Residence Permits

Who must apply?

U.S. citizens do not need a visa to enter Norway or any other country that is part of the Schengen area. However, anyone who plans to stay in Norway or in Norway and other Schengen countries for more than 90 days must apply for a residence permit. Everyone, including applicants under 18 years of age, must submit their own form.

Scholars whose total stay in Norway is less than three months: You are not required to apply for a residence permit.

If you will be arriving very early, or if you think that your situation differs from the “standard” in any way, please contact us immediately. Contact us also if you receive contradicting information from other sources.

The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) is Norway's central executive body for immigration and refugees.

When to apply

You should submit your application absolutely no later than two months before arrival in Norway.

You may be told that it is possible to apply for a residence permit upon arrival. This is correct. However, we strongly recommend our grantees to apply well in advance. The most important reason for this is that the central unit of UDI has a shorter processing time than local police stations. You will also be able to open a bank account sooner. Also, some grantees have had to change their return ticket to the US due to lack of a residence permit upon departure from the U.S.

IMPORTANT

Before you submit your application:

Make a photocopy of your entire application and keep the copy for your own records
Notify us when you have submitted your application

When you receive the letter granting you a residence permit, carefully check information such as:

Birth dates, spelling of names, dates of residence in Norway
Notify the Norwegian Consulate AND the Fulbright Office immediately if there are any mistakes.

Upon arrival in Norway

You must register with the local police no later than seven days after arrival.
Bring your passport and the letter granting you a residence permit. Your actual residence permit will be pasted into your passport.
The Fulbright Office needs a copy of the passport page with the residence permit – both for grantees and for their accompanying dependents.

Where to submit the application

You should submit your application to a Norwegian Foreign Mission in the US: http://www.norway.org/visas/consulates/Consulates.htm

INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS

General Information about the Application

An application fee of NOK 1,100 must be paid upon application.
Use block capitals.
All dates should be written in the following format: dd.mm.yyyy (day.month.year). Where possible, write the month in letters to avoid confusion.
Documents to be included:
Proof of housing in Norway: copy of rental contract is accepted as documentation.
A copy of the Fulbright-Hays Grant Authorization.
Acceptance Letter from your host institution.
A copy of your birth certificate.
For other documents to be included, and more information about the application process, please visit: http://www.udi.no/Norwegian-Directorate-of-Immigration/Central-topics/Studies/Study-in-Norway/How-do-I-apply-for-a-residence-permit-for-students/.

Student Work Permit

A work permit is automatically granted with a valid residence permit. You can work up to 20 hours per week during the semester, and full time in vacations.
A student residence/work permit is usually granted for 12 months.
Accompanying spouses have to apply for a work permit separately.

How to Fill In the Form

Download form: Application for a residence permit or work permit, form no. GP-7028.
See http://www.udi.no/templates/PageURL.aspx?id=7525
Follow instructions on the form.
For information on residence permits for accompanying family members, see: http://www.udi.no/Norwegian-Directorate-of-Immigration/Central-topics/Studies/Family-immigration-with-a-student-in-Norway/

All necessary documentation must be supplied as certified copies of the original documents in their original language (if the language is other than English, an officially certified English translation should be included).

Funding

You must document sufficient funds in a Norwegian bank account for the time you plan to spend in Norway. In most cases, your Fulbright grant will be sufficient, and the only documentation you need to enclose is your Grant Award document. However: if your Fulbright grant is not sufficient, you will have to deposit money into a deposit account that we have opened for this purpose. Please read the instructions below carefully.

Single students: Applicant must possess a total of at least NOK 87 600 per academic year. This amount must be documented. If the amount on your Fulbright Grant Authorization is larger than this requirement, you do not have to provide further documentation. If your Fulbright grant is less than the requirement, please see instructions below for transferring the remaining amount to a deposit account that we have opened for this use.
Student with spouse/cohabitant: Applicant and spouse/cohabitant must possess a total of at least step 8 of the government payscale, as of May 1, 2009: NOK 217 600 (subject to change on May 1 each year) per academic year. If the amount on your Fulbright Grant Authorization is larger than this requirement, you do not have to provide further documentation. If your Fulbright grant is less than the requirement, please see instructions below for transferring the remaining amount to a deposit account that we have opened for this use.

If your grant amount is smaller than the required amount for funding, the remainder has to be transfered to a deposit account that we have opened for this purpose. The amount will be returned to you when you have a Norwegian bank account. Please contact us if your grant amount is smaller than the required amount for funding. Important: If you are in this category, and you already have a Norwegian bank account, please let us know immediately. You may be able to transfer the remaining amount to your own bank account rather than to our deposit account.

Information for Scholars:

General Information about the Application

An application fee of NOK 1,100 must be paid upon application.
Use block capitals.
All dates should be written in the following format: dd.mm.yyyy (day.month.year). Where possible, write the month in letters to avoid confusion.

Duration of Residence Permit

It is possible to apply for a 12-month permit as long as you can show that you have sufficient funding (see below). Scholars whose projects last for 9-10 months should apply for a 12-month permit if they wish to remain in Norway/the Schengen area for vacationing etc. after the completion of their Fulbright project.

How to Fill In the Form

Download form: Residence or Work Permit - GP-7028 http://www.udi.no/templates/PageURL.aspx?id=7526
Select "The reason for the permit is to study" as the grounds on which you are applying for a permit.
Follow instructions on the form.
See below for information on residence permits for accompanying family members.

Documents to be included:

Letter of invitation from your Norwegian host institution
A copy of the Fulbright-Hays Grant Authorization
Documentation for how the year is financed (this is your Fulbright-Hays Grant Authorization + any other documentation of finances, as needed). See below for further information on funding.
Proof of housing in Norway: copy of rental contract is accepted as documentation.
Any other relevant documentation

Funding

Single scholars and scholars with accompanying dependents (spouse and/or children): Applicant must possess a total of at least step 8 of the government payscale, as of May 1, 2009: NOK 217 600 (subject to change on May 1 each year) per academic year.

This amount must be documented. If the amount on your Fulbright Grant Authorization is larger than this requirement, you do not have to provide further documentation. If your Fulbright grant is less than the requirement, please see instructions below for transferring the remaining amount to a deposit account that we have opened for this use.

Deposit Account

Accompanying Family Members (dependents)

Application fee: NOK 3,000 (dependents under the age of 18 do not have to pay an application fee)
A separate form must be filled out for each accompanying family member. Use the form Residence or Work Permit, form no. GP-7028.
See http://www.udi.no/templates/PageURL.aspx?id=7526.
We strongly recommend that the family member(s) submit their applications at the same time that the main person (student/researcher) submits his/hers. Failure to do so will result in a longer processing time.
Please see the information above on the financial requirements for funding for accompanying family members.
More information: http://www.udi.no/Norwegian-Directorate-of-Immigration/Central-topics/Studies/Family-immigration-with-a-student-in-Norway/

The following documentation (in addition to the documentation mentioned above) should be enclosed with the “family immigration” application:

Spouse

Certificate of marriage
Documentation of accommodation suited for two persons or a family.

Cohabitant

Documentation that the parties have lived together for at least two years. The documentation should preferably be issued by a public instance, e.g. corresponding to the National Register. Tenancy agreement for common accommodation may also be accepted.

Children

Birth certificate that states the names of the parents.

Family Members who will visit for shorter periods

For U.S. citizens, the total length of residence in the Schengen territories without a residence or work permit must not exceed three months (90 days) in any six-month period. You are free to travel in and out of the Schengen area during the six-month period as long as you do not overstay the total 90-day limit.