If you are not an EU/EEA student and you plan to study in Norway for a period of time longer than 3 months, you have to apply for a residence permit. Please, observe that the residence permit is only temporary and intended to register students while enrolled at university or college in Norway. Students from certain countries must also apply for a Schengen Visa to enter Europe.
[Click here to view the list of countries whose citizens don't need a visa to enter Europe]
What documents do you need to apply for a residence permit in Norway?
- The filled-in application form
[Click here to download the application form for residence permit in Norway (English version)]
or [Click here to download the application form for residence permit in Norway (Norwegian version)] - The letter of acceptance from your higher education institution indicating that you have been admitted to full-time studies
- A copy of the pages in your passport where personal data can be read
- A recent passport-sized photo. [Click here to learn more about the photo requirement]
- A copy of your health insurance plan
- A bank statement or copy of your grant/scholarship stating you can support yourself financially throughout your time as a student in Norway
- The receipt to prove you have paid your application fee in the event you decide to pay it in advance
- Documentation confirming your accommodation details
Please, note that all documents must be officially translated into English or Norwegian.
How much does it cost to apply for a residence permit in Norway?
The application fee is 1,100 NOK (ca. 134 EUR).
Where do you apply for a residence permit in Norway?
If you have the right to enter Norway without the need for a residence permit, which is the case of EU/EEA students, you may apply at your nearest police office.
[Click here to learn more about residence permits in Norway for EU students]
If you are not an EU/EEA student, you can apply for a residence permit at the Norwegian embassy or Norwegian Foreign Mission in the country where you are residing.
[Click here to locate the Norwegian embassy in your country and find its contact information] .
Where do you have to pay the application fee?
You may pay the application fee at the Norwegian embassy when you submit your application.
How much is the minimum financial subsistence requirement?
You will be asked to prove you have at least 42,500 NOK per semester (ca. 5,200 EUR per semester) or 85,000 NOK per year (ca. 10,400 EUR per year) to support yourself financially.*
Financial subsistence requirement valid for 2009-2010.
How long does it take to process an application for residence permit?
The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration will try to process your application as soon as all documentation has been submitted. Therefore, we recommend you to apply for a residence permit in Norway with plenty of time in advance, usually before October if your studies begin in January or before May if your studies begin in August.
Residence permit for EU students
EU/EEA students no longer need to apply for a residence permit in Norway. Instead, EU/EEA students are simply requested to inform the authorities by registering at their nearest police office.
[Click here to locate your nearest police office in Norway]
The application is free of charge and you will have to present the following documents:
- A valid identity card or passport
- Letter of acceptance to an approved institution
- A private health insurance or the European health insurance card
- A declaration stating you have sufficient funds to support yourself
Upon approval of your application, you will be issued a certificate of registration, which is valid indefinitely.
