Non-EU/EEA citizen
Requirements to live and work in Norway for citizens from countries outside the EU/EEA.
Main content
Citizens from countries outside the EU who are relocating to Norway must complete two steps:
- Visa application/registration process/work permit
- Residence card
If you can visit Norway visa-free, you are allowed to come to Norway without a residence permit. However, you are not allowed to start working in Norway before the residence permit has been granted.
Step 1
The application for a residence permit to Norway includes an online registration and handing in documents at an embassy/application centre. You normally apply from your home country but you may also apply from another country if you are a citizen or have had a residence permit during the last six months in this country. The application is done from want to apply to visit or live in Norway of the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI).
Registration process
From most countries you fill in an online application form. The digital form is not available in some countries, but you will be notified of this during the application process.
Guide for the online registration form:
- In the visa application, enter the country of your citizenship and click "Choose".
- In the next step, choose the "Work immigration", then the "Skilled workers" and, finally, the "Skilled worker with an employer in Norway".
- Study the displayed information carefully, then click "How to apply".
- As a first thing, you will be asked if you would like for the employer to apply on behalf of you. Choose "No" if not otherwise agreed upon.
- In the next step, you are asked if you are already in Norway and wish to hand in the application here. Choose "No, wish to apply from abroad" and enter the country in which you are legally residing. Note: Only under very special circumstances may non-EU/EEA nationals may apply for a residence permit from Norway. If this is the case for you, contact euraxess@uib.no for advise.
- Print out the Checklist for skilled worker and click "Go to the application form".
- In the next step, choose "Completed higher education" and then click "Continue".
- This will take you to the UDI application portal.
- Read carefully all the "Introduction and Rights and duties" steps.
- If you are the one doing your own application, answer "I who personally am applying for a residence permit in Norway".
- In the "Type of work" step, they will ask you similar questions as before. Choose "I want to submit a new application for residence for work" and "No" under "Do you have a valid residence permit in Norway?". Choose again skilled worker and that you have an employer in Norway for the rest of the questions.
- Fill in your personal and citizenship information. In the contact information section you are asked to indicate your planned address in Norway. If this is not yet clarified, use the address of your UiB department/center.
- For "Who will hand in the appliation documents" choose "Employee" and then "Outside Norway".
- The next steps should be straightforward. For the "Work details" section you are asked to provide the organization number of UiB; this is 874 789 542.
- When you reach the Meeting point section, you should choose "the employee" as the one who will hand in the documents, "from abroad", and select the country where you live to choose where to hand in your application.
- Check the information, tick the boxes, pay the application fee and follow the instructions on how to book an appointment for submitting the documents. Make sure to bring all the documents required in the checklist to this appointment.
- When your residence permit is granted, you will also be issued a visa so you may enter Norway. Once you have your visa you can start planning your arrival to Norway.
- When you know your arrival date you can start checking for appointments at the SUA office (book through UDI webpage).
Once you are in Norway and have booked your appointment with the police at SUA, you may be able to start working immediately. Check for updated information from UDI to see if this is an option for you.
Family immigration
We recommend that family members apply together/at the same time.
Guide for the online registration form:
- When spouses apply at the same time and your spouse is not a EU/EEA citizens or has permanent residency, you should choose "Application forms for citizens of all countries".
- Choose "family immigration".
- Choose the correct category for your situation.
- If your spouse does not have a residence permit in Norway choose "No" for the option "Is your spouse a Norwegian citizen, a Nordic citizen or does your spouse have a permanent residence permit in Norway". A new option will appear. Choose the right answer. If you select "No" the option: "Does your spouse have a residence permit as a student in Norway/researcher with own funds, or is your spouse applying for this kind of permit?" will appear.
- Complete the application form.
All applicants (including minors) needs to present at the ID-controll with the police at SUA.
How to apply from Norway
In some cases it is possible to apply for a residence card when you are already in Norway, check your options at UDI. The processing time is the same as if applying from abroad, and you cannot start working until your permit is granted.
If you choose this option, the online registration is similar but when choosing which municipality you are applying from, choose "Bergen" and then "Vest police district, Bergen immigration office" for the location for handing in the application.
Step 2
Appointment at SUA
Once you have arrived in Norway and have booked your appointment at SUA, you can finalise your residence permit. The following will be done at SUA
- Finalising your residence permit
- Ordering a residence card
- Issuing a Norwegian ID number
For this appointment bring:
- Your passport
- A property purchase or rental contract valid for at least 6 months. If the rental contract is older than 3 months, you must also bring confirmation from the owner that the contract is still valid. If you have changed your address in Norway since you applied for a residence permit, you must inform the police about this when you meet there, so that the correct residence address is registered in the National Population Registry.
- If you are working for the University, bring your UiB employment contract. If the contract is older than 3 months, bring confirmation from your faculty that the contract is still valid.
- All the originals from the application for residence permit. It is not common that you will have to show these papers, but you are required to bring them in case the police would like to do a random verification.
SUA is located at Nonnesetergaten 5. At the centre: Meet at the given time. Wait until the police calls your name. The police will check your ID, take your picture and finger print for the residence card.
After the appointment
Approximately 2-3 weeks after your appointment you will receive two letters, one from the police containing the residence card and another from the Tax Administration containing your 11 digit Norwegian ID number.
Make sure you can receive post, and that your name is written clearly on the mail box at the address you have given to the police.
With the ID number you must apply for a tax card online:
When you have received your Norwegian ID number, you must send the ID number to the payroll office at post@lonnskontoret.uib.no so they can register you correctly and correct your tax deduction rate. You may also open a Norwegian bank account.
Apply for your visa in good time
Processing time can change. Currently there is up to 4 months processing time. You can check UDI webpages for updates on this.