How to Obtain a Residence Permit in Norway

A residence permit or long-stay visa in Norway is usually obtained by people who have sufficient qualification to find work in this country. With one of the lowest rates in unemployment the Norwegian government makes all it takes to integrate foreign nationals who intend to move in this country.

Our law firm in Norway is ready to assist foreign investors and workers in the process of application for a residence permit in Norway. 

Who is required to apply for a residence permit in Norway?

A Norwegian residence permit is required for the following categories of applicants in 2026:

• citizens of a country that is not a part of the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA);
• people who intend to stay in Norway for a long period of time;
• It is also possible to live and work in Norway without a residence permit if you are from the EU or EEA. In this case, if you plan to stay longer than 90 days, you must register with the local police office.

Our immigration lawyers in Norway are at your service if you need support in drafting the paperwork related to moving here. We also offer assistance if you meet the requirements for permanent residency in Norway and decide to apply for it.

Types of residence permits in Norway in 2026

A residence permit in Norway can be granted either for temporary or permanent stay in this country. A permanent residence permit in Norway allows you to live and work in this state indefinitely and it also protects foreign nationals against expulsion. The conditions to apply for this type of permit are a minimum stay of three years in the country in legal conditions, good knowledge of the language and a list of the travels in and from Norway during the past three years. 

According to the laws on immigration to Norway a foreign national who has a relative in this country can apply for a residence permit on this ground. This type of permit covers family immigration and offers to people from outside Norway the possibility to join their relatives in this state.

Students must comply with specific requirements for the obtaining of a residence permit. For periods longer than three months, students can apply for the permit and they are allowed as well to get employed for a maximum of 20 hours per week. 

Our attorneys in Norway can give you further details on the residence permit types and ways of obtaining them. We can also assist in obtaining permanent residency in Norway in 2026.

We also have an infographic in which you can discover more about this subject:

List of requirements for obtaining a residence permit in Norway

When starting an application for a residence permit with the help of our immigration lawyers in Norway, the applicant needs to prepare a specific documentation containing the following documents:

• A recent passport photograph;

• Photocopies of all the pages of the passport which contain stamps or visas;

• Declaration concerning travels done in the last three years (for permanent residence permits);

• Certificate proving your command of the Norwegian language;

• Documentation on your previous permit (if there is the case).

From the 1st of September, 2025, and going forward into 2026, it will be a requirement for those wishing to obtain a permanent residence permit in Norway to pass an oral Norwegian language test at least at the A2 level, as well as a social studies test in a language they understand. This is a new requirement, replacing the old one that required applicants to take Norwegian language and social studies courses, as is the new Norwegian policy on assessing the language and Norwegian society knowledge of applicants wishing to obtain permanent residence permits in the country.

Immigration to Norway is one of the main services provided by our lawyers. From temporary to long-term residence permits, our specialists can help you secure your right to live here legally. Provided that you meet the requirements, you can also rely on us for support in applying for citizenship when the time comes.

Types of temporary residence permits in Norway

One of the best ways of moving to Norway in 2026 is by first obtaining a temporary residence permit. Fortunately, this option is quite flexible, as there are several types of purposes under which it can be obtained.

Temporary residence permits are divided into:

• work visas that can be employed for living and working in Norway;
• student visas that enable you to live and study here;
• family visas available for relocating to Norway and living with family members established here.

You can apply for residency in Norway if you meet certain requirements. In most cases, similar conditions apply for citizens from non-EU countries. For this purpose, you must intend to stay in Norway for a longer period of time. Also, if you are a citizen of an EU or EEA country, you do not require a residence permit.

Each type of permit has its particularities that also enable immigration to Norway on a permanent basis. However, to obtain permanent residency in Norway, you must meet the minimum living criteria which is 3 years.

Conditions to obtain a residence permit in Norway

As mentioned earlier, each type of residence permit comes with its own requirements. Briefly, here are the main aspects to consider:

• if you are relocating for employment, you must be employed by a Norwegian company and have a minimum wage;
• if you are relocating as a student, you must be accepted into a Norwegian university and have the means to support yourself while living there;
• if you come with a family reunion visa, you must be a close relative (spouse, partner, or child) of Norwegian resident who and is able to support you financially.

In terms of documents, various papers need to be prepared. For this purpose, you can rely on our immigration lawyers in Norway.

Residency by employment in Norway

Foreigners can apply for residence visas as skilled workers if they have finished higher education or vocational training. Usually, they must already have a job offer or be entrepreneurs.

