Important warning: Reddit is not an appropriate place to get accurate immigration information.
However, this is a common topic on this subreddit and the old stickied post is several years old now. This post is here to help direct people to the proper information. Please read the entire guide and use the links provided to see out answers to your specific questions. Any questions you may have that cannot be answered from this guide or the links provided cannot be answered by redditors on this sub and should therefore be directed to an appropriate immigration expert.
Disclaimer: I am not a professional; I neither work for UDI, nor am I an immigration lawyer. I have spent a lot of time studying and researching the rules and regulations. What follows is a rough guide only meant to serve as a starting point; use the info here to conduct your own research. With that said:
So You Want To Move To Norway…
Despite what movies might portray, moving abroad is not just a matter of packing bags and showing up. Immigration is usually a long, often expensive process, and there are many criteria that you must meet to be legally resident in Norway. There are three general categories of permits that will allow you to remain in Norway beyond a regular tourist/visitor visa:
Temporary Residence Permit:
This is your first step. These permits are contingent on you (worker or student) or your reference person (family immigration) meeting certain requirements; are usually temporary; and will need to be renewed (usually biannually, but some are more/less frequent). You must have this permit if you wish to remain in Norway beyond your visitor visa (ie: >90 days).
Permanent Residence Permit:
This can be applied for only if you have been legally living in Norway for three years (or more in some instances) with a residence permit that forms the basis of permanent residency; you must meet the requirements for your current residence permit (ie: still employed, still are married to a person with residency rights, etc…); you meet the language requirements; pass a citizenship test; have an income over a certain threshold; and you have not been convicted of a criminal offence. This allows you to stay in Norway permanently (no need to reapply; but you will need to renew your card every 2 years for third-country nationals and 10 years for EEA/EU citizens).
Note: income requirement is based on the person applying, not the family member/sponsor. If you are married and here under family immigration rules, it is you, the applicant, who must demonstrate that you can support yourself in Norway by meeting the minimum income requirements.
Citizenship:
This is an optional step. You do not need to apply for citizenship; however, if you want to, you can qualify for Norwegian citizenship after a period of time (usually >7 years). This has many requirements, but the biggest is the language requirement.
Note: While Norway now allows dual citizenship, your country of origin may not allow dual citizenship.
Note: Norway does not allow citizenship based on heritage. One or both of your parents need to have citizenship (and not have given it up previously) in order for you to qualify for citizenship based on birth. There are a lot of complicated rules surrounding citizenship by birth. Use this to determine if you qualify for citizenship. NB: Norway does not offer citizenship by investment (ie: having a lot of money to invest in exchange for residency or citizenship).
Note: When you apply for citizenship, you must still meet the requirements for permanent residency (income requirement being the biggest).
The remainder of this post will focus on the temporary residence permits, since by the time you are ready for PR or citizenship you will be an immigration pro. How you qualify for immigration to Norway and how easy the process will be depends on a few factors
- Your citizenship (EEA/EU vs Third-Country National)
- Your education, qualifications, experience,
- If you have a job offer,
- Your relationship with a Norwegian national
Immigration as an EU/EEA citizen:
If you are an EU/EEA citizen (or Swiss) you have the right to reside in Norway for 3 months without any other obligations. After 3 months you will need to demonstrate that you are meeting your treaty rights. Those treaty obligations are:
- Be employed (or registered as self-employed),
- Be a student,
- Be self-sufficient, or
- Be a job seeker actively seeking work with a decent chance at finding work (source).
NB: The last three require you to have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family and have comprehensive medical insurance for the duration of your stay. See FAQ below for more info.
The right of residence for longer than three months also extends to the EEA/EU citizen’s immediate family (spouse/partner, children, other dependents), regardless of their nationality, so long as the EU/EEA citizen is meeting their treaty obligations and neither the citizen nor the family member is a threat to public policy, security, or health. All of this is explained in Article 7 of the Directive on Free Movement.
It is important to note that people immigrating under this route do not qualify for the benefits found in the Introduction Law, which include, among other things, the right to free language lessons.
