Some applicants who have family in Norway can choose between applying for a family immigration permit or a residence card for family members of EU/EEA nationals.
Provide information about you and your family member to check whether you must apply for one of the schemes or if you can choose between the two.
If you have the option to choose between the two schemes, you should check which suits you the best.
Short overview: Advantages and disadvantages to the two schemes
Family immigration
- You can apply for a permanent residence permit after three years in Norway. Some are required to have lived in Norway for at least five years before applying for a permanent residence permit.
- You must pay an application fee.
- You have rights under the Norwegian Integration Act ("Integreringsloven", only available in Norwegian). (external website) Among other rights, you have the right to Norwegian language training. You can read more about this on IMDi’s website (external website).
- The reference person must have an income of
NOK 416 512 per year pre-tax
. In addition, the reference person’s income last year must have been at about the same level. Please check the income requirements, what types of income are included, and whether you can be exempted from any of the requirements.
Residence card
- You can apply for permanent right of residence after five years in Norway.
- No application fee.
- The reference person's income level requirement for a residence card is lower than the requirement for a family immigration permit.
- If you wish, you can apply for a family immigration permit at a later time.
- You are not subject to the Norwegian Integration Act ("Integreringsloven", only available in Norwegian) (external website)