Residence permit in Norway

Published: 17. December 2024

You require a residence permit if you will be working or living in Norway and come from a country outside of the EU/EEA. If you are an EU/EEA citizen, you must register if you plan to stay in Norway for longer periods of time. The rules that apply to you depend on your situation and your citizenship. Below is information about how to apply for or renew residence permits in Norway.

Select the situation that applies to you

The rules for residence in Norway are different for different groups of people. Select the situation that applies to you so that you can get the right information and links to the UDI website.

Refugees and protected persons

Information for people who fled the war in Ukraine

In order to apply for protection (asylum), you must be in Norway or at the Norwegian border. There is information on the UDI website about how to apply for protection and what happens after you arrive in Norway. There is also information about who can be granted collective protection and whose applications for protection will be given individual consideration.

Find out more about collective protection (UDI, available in multiple languages)

Employees and skilled workers

The following information about residence permits is for those who are coming to work in Norway or have a job offer. You need a residence permit if you come from a country outside of the EU/EEA and will be working in Norway.

I am a skilled worker

If you have completed higher education or vocational education, you can apply for a skilled worker residence permit. You will normally need to have received a job offer or have your own company.

I will be a seasonal worker

You can obtain a residence permit as a seasonal worker if you will be doing a job that can only be done at a specific time of year, or if you will be a holiday substitute for a permanent employee. You must have a job before you apply for a residence permit.

I am from an EU/EEA country

If you are a citizen of an EU/EEA country, you do not need a residence permit to start working in Norway or to travel here in order to apply for a job. You must register if you will be working here for longer than three months, and if you are in Norway to apply for a job, you must register with the police within no more than three months.

I am from outside of the EU/EEA, but am employed by a company in another EU/EEA country

If you are employed by a company established in another EU/EEA country and will be undertaking a temporary assignment for this company in Norway, you may have the right to work here without a residence permit.

I will be doing other work in Norway

There are some other groups that can apply for a residence permit to work in Norway.

This includes maritime personnel, researchers and those involved in exchanges, cultural and organisational work.

The following information is relevant to many people applying for or who already have residence in Norway.

What the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration does

The Directorate of Immigration (UDI) facilitates lawful and desirable immigration and ensures that those who meet the requirements are given an opportunity to come to Norway. At the same time, the UDI has a control function to ensure that the system is not abused and can revoke residence permits and citizenship.

The UDI considers applications for:

Protection (asylum)
Visitor visa
Family immigration (family reunification)
Residence permits for work and study purposes
Citizenship
Permanent residence permit
Travel documents
Assisted return and repatriation

The UDI also makes decisions on rejection and expulsion. In addition, the UDI is responsible for ensuring that all asylum seekers are offered somewhere to stay while they wait for their applications to be considered.

Apply for residence

You can find information on the UDI's website about how to apply to visit or live in Norway, or whether you don’t need to apply.

You start by selecting your citizenship and the purpose of the application. You will be given information about the requirements and whether you can apply from Norway or whether you must apply from abroad. Also go to the website if you already have a residence permit in Norway, but want to apply for another permit on new grounds. If you apply for and are granted a new residence permit, the old one will lapse.

Find information about the application process here

Also go to the website if you already have a residence permit in Norway, but want to apply for another permit on new grounds. If you apply for and are granted a new residence permit, the old one will lapse.

Apply for protection (asylum) in Norway

Waiting times

Remember that you have to wait before you receive an answer to your application. The processing time for applications to the UDI varies depending on the type of application, the complexity of the case and the number of applications under consideration at the same time.

Check the expected processing time for your application

Return

If you have previously applied for protection (asylum) and been granted residence in Norway, you can apply to the UDI for financial support if you now wish to return to your home country. You can also apply for financial support if you don't have a valid residence permit in Norway.

Read more about financial support for return travel (udi.no)

Renew residence

If you have a residence permit that can be renewed, it is important that you apply for renewal well before your residence permit expires.

You can find information on the UDI’s website about the possibility of extending your residence in Norway and how to apply for renewal.

Find out more about renewing your residence permit (udi.no)

Permanent residence

A permanent residence permit enables you to live and work in Norway for as long as you want. You also have extra protection against expulsion. You can read about how to apply for a permanent residence permit and the requirements that apply on the UDI’s website.

Requirements for being granted a permanent residence permit

The following requirements apply to be granted a permanent residence permit:

Residence time – that you have lived in Norway continuously for three or five years
continuously in Norway for three or five years
Type of residence permit
That you have no criminal convictions
Self-support – that you have enough income to support yourself
Tuition and tests in the Norwegian language and social studies

More about residence permits that qualify for permanent residence

Check the residence requirement for a permanent residence permit (udi.no)