Immigrating as a Third-Country National (not from EU/EEA).
Your options for moving are not as simple or easy as above. I am using an applicant from the US as the default here. You should consult UDI (Norwegian Immigration Board) or the Norwegian Embassy in your country for the most up-to-date information for your specific nationality.
Generally speaking you need a reason to be in Norway. These reasons are:
- Family member of a Norwegian national
- Family member of an EEA/EU national
- A worker
- A student
- Protection (Asylum seeker). I will not spend time on this; it has its own complicated rules and I highly doubt anyone seeking asylum will be spending their time on reddit. If you are, I really recommend seeking out an immigration lawyer to help you with your application.
Family immigration with a Norwegian National
These are most often spouses/cohabitants, but may also include children or parents under some circumstances.
The process for application is relatively straightforward with a little bit of reading on UDI's website and some document gathering.
- You must pay the application fee,
- Document your identity (passport),
- Have a valid marriage licence/certificate, or documentation that you have lived together legally for 2 or more years
- Have plans to live together in Norway,
- Not be in a marriage of convenience,
- You must both be over the age of 24,
- Your spouse/partner must make above a minimum income threshold per year pre-tax (this number frequently changes. Check UDI’s site). They will need to demonstrate they made a sufficient amount the year before you apply and demonstrate that they are likely to have the same amount the following year. They will need to provide contract of employment, pay slips, and a tax assessment notice. Additionally, they must not have received financial assistance from NAV in the last 12 months.
Note on income sources: under this route of family immigration, it is the onus of the sponsor to demonstrate that they make a sufficient income to support the family. This means that, regardless of the financial situation, the sponsor must make the minimum income; the third-country national's income/savings are not taken into consideration.
There are other circumstances that may require additional documentation (ie: evidence of military service). Check UDI for all the documents you'll need.
Family members who are granted residence based on this route will qualify for free language classes as part of the introduction act (link above).
NB: the rules may change if you have lived with the Norwegian citizen legally in another EEA/EU country. If this is the case, you may be allowed to choose between family immigration under Norwegian national law or residence card as a family member of an EU citizen (see above). Also see the differences between the two immigration schemes here.
If you are engaged to a Norwegian you can apply for a fiancé permit which will allow you to come into Norway for the purposes of getting married in Norway. You must be married within 6 months. After you are married you will have to apply for family immigration with your spouse (process described above). You can read about getting married in Norway here.
Only some people can apply from Norway. Others will have to apply from their home country via the embassy or consulate. Make sure you check with UDI to learn more.
Workers
There are many types of working permits. UDI’s webpage will outline all the possibilities available to you but the most common are skilled worker and seasonal worker.
Skilled workers are those who:
- Completed a vocational training programme of at least three years at upper secondary school level. NB: there must be a corresponding training programme in Norway.
- Completed a degree from a university or college (BA, BSc, BE, etc…)
- Special qualifications that you have obtained through long work experience, if relevant in combination with courses etc. A permit is only granted in such cases in exceptional circumstances. Your qualifications must be equivalent to those of someone who has completed vocational training.
Additionally, you must have received a concrete job offer from an employer in Norway, the job must normally be full-time (UDI will, at the time of writing, accept 80%), the job must have the same pay/conditions that is normal in Norway, and the job you are offered must require the qualifications as a skilled worker (and you must be qualified for the job).
If you do not fall into this category, you may qualify as a seasonal worker; however this route is considerably more difficult, usually temporary (<6 months), and your employer must prove that they cannot fill the position with a worker from Norway or the EEA/EU. You will need to be employed 100%, you will need a concrete job offer before you apply, and the job must be deemed season or holiday stand-in.
Those citizens who qualify as a skilled worker and who are coming from a country with a visa-free agreement with Norway you may be allowed to come to Norway as a skilled job seeker.
NB: You cannot work while you are searching for a job. This means that once you have a concrete job offer, you will need to apply for a residence permit as a worker and you cannot start working until your application has been approved.