One of the following forms of schooling or credentials is required when filing for residency by employment:

• a minimum of 3 years of upper secondary school-level occupational training, such as a health worker or carpenter;
• a finalized course or a degree from an academic institution, such as a bachelor’s degree in nursing or engineering;
• special qualifications or abilities gained through extensive experience, sometimes associated with schooling and training.

In the last case, applicants need to have worked for at least 6 years. For this purpose, they can provide work certificates from prior employers attesting to their knowledge and abilities.

Validity and renewal of the long-stay visa in Norway

If you are interested in immigration to Norway, you must know you will first be issued a temporary residence permit, which is also known as a long-stay visa. Its validity will range from 1 to 3 years, and it depends on:

• the reason for immigration;
• the decision of the immigration authorities, based on the documentation submitted.

Following the 3-year period, some applicants can become eligible for permanent residency in Norway. However, depending on the validity of the visa, renewal is required.

Renewal of a Norwegian long-stay visa implies:

• the maintenance of the conditions under which the initial resident card was issued;
• for the application to be filed prior to the expiry of the current visa.

The procedure is not complicated and can be completed with the help of our lawyers in Norway.

Procedure to obtain permanent residency in Norway in 2026

If you have lived in Norway for 3 years or more, you can apply for a permanent residence permit.

Here are the main conditions to satisfy:

• in the previous 3 years, you cannot have spent more than 3 months without a valid residence permit;
• you must have not left the country for more than 7 months in the previous 3 years;
• if you are aged between 18 and 67, you must pass an exam on social studies and the Norwegian language.

With respect to the procedure you need to complete to acquire permanent residency in Norway, here are the main steps:

• draft the necessary paperwork;
• complete online application form;
• pay the residence permit fee;

Depending on the city you live in, you need to file the paperwork at the service center for foreign employees or the local police department for residency permits and protection. You must let the authorities know that you have moved here if you want to stay for longer than 6 months. You must schedule a personal encounter with a tax office and go through an ID check. It is crucial that everyone in your family attend the private meeting at the tax office if you are migrating to Norway together. You must bring some supporting papers, such as an ID card, employment contract, etc. You will receive a Norwegian identity number once you are officially registered as a resident of Norway. Also, in some countries, you are required to inform the national register that you have relocated to another Nordic nation.

Documents required to obtain permanent residency in Norway

After securing a long-stay visa for Norway and have also made sure you qualify for permanent residence, the set of documents to prepare for the latter are different. You will need to submit the following papers:

• proof of income, which can derive from various sources, starting with employment and even business ventures;
• proof that you did not obtain social benefits during your stay in Norway;
• proof of having passed the Norwegian language and social studies exams.

As you can read, you will need to have a good command of the Norwegian language even when applying for permanent residency, not only for citizenship.

You can rely on our Norwegian lawyers for guidance on where you can take classes and tests that attest to the basic knowledge requirements for permanent residency purposes.

Special considerations are available if you have obtained a long-stay visa for Norway through family reunion. In this case, you will also be required to file:

• a declaration regarding your relationship with the Norwegian resident/citizen;
• a copy of the ID/passport of the Norwegian partner;
• proof of the time spent abroad during the past 3 years.

Our law firm in Norway can help you apply for a permanent resident card.

How long does it take to have a residence permit issued in Norway?

Most immigration procedures are completed online in Norway. This means application for residence permit are also subject to reduced waiting times. This means around 8 weeks to obtain your card, provided your application file is complete.

If you want to ensure you will fall within this time frame, you can rely on our lawyers in Norway who can review your dossier and help you submit the necessary documents.

Immigration statistics in Norway

The population is expected to reach 6.15 million by 2050, having grown from 4,478,497 in 2000 to 5,550,203 in 2024. Moreover, Norway is rapidly aging, with the number of older persons predicted to overtake that of children and teenagers over the next 10 years. Age-wise:

• the population aged 45 – 66 increased by 9.1%;
• those aged 67–79 rose by 32.8%;
• those aged 80–89 increased by 27.1%;
•  those aged 90+ rose by 4.8% between 2015 and 2025.
  Norway is a desirable location for migrants due to its high salaries (average annual salaries exceeded EUR 59,370 in 2024) and consistently high ratings on living-standard and quality-of-life indices. Family ties, labor mobility, and economic stability are the key drivers of immigration.

Please feel free to contact our Norwegian lawyers, who can help you prepare your application for immigration in Norway. If you decide to apply for permanent residency in Norway, you can address our lawyers.