Frequently asked questions about study permits

If you wish to study in Norway, you must have been accepted to an approved full-time education.

Learn more about the requirements, how you apply and where to hand in your application.

See our estimated wait time for study permit applications.

Read more about booking and attending an appointment.

We aim to provide all applicants with an answer before you plan to start studying. See our estimated wait time for study permit applications.

You do not have to worry if other applicants have already received an answer to their application and you have not received an answer yet. Wait times can often vary, and some applicants receive an answer sooner than others.

Some people who apply for a study permit can submit their application in Norway or travel to Norway before receiving an answer to their application.

If you are an immediate family member of someone who holds a residence permit as a student in Norway, you can apply for a family immigration permit. Generally, immediate family members who apply for family immigration are the spouse, cohabitant or child of someone who lives in Norway.

Learn more about the requirements, how to apply and where to hand in the application.

Generally, we do not grant residence permits for Norwegian language courses.

Exceptions can be made if the language courses are part of a study programme in Norwegian language or Nordic language studies, that you started in your home country. The Norwegian language course must be held at university college or university level at an approved educational institution.

One of the requirements for a residence permit as a student, is that you have enough money to provide for yourself.

Read more about what is considered sufficient funds, how to apply and where to hand in your application.

Go to our guide to waiting time for study permits.

You do not have to worry if other applicants have already received an answer to their application and you have not received an answer yet. Wait times can often vary, and some applicants receive an answer sooner than others. See our estimated wait time for study permit applications.

Some people who apply for a study permit can submit the application in Norway or travel to Norway before they have received an answer. Read more about who can travel to Norway before they have received an answer here.

After you have submitted your application and the status is «form completed», it is not possible for you to make changes to the application. However, when you hand in your application documents, you can ask the police, VFS Application Centre or the embassy to edit this information for you.

Here you can find contact information for Norwegian embassies and the various police districts in Norway.

If you have been granted one of the following types of permit, your spouse or cohabitant and children can apply for family immigration permit:

• study permit to study at a university or university college
• residence permit for a Norwegian language course for skilled workers
• residence permit for additional education

If you hold another type of study permit, your family cannot apply for family immigration.

In some cases, you may lose your residence permit.

Losing a permit means that UDI has decided to revoke your residence permit, making it invalid. If your permit is revoked, you will either no longer be allowed to live in Norway or you will be granted a new residence permit and your residence period in Norway will restart.

There may be different reasons why you lose your residence permit, for example, if you:

• do not study
• live outside of Norway for more than a total of six months in one year
• work more than your permit entitles you to

Here you will find more information about revoking a residence permit.

• If you are granted a study permit, you are automatically also granted permission to work part-time for up to 20 hours per week, including remote work, in addition to your studies and full-time during holidays.
• You can apply for a permit to work full-time during the academic year if the work is part of your education plan. You have to ask for this in writing when you apply, or later.
• You can not be self-employed or run your own business in Norway

You can travel into and out of Norway for as long as the permit is valid, but you must live in Norway for at least a total of six months each year.

What is a residence card?

A residence card is a credit-card-sized plastic card that proves that you have been granted a residence permit in Norway. The police will order a residence card for you.

If you have applied while in Norway, you might receive your residence card without meeting at the police station again. If this applies to you, the police will send you the residence card by post. This means that you do not have to book an appointment. Read below to find out when you must book an appointment.

What do I need to do to receive the card in the mail?

• If you are a new postal recipient in Norway: fill in this form (external website, opens in new window) and hand it in at a post office or in-store post office. Remember to bring identification.
• If you are already a registered postal recipient, check that your correct postal address is registered with Posten (external website). The site requires login with BankID or MinID.
• Make sure you have your name on your letterbox, otherwise you will not receive the card. If the card gets lost in the post, it will take some time to get a new one.
• You should not book trips abroad until you have received your new residence card.

How long will it take to get the card?

It will take at least 20 working days from your appointment with the police until you receive the card in the post. 

You must book an appointment to get a residence card:

• If you have applied from abroad.
• If you have an expired Norwegian alien's passport or refugee travel document which you have not already given to the police.
• If your application was submitted by another person with a power of attorney (i.e. you must book an appointment with the police yourself to get a residence card).
• If you have applied for a residence permit in accordance with the Brexit regulations (you will be notified to book an appointment after your application has been processed).
• If you have applied for protection for the first time with the police, the police will summon you to class. You do not have to book an appointment yourself.

At the police station, the police will take a photo of you and register your fingerprints.

How do I book an appointment?

Booking an appointment online

If you filled out and submitted the application online, you can now log in to book the appointment.

Booking an appointment by phone

If you did not fill in an online application form when you applied for a residence permit, you must instead call your local police district to book an appointment. UDI cannot help you to book an appointment.

You can apply for renewal by handing in an application to the police where you live. You must apply for renewal at least one month before your permit expires.

Learn more about the requirements, how you apply and where to hand in your application.

Read about our waiting times for application for renewal.

If your application is rejected, you can appeal the decision.