Some international companies may post workers in Norway. You will still need a resident permit for workers; however, many companies will help with this process.
Studying in Norway
As of 2023, Norway no longer offers free tuition for international students (outside of the EEA/EU). This means that students from non-EU/EEA countries will need to pay tuition.
In order to qualify for a study permit, you need:
First and foremost, you need to be accepted to a recognized education institution, for example: university. The program of study must be full time (generally 60 stp / year). Few undergraduate programs offer education in English; therefore, the majority of programs will require Norwegian language proficiency (B2 level) before you can study.
You need to pay tuition either full or per semester. If you pay only the first semester, you need to demonstrate that you can pay the second installment. Your funding can come from a variety of sources including loans, own funds, or grants. In addition, you will need to demonstrate to UDI that you have sufficient funds to support yourself for the duration of your study. These need to be in a Norwegian bank account or in an account arranged by the education institution (you will have to talk to the school about this).
Your funding cannot be fully supporting by working while studying as there is a limit to the number of hours you are allowed to work. As an international student, you are only allowed to work 20 hours / week while studying.
Finally, the situation in your home country needs to be such that UDI believes you will return home when your studies are finished.
A study permit does not form the basis of Permanent residency. After you are finished your studies, you will have a small grace period to look for a job, however, if you do not receive a contract of employment, you will be expected to return home / leave the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. Do I really need to learn the language to live in Norway? | This is a frequently asked question on the subreddit (see this post for example). Some people can survive in Norway with only English, however, if you do not speak fluent English or if you wish to stay long term, you should learn the language. Your job opportunities, socialization opportunities, and immigration opportunities are limited if you do not learn the language. It is a significant part of integration into the country, and most people will expect a passable level of Norwegian skills after a few years of living here. If you want to get permanent residency, you need A2 level Norwegian (with a few exceptions); if you want citizenship, you need B1 (with a few exceptions). |
| 2. How do I learn the language? | r/norsk is a good start. Additionally, almost every municipality has an adult education centre where they offer Norwegian courses. If you are in the immigrant group who have both the obligation and right to Norwegian language learning, then these classes are often free for a set number of hours/years. If you only have the obligation, then these classes will not be free and you will have to pay. In addition to adult education centres, there are private institutions online or in person that you can take. Additionally there is a wide range of tools online and offline that can help you learn. |
| 3. Does Norway need XYZ workers? | This is a frequent question on this subreddit. Try the search function. Otherwise, do a search of finn.no or nav.no and see if there are a lot of positions for the job you are searching for |
| 4. What's the job market like in ZZZ town/city? | Check finn or nav to see what is available in the area you are interested in. Then considering looking at the unemployment rates. |
| 5. How do I get my education approved? | The directorate for higher education for most education. Helse Norge for health care workers. You do not need to wait until you are in Norway in most instances to have your education approved. It is a good idea to have all education from high school to university approved as you never know if you need to document that you have completed high school. It is important to note that not all education from outside of Norway will be approved on a 1:1 basis and you may find you are missing credits or even your whole degree might not be approved. |
| 6. I have lots of work experience from my home country, but not formal education, can I qualify as a skill worker? | Generally, no. There are exceptions for highly skilled workers in professions that are in demand. Additionally, these positions must not be able to be filled with Norwegian workers, European workers, or others living in the country. |
| 7. What documents from home should I bring | While it may not be required for most applications, from experience, it is a good idea to get a certified copy of some important documents from back home. Getting certified (and potentially notarized) copies of diplomas/transcripts, your birth certificate, divorce proceedings, etc… will potentially save you a lot of time, money, and annoyance as trying to get these things while you are abroad is much, much harder. |
| 8. Can I get a digital nomad visa? | No such thing exists in Norway at the time of writing. In order to work in Norway, regardless of where your place of employment is located, you need to have the right to work in Norway. This means a residence permit that allows for work, permanent residence, citizenship, or are a member of the EU/EEA and have worked out the tax obligations of working in one country while residing in another. |
| 9. I work from home / am self-employed, can I visit Norway on a tourist visa and work there? | No. A tourist visa does not grant you the right to work in Norway. Lying to the immigration board or the border patrol upon entry could result in a ban from the Schengen area for up to 5 years. |
| 10. I think Norway is a beautiful place and I love the culture. I am nearing retirement age, so how can I retire in Norway? | Depends. Are you an EEA/EU citizen? If so, meet your treaty obligations (see the above post under "self-sufficient") and move to Norway. Are you a third-country national? You cannot retire in Norway unless you have a legal right to already live in Norway. There is no option to be a self-sufficient third-country national in Norway. |
| 11. I am an EU/EEA citizen who wants to live in Norway as a self-sufficient person. What kind of health insurance do I need to qualify for "comprehensive sickness insurance"? | Honestly, no one knows. "Comprehensive sickness insurance" is up to each individual nation to decide what is "comprehensive." There is no private health insurance that is as comprehensive as a national insurance system. If a nation decides that "comprehensive" = the same coverage as national health system, then that leaves loopholes for immigration departments to deny applications. It is a matter of record that Norway has been warned by EFTA many times with regards to recognizing citizens' treaty rights (esp for non-economically active citizens). That said there is a European precedent – C-413/99 Baumbast. In this case, the EU courts found that, as long as the citizen is not a burden on the state, it would be disproportionate to refuse to recognize a citizen's right to reside in another member state. But there is no checkbox on immigration applications saying "I will not / am not a burden on the state's welfare system." Many people have been rejected on the basis of lacking comprehensive sickness insurance. Until someone challenges these rejections all the way up to the European court system, there is no need to clarify what "comprehensive" means. Note: sufficient funds in this scenario can come from any source including a third-country national's savings/income/other documented source (you may need to prove the sponsor has access to this money). |
| 12. What city should I move to? | First and foremost make sure you have the right to move to Norway. After that, your options are usually limited based on the immigration route you are following – most often connected to where your family, school, or job is located. If you are free to move wherever you'd like, then find a spot that seems to suit your lifestyle best. |
| 13. My grandparent(s) moved to XXX from Norway. Can I get citizenship? | No. Citizenship rules are based on parents, not heritage. Read the section on citizenship and take the checklist test to see if you qualify. |
| 14. I can't open a bank account because I don't have a D number. I cannot get a D number because I don't have an address. I can't rent an apartment without a bank account [screams into the void] | Yes, we know. it's a chicken and egg problem that makes the situation particularly hard for people arriving. Some landlords will be flexible and put the deposit in their own account, but this puts you at risk of losing that money if that landlord is not trustworthy. Similar situation exists for students. Right now there are no good answers, but there are workarounds. You can also ask to be verified on Finn which might help with getting responses. |
| 15. How do I find a house / apartment? | finn.no is pretty much the go-to source for anything in Norway, but especially finding housing. hybel.no is another source |
| 16. I found a job / employer who is interested in hiring, but they prefer people who already have a work permit. How do I get a work permit so a job will hire me? | Another catch 22, unfortunately. You need the job first. There's no chance you can get a permit without a job. However, some people may have the right to come to Norway to search for work. Check UDI for further info |
| 17. My partner and I have been together for several years, but have not lived together long enough to qualify as cohabitants, how can we move to Norway together? | Live together longer or marriage are your only options. |
| 18. I have been waiting for a response from UDI for a long time how, when will I find out | You can read about UDI Waiting Times here. They are constantly changing and are usually quite long. Remember that there is a difference between local police / embassy times and UDI's waiting times. Waiting times are often a result of large numbers of applications, improper or incomplete information in applications, and applications that have higher priority (refugee and asylum, for example). |
| 19. Can I get priority on my application? | Maybe. But most do not get priority. |
| 20. I have foreign education, where can I get it approved? | NOKUT formerly did this, but it has now been transferred to the department of education |
—
starkicker18
37 comments
Thanks for sharing this!
I was thinking to try to find a job and move in the future but based point 6 it does not seem realistic (I am software developer with degree in unrelated field with around 6 years of experience ). I even started learning the language in my free time. Maybe I should explore other options…
Something to note:
> Additionally, they must not have received financial assistance from NAV in the last 12 months.
There is an exception to this – NAV *permanent disability* is fine.
Source: Me, since that’s how I’m here. We just had to get a letter from NAV saying this was permanent, basically.
Ah good, now they can ignore the updated version.
Very well made post! Thank you so much for taking the time to help everyone with this! I have a few small suggestions for minor edits:
1. Regarding studying in Norway:
The change away from free tuition for everyone in 2023 carried an exception. If you have a close relation with a Norwegian citizen, then you may study without a tuition the same way as Norwegian citizens. To my understanding this includes close family members and husband/wife. If you qualify for this, then you also qualify for a scholarship and student loan from lånekassen as well
2. Regarding useful links:
This may be a bit tangential, but finn.no and hybel.no for finding accommodation may be relevant for a lot of people reading this guide. I saw you added finn.no for finding jobs, but I think it’s worth while to specify finn can be used for a lot more than that
3. Regarding question 3 in the table at the bottom:
“XXX workers” gave me a chuckle, and the format while I was on my phone didn’t let me see the right column for a little while. Might want to change the phrasing to avoid confusion haha
4. Regarding 20 hours of work next to your studies:
This one I’m very uncertain about, so just mentioning it in case. The way I understood the UDI page is that you automatically will be granted up to 20 hours of post time work next to your studies when you’re granted a student visa. The phrasing made it seem to me like you could potentially, upon applying for it, be granted more hours to work next to your studies
All this is just quick thoughts on the spirit of helpfulness. I’ve spent a lot of time looking into this as well and wish this post was present here one year ago. You’re helping a lot of people with this I think
Regarding the Skilled Job Seeker application as a Non EU/EEA citizen, I have three questions. (People who have been through the process could be very helpful)
1) UDI states that the money must be as main rule in a Norwegian bank account, but people cannot open a bank account without, at least, D Nummer. Can this money be in a relative’s account? (IE a cousin that is Norwegian citizen)
2) How much time does it usually take to receive an answer from UDI when I apply from Norway?
3) Is this visa usually approved or does it have high rejection rates?
Thank you very much in advance.
I think I’m misunderstanding something from point 11.
I’m an EU citizen who moved to Norway, under the self employed part of self sufficient. I pay into the Norwegian National Insurance, and I get my healthcare through it, no problems. As you said, UDI didn’t ask, and just accepted my application with a ‘welcome in’. Am I misunderstanding something?
Golden Visa – UDI will possibly side-eye you for this, but there is no residency requirement for starting a business in Norway. It SEEMS possible to ‘chicken and egg’ it. Register a business in Norway (Possibly with a lawyer’s help – this also qualifies the person for a D-number), have the business extend you an offer, use the offer as a basis for immigration. It’d be insanely expensive, but what golden visa isn’t? This is absolutely ‘talk to some really good lawyers in Norway’ territory, I’m unsure if it would work, but my experience setting my business up before I moved was suggestive. Of course, there’s also the ‘prove nobody else can do the job’ aspect, which isn’t exactly a simple one.
Thanks, after reading this guide, my desire and dream to move to norway as a tunisian fresh engineering graduate has completely died out.
Sadly complications are everywhere without external help deemed this dream unreal so its pointless to spend too much effort on it, sometimes things are not meant to be, ig.
I greatly appreciate this post and your OCD level of detail is just, beautifully satisfying – Tusan takk!
Is there a good reason why Europeans should change their drivers license to a Norwegian one?
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Thank you for the comprehensive post.
I have a question that confuses me more everytime I research it:
As an EU citizen I was advised by the employer to get an ID, which also is the D number, right? I was unable to book an online appt with the police, a send an email to enquire and also called them right after.
During the phonecall I explained my status for citizen (EU) and work (fulltime contract) and they booked an appointment for me with an imaginary phone number (epic). On the other hand, I received a reply to my email yesterday:
>Unfortunately there are currently no appointments available for EU/EEA registrations at Oslo Police district. As an EU/EEA citizen you will in any case have legal residence in Norway beyond three months if you exercise EU/EEA rights. A right of residence according to EU/EEA law beyond three months is not conditional on a registration certificate being issued by the authorities.
> If you need a personal number or a D-number you can contact the Tax office.
So, do I need to issue an ID with the police or should I contact the tax office to get a D number?
Edit: upon further checks I have now realised that the ID has nothing to do with the D Number, which is issued by the taxation authority/office.
[deleted]
Great if only I could land a job to save up and leave this place
This sounds really restrictive compared to the U.S.
tusen takk for this. very helpful!
Thanks for the informative post. Other than the ones applying to all EU/EEA citizens, would you know if there are any treaty-based rights or obligations for citizens of other Nordic countries? Also, would competent Swedish-language knowledge (around B1) be enough to fulfill the language requirements at all based on intelligibility?
Based on my understanding, eligibility for permanent residency in Norway requires three years of continuous residence under a legal resident permit. I am considering a two-year master’s program and anticipate that, with a post-graduate work permit, I may meet the minimum residence requirement for permanent residency.
Could you confirm if Norway employs a points-based system similar to the CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) in Canada or criteria comparable to those of the USCIS in the U.S.? Additionally, if I were to pursue a six-year program in Norway, would I qualify for permanent residency by my third or fourth year?
Thank you for this updated post!
Thanks a lot for this post !
When I see the answer of the frequently asked question 6, it makes me rethink the potential move… Been working for 8 years in IT, specialized in Network & Security but no formal education (only a certification – but not from high school).
Would you have any advice about knowing what would be the exceptions ?
Cheers !
Am I missing where there’s a link for the citizenship checklist? I’m on mobile so the formatting is hard to view.
I have a bit of a different question. All necessary info is in this post, for which I’m very thankful, but how … realistic would it be for someone like me (and my girlfriend) to move to Norway at some point in the future? Context:
EU citizen, lived in Germany for 10 years so far and fluent in german alongside english. Studying IT at uni (my gf is also a uni student). I’m also studying norwegian as much as I can on my own. So let’s say, 5-6 years in the future when I’m done studying and have ideally spent some time working in IT and have gotten comfortable in communicating in norwegian. How easy or realistic would it be for me to make the move to, for example, Bergen?
Sorry if it’s too difficult of a question to answer lol, I’m just trying to keep myself grounded and not romanticize the idea.
I need a form for immigrating out. I don’t wanna be in this country where you cannae delete your medical records from Helse Norge. I even said to them that I don’t wanna be in the health system to ease the burden on the national health staff. BUT they don’t listen. Please make another pin that’s better (or batter if you prefer making a waffle, pancake, brownie, gulkake, gulrotkake or something good tasting for the tongue for me in the process), thank you.
This is a fantastic and useful post for moving to Norway, thank you so much!
I would live to ask, if I am registered resident in Sweden with a person-number and recognised education there, can this make my move to Norway easier? Can my recognition of qualifications be accepted in Norway if I produce the Swedish recognition? I am an EU citizen. Thank you 🙂
What are the chances of getting the skilled worker approve after it was denied and appealed with the help of lawyer immigration?
Do EU citizens need to have a job that covers a specific % of part time/full time as well? Or any kind of job is valid? Thank you!
does anyone know if you are in Norway on a study visa, (bible studies) and receive a concrete job offer, can you cancel the study visa and process the work visa, or do you need to see out the original visa before you can get the work permit?
With regards to citizenship applications for individuals from EU, EEA or Switzerland, please remember to note that you are not allowed to be more than two months in total outside of Norway per calendar year – this includes short weekend trips, work-related travels, and so on, even if it is inside Schengen. If you your days abroad exceed 62 days per year, then you have to wait at least three more years if you want to apply. I got some good explanation in the thread here: [https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1i9nwyg/statsborgerskap_og_utenlandsopphold_for_eusøkere/](https://www.reddit.com/r/norge/comments/1i9nwyg/statsborgerskap_og_utenlandsopphold_for_eusøkere/)
Hi this is tangentially immigration related so I will post it here. Does anyone know how to/ where to lodge a complaint against an immigration officer based in a police station. I’m unsure if they’re employed by UDI or the local police and don’t know how to proceed. I’m also very unsure if this warrants a complaint as I’m not the type of person to make a big deal out of things like this and normally just let stuff slide. I will post the situation below as I really want to know if it’s something I should bring up.
I was at the appointment to hand in documents related to my family visa and the officer mistakenly gave me the wrong information, for those unaware the amount of income needed for family immigration has risen dramatically (from 340,000 to 396,000nok) however as I have come to find out this change only affects those who submit and pay for their application online after Feb 1st. As I applied online of December 30th and UDI updates their income around May each year I was a little taken aback by the increase and asked if they were sure and they looked at me as if I had two heads, and then said that I might be unable to apply as my partner (who is currently studying) did not make the requirement. I had to show them on the website where it states that as my partner has been in full time post secondary education for the last year and will remain in education for the coming year that as per their website my employment in Norway is taken into consideration when assessing if the income requirement has been satisfied. If I had not been meticulous about checking the website requirements relating to the income exceptions and shown them I don’t know if they would have let me applied. In addition to this they gave me the wrong information about the income requirement saying that I was under the new 396,000nok rule instead of the previous requirement. I have since managed to contact a UDI representative to state that due to the time I submitted the application I am grandfathered in. Maybe I’m making a big deal about this but they essentially gave me the wrong information relating to two pretty large parts of my application and if I was someone who was less obsessive about checking the requirements I very well could have not submitted. At the same time I always want to give people grace, however isn’t knowing this their job? Or if their job is merely to process the paperwork is it inappropriate for them to state that I might not even be allowed to submit?
Sorry this is so long.
Is OET accepted in Norway for doctors or should I give IELTS
How long can I stay in Norway with a family visa?
I’m still too young for this stuff but I’m happy that it’s easier When you live in the EU
Question please:
I am new to this forum and my wife and myself are looking to finally move Oslo after having been there countless times. She is from Bergen and has dual passports/Citizenship (Norway-USA). We live in the USA and have been married 31+ years and our 20’s age daughters also are dual- I am the only one with USA citizenship.
We are trying to determine the fastest/smartest way for my wife and myself to move there and the flow of paperwork. We suspect it might be best for her to go to Oslo first to find a job – and then I would try to follow 6+ months later.
I have pulled up the UDI family immigration form. Do you agree that our time frames to immigrate MIGHT be shorter if she is actually there and employed – or should I submit the form NOW even before she has actually moved there and gotten a position? What kind of times frame ranges are we currently looking at after submission? Is is easier when you have been married for so long and all of her family lives in Norway? Also her dad in Oslo had a stroke and is in very poor health.
Question about permits:
My spouse and I both come from a country outside of EU/EEA, and we both have skilled worker permits in Norway as PhD candidates. Only difference is that mine lasts for 3 years, and hers for 4 years (she got an extra year for duty work purposes). Currently, I have about 4 months left to finish my PhD, which coincides with the expiration date in my residence card. I have no job prospects yet, but I’m willing to stay in Norway if the opportunity arises. At the very least, I want to stay with my spouse for the remaining duration of her PhD.
Looking around the UDI website, I came across two possibilities of permits that could apply to my case:
– Job seeker with a non-expired residence permit as a skilled worker: I suppose I fulfill all the requirements for this one, and it can be granted for one year which is ideal. However, I’ve heard from colleagues from my country of origin in a similar situation as mine that it might take forever to be granted, and that there are no guarantees regarding duration (and in some cases the application could even be rejected). I’m afraid of applying to this one and be kept waiting indefinitely, since I don’t know the consequences of staying in Norway with an expired permit, nor if I’d be able to e.g. come back after travelling to my home country in this situation.
– Family immigration with cohabitant: This one relies on the extra time my spouse already has, so I suppose I’d be granted the one year. We’re not married but have lived together for many years, so we definitely fulfill the “cohabitants” requirement (although we’d need to sort out documentation to certify that). I don’t know anyone in a similar situation who has applied for this one, so I’m unsure about waiting times and success rate.
I’m posting this here to ask if anyone has an opinion on which permit I should apply to between these two, and if I have reason to worry about sticking around with an expired permit while waiting for a response, or in the worst case not being allowed to stay with my spouse the extra year given the circumstances. Of course I’m actively looking for jobs now to facilitate things, but no luck thus far. I’m grateful for any help you guys can provide on the matter!
NB: A permanent residence permit could be another option since I’ve been continuously living here for almost three years, but I don’t fulfill the Norwegian and social studies requirements yet. Perhaps my spouse can apply for it later since she has more time for these things, which would help my case as well, but I’d still need something to keep me afloat until that point…
Has anyone applied for a residence visa (family reunification, and/or engagement) through VFS Global? That’s where UDI tells Americans to go. I’m on my 8th month waiting with 0 changes to my status on my UDI portal. Was wondering what others’ experiences have been and how long your wait times were.
Hi! My name is Ivan and I moved to Norway 2 years ago from Russia. I have an engineering job in Oslo. What I describe below is what I see through the lance of my personal experience and perhaps this will help others to make decision on whether or not to relocate to Norway. I won’t share how great Norway is, this you will need to explore yourself 🙂 will give just a few highlights which I believe important and good to know.
1. I definitely recommend to visit Norway first before relocating. The reason is you will get to see different cities, areas, nature, and then it will be easier for to decide where to land. If you want to have more city life, then your choice falls towards Oslo or Bergen or perhaps Stavanger. If you wish to have more countryside and outdoor vibe with less people going out on Fridays, then you will end-up in smaller cities which are plenty in Norway 🙂
2. Before relocating, I’d strongly recommend to plan your budget. Everything is expensive in Norway. But wages are good too.
3. If you have an engineering degree then I’m sure finding a job won’t be too hard. English is common in Norway, everyone speaks well. If your future workplace is an international company, you will be fine with English. If company is Norwegian or works with Norwegian customers, you will need to learn language first.
4. Norwegian culture is fantastic. People are kind, humble, have a self respect, treat others equally and mostly are very fun. Traditions are mixed with modern vision on life in a very nice way. I love this balance, it is very nice to see how they managed to keep it.
5. People do a lot of sport and you will learn how to ski even if you didn’t plan to 🙂
6. I leave this link with funny video about Norway. There is a lot of self irony and it is very nice. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebqdwQzmSHM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebqdwQzmSHM)
Wish all luck with relocation process!
Hei hei,
I just wanted to get appointments for the police and tax admin. But I noticed the UDI website has changed, it no longer let’s you reserve a police appointment without an application submitted -> but that can not be submitted with a moving date in the future -> So you cannot plan the police appointment in advance anymore…
I managed to get Skatteetaten appointment few days after my move, but will attend that without police confirmation -> But that should be fine if I show my right of residence as EU citizens on the same grounds as I would at police, right?
The Skatteetaten is the one to give out Fødselsnummer, yes? That’s the important one for further buearocracy.
Is it fine to register with police many weeks after I’ve already been to Skatteetaten?
HI,
I’m a 38-year-old finance/banking professional currently residing in another EU country. I’m considering relocating to Norway and would appreciate any advice on the best route to find a job in the finance/Banking sector there.
From what I’ve gathered in this forum, it seems that securing a jobs interview or even job offer before moving is a viable option. Also, I’ve read about temp agencies and how they could help integrate first to land a permanent job.
Edit: Added information about the potential benefits of using temp agencies to secure permanent jobs.