Losing a permanent residence permit

Reasons why you can lose a permanent residence permit

• You have stayed abroad for too long

  You cannot live outside Norway for more than two years

  You can lose your permanent residence permit (your permanent residence permit may lapse) if you stay abroad for too long.

  • You cannot stay abroad for a continuous period of two years or more.
  • You cannot have multiple stays that total two years or more during a four-year period.
    • Stays lasting less than two months per calendar year are not deemed to constitute stays abroad in this context.
    • If you stay in Norway for a continuous period of 15 months, you can stay abroad for a new period of up to two years.

  Exemptions that allow you to keep your permanent residence permit

  In some cases, you may keep your permanent residence permit if you have stayed abroad for too long.

  Exemption for British citizens and family members of British citizens

  As a British citizen or as a family member of a British citizen with permanent right of residence, you may qualify for an exception in the following situations:

  • If you have a permanent residence permit granted under the Brexit regulations, you may stay outside Norway for up to five consecutive years without losing your residence permit. This is a right you have and is not something you can apply for. If you stay outside Norway for more than five years, you will lose your permanent residence permit, and you cannot apply to stay outside Norway beyond this period.
  • If you have a permanent right of residence under the EEA regulations, but do not have a permanent residence permit, you can have had a continuous stay outside Norway of up to five years before 31 December 2020. In this case, you still have the right to a permanent residence permit, even if you no longer have a permanent right of residence.

  Exemption for those who have been abused in a relationship

  If you have been abused in a relationship, you may qualify for an exemption. To qualify, you must meet these four requirements: 

  • You must previously have had a residence permit in Norway for family immigration with a spouse, partner or cohabitant.
  • You have, against your will, been unable to return to Norway
  • You, or your child, have been a victim of domestic abuse. By abuse, we mean that you are a victim of physical or psychological violence
  • Your relationship with your spouse or cohabitant must now be finished.

  You must contact Norwegian authorities as soon as possible to give information about your situation.

  The exemption does not cover children who, against their will, have been unable to return or unmarried persons over the age of 18 who have been kept from returning by their parents or others.  

  What happens if I have been outside Norway for too long?

  If the UDI believes there are grounds for the lapse of your permanent residence permit, you will receive a prior notice from the UDI asking you to provide an explanation if the travel summary is incorrect.

  If you have been out of Norway for more than two years, this is grounds for lapse. This means that you must apply for a new temporary residence permit if you wish to continue living in Norway.

  If the UDI decides that your permanent residence permit will lapse, you will receive a decision from the UDI.

  You can appeal the decision to lapse a permanent residence permit, see Appealing a decision - UDI.

  You can apply to keep your permanent residence permit

  If you are going to stay outside Norway for more than two years and wish to keep your permanent residence permit, you must apply for permission.

• You have provided incorrect information

  If, during the application process, you have provided incorrect/incomplete information, or if you have intentionally withheld important information, and this was very important to the decision to grant your application, we can revoke your permanent residence permit.

• You have refugee status and you are convicted of a serious criminal offence

  If you are convicted of a serious criminal offence in Norway or abroad, you can lose your residence permit and be expelled from Norway. This also applies if we learn that you have committed war crimes.

  UDI will consider whether you will be expelled and lose your refugee status.

• You have refugee status and have travelled to your home country

  If you have refugee status and voluntarily have travelled to your home country, UDI will consider whether you will lose your residence permit. We will then assess the reason why you travelled to your home country to determine what will happen to your residence permit.

  When UDI considers whether you will lose your permanent residence permit, we always consider if you can be granted a different kind of residence permit.

  If you lose your permanent residence permit, but you are not granted a new residence permit on other grounds, you must leave Norway.

  This happens when we consider if you will lose your permanent residence permit:

  • You will receive a letter that explains that we are consider if you will lose your permanent residence permit. The letter will explain why we are considering this.
  • In the letter you will also be informed that you have the right to explain your situation. You will be informed how to do this. You may be assisted by a lawyer.
  • In some cases, UDI or the police will have a conversation with you where you will explain yourself. If you are summoned to a conversation, we recommend that you show up.
  • You will get the costs for a lawyer covered, but you have to find the lawyer yourself. You can for example use one of the lawyers on UDI’s list of lawyers.
  • If we decide that you are going to lose your residence permit, you can appeal to the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) (external website).