you who need a visa to enter Norway, please be adviced that when you are granted a residence permit, you automatically receive an entry permit which entitles you to stay in Norway for the first few weeks. This means that you do not need to apply for a visa separately.

Once in Norway

Once you arrive in Norway you must make sure that you visit the local police as soon as possible to validate your residence permit and obtain a Residence card. You must bring your passport and one passport photo. If you are applying for a residence permit once you are in Norway, you must bring the following to the police: Passport, Letter of Acceptance, two passport photos and documentation of finances.

Please note: non-EU/EEA/EFTA nationals coming to Norway as exchange students must also refer to "Special Arrangements for Exchange Students".

Students from EU/EEA/EFTA

Register Online

EU/EEA/EFTA nationals do not need to apply for a residence permit, but UDI requires you to register online at UDI's Application Portal. We recommend you to do so as soon as possible after arriving in Bergen and receiving your Norwegian address.

NB! Citizens from Nordic countries are exempted and do not need to register on UDI's online portal.

Visit the Local Police Station

After you have registered online you must meet in person at the nearest police station with the required documentation. This meeting will be organised by the University of Bergen in cooperation with the local police.

For more information about the Registration Scheme for EU/EEA/EFTA nationals, please visit UDI's website.

Required Documentation

You must make sure you can present your:

• Passport
• Letter of Acceptance
• European Health Insurance Card or private health insurance
• Personal declaration stating that you have sufficient funds (finances) to support yourself (for Erasmus and Nordplus students the Letter of Acceptance is sufficient documentation)

Special Arrangements for Exchange Students

The information below applies to students coming to the University of Bergen as exchange students.

Before receiving the Letter of Acceptance

Exchange students from non-EU/EEA/EFTA countries must document that they have sufficient finances when applying for a residence permit. Please refer to "Documentation of Financing" for information on the amount you must document.

Exchange students can document their finances in two ways:

1) Your university can send a confirmation to exchange-students@uib.no that you have sufficient funding. The confirmation must include information on the source of funds (support from parents, scholarship etc.), the exact amount and whether you will access the funds in monthly allowances or a single payment. When we receive this confirmation we will confirm your finances in your Letter of Acceptance.

2) If your university cannot confirm your finances, you need to transfer money to our student deposit account. For further information, please see "Documentation of Financing".

Please confirm as soon as possible which of the two models you choose by sending an e-mail to exchange-students@uib.no.

After receiving the Letter of Acceptance

As soon as you have received your Letter of Acceptance and prepared the required documents, you should apply for a residence permit.

Exchange students may travel to Norway before the permit has been granted, but please note that some students must apply for a visa, depending on their citizenship.

If you for some reason are unable to start the process of applying for a residence permit before travelling to Norway, Exchange students coming to the University of Bergen may apply for a student residence permit within 7 days after arrival in Norway.

Additional information on the required documents

Letter of Acceptance will be available for you to download on SøknadsWeb. Please note that an electronic letter is accepted for the residence permit application. We will send you an e-mail when your Letter of Acceptance has been published.

Documentation of funds is included in your Letter of Acceptance, if your home university has confirmed that you have access to sufficient funding. Otherwise you must deposit the required amount to the student deposit account, as described above.

Confirmation of accommodation in Bergen is included in your Letter of Acceptance.

Documentation of Financing

Financial Means to Cover Living Expenses

International students must submit documentation that they have financial means to cover living expenses during their stay in Norway when applying for a residence permit. This currently amounts to NOK 94 400 for an academic year (10 months) and NOK 47 200 for one semester.

How to Document Financial Means when Applying for a Residence Permit

As a general rule, the required amount must be transferred to SiB's Deposit Account for Foreign Students, which is set up especially for this purpose. A few days after you have transferred the money into SiB's deposit account, you will receive a confirmation of the deposit by e-mail from UiB. This confirmation must accompany your application for a residence permit to UDI.

Instructions with the Letter of Acceptance

Together with your Letter of Acceptance you will receive detailed information about the transfer, and we ask you to please follow all the instructions carefully to ensure that you will receive your confirmation without delay.

You must not transfer the money until you have received your Letter of Acceptance (by mail or e-mail).

Please note that money transfers from some countries can be difficult. You should contact your bank well in advance to ensure that you will not have problems to transfer money to a Norwegian bank account from your country.

Money Upon Arrival

Once you arrive in Norway you can ask SiB for a check of up to NOK 20 000 of your deposit money. As soon as you have opened a Norwegian bank account and notified SiB of your bank account details, the rest of the money will be transferred to this account.

Part-time Work Permit

Automatically Granted with First-time Residence Permit

Students are automatically granted a part-time work permit along with the first-time residence permit. The permit allows you to work up to 20 hours per week during the semester and full time between semesters. You do not have to pay a separate fee for this type of work permit, nor do you need to have an employment contract.

Although international students are granted a work permit, part-time work and holiday jobs are hard to find. Students should therefore not plan to partially fund their studies in Bergen by working part-time.

For further information, please visit UDI's website.

The Career Centre can give you advice on job searching in Norway.

Family Immigration Permit

Family Immigration with a Student

If you are planning to bring a family member to Norway when you are here as a student, you should ensure that you and your family member meet the requirements to apply for this permit well in advance.

For more information about the family immigration permit, please visit UDI's website.