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You have stayed abroad for too long - UDI

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.