Visa and permits

Published Nov. 14, 2023 2:57 PM - Last modified Nov. 14, 2023 3:42 PM

For stays up to 90 days

  • If your intended stay in Norway is less than 90 days, you do not need to apply for a residence permit. 
  • However, depending on your nationality, you might need a visitor's visa to enter Norway. Check if this applies to you and how to proceed on the webpage Want to apply to visit Norway of the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI).
    People from EU/EEA do not need a visa.
  • Please note that an application for a visitor's visa must be supported by a written invitation by your host unit at NIH.
  • Foreign nationals staying in Norway for less than 3 months without formal employment by a Norwegian employer are considered tourists and must have their own travel insurance.
  • EU/EEA nationals should bring their European Health Insurance Card.
  • As a rule, anyone who receives salary from a Norwegian institution is taxable on the same basis as Norwegian citizens and must aquire electronic tax deduction. Read further information at Norwegian Tax Authority office (Skatteetaten).

For stays longer than 90 days

Nordic nationals

Swedish, Danish, Icelandic or Finnish nationals may stay and work in Norway indefinitely without a permit. However, if you plan to stay for more than six months or work, there are a couple of formalities you must follow up on upon arrival in Norway.

ID check and notification of change of address

If you plan to live in Norway for more than six months, you must visit a tax office for an ID check and submit a notification of move to Norway from abroad (skatteetaten.no) no later than eight days after your arrival in Norway.

Tax card

If you work in Norway, you must get a tax card, irrespective of the length of your stay.

Register at the Post office

To make sure that your personal letters reaches you (including letters from the tax office), it is highly recommended that you go to a post office/post-in-shop to register your address as soon as possible.

EU/EEA nationals

If you are an EU/EEA national and your intended stay in Norway is more than 90 days, you need to register with Norwegian authorities.

This is a two-fold process consisting of an initial online registration and a subsequent personal meeting with the immigration authorities upon arrival to finalise the registration.

Start the process before arrival

You are entitled to move to Norway and start working right away, provided you register within three months.

However, we strongly recommend that you start the registration process well in advance of your planned arrival in Norway. This will allow you to handle all the formalities upon arrival much faster and thus make your relocation experience far more efficient and smooth.

Registration process for yourself

To start the registration process, follow the instructions provided on the web page Residence according to the EU/EEA regulations (udi.no) by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). Here is some specific advise to help you along the way:

  1. On the initial web page Residence according to the EU/EEA regulations (udi.no), enter the country of your citizenship and press the Choose button.
  2. In the next step, choose Employee who is an EU/EEA national track if you are formally employed by NIH, or the EU/EEA national who has their own funds track if you are a guest researcher without formal employment.
  3. On the next page, study the displayed information carefully, then press the How to register button.
  4. In the next step you will be asked which municipality you live in. Here you write Oslo.
  5. If you register as an employee, note that your NIH employment contract satisfies the requirements listed in point 1 of the checklist so you do not need an employment certificate.
  6. Press the button Go to the application form. This will take you to the UDI application portal. Create a user if you do not already have one read the information, tick the disclaimer and click next page.
  7. Fill inn your personal information. As part of the registration, you will be asked to provide an address in Norway. If you do not know your address at this point, you can use the address of NIH.
  8. On the question When did you move to Norway choose todays date. Do this even if you have not moved to Norway yet. 
  9. In the personal information section, employees of the University will be asked to provide the organization number of NIH; this is 971526033.
  10. In order to finalize your registration, you will be asked to book an appointment with the Police.  For Oslo choose Oslo politidistrikt, Servicesenteret for utenlandske arbeidstakere. Book an appointment for the first available time slot after your planned arrival in Norway. It is important to make this booking as soon as possible as the first available time slot can be months into the future. If it is we recommend you log on the UDI portal regularly to see if you are ble to find an earlier time slots as cancellations will be instantly available in the portal.
  11. You find detailed information about this appointment and a list of the documents you need to bring with you at Finalising registration for EU/EEA nationals in the On arrival section.

Registration process for accompanying family members

Any documents on ID or family circumstances, like marriage certificate etc. must carry an apostille stamp from the issuing country. 

Registration of family members is dependent on the reference person's registration. To start the process, follow the instructions provided on the web page Residence according to the EU/EEA regulations by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). Here is some specific advise to help you along the way:

  1. On the initial web page Residence according to the EU/EEA regulations, enter the country of your citizenship and press the Choose button.
  2. In the next step, choose the Family member of an EU/EEA national track.
  3. Study the displayed information carefully, then press the How to register button.
  4. In the next step you will be asked which municipality you live in. Here you write Oslo.
  5. Read the information in the check list carefully. Again, be aware that all original documents like birth certificate etc must have an apostille stamp from the issuing country.
  6. Press the Go to the application form button.This will take you to the UDI application portal. Create a user if you do not already have one and tick the disclaimer. It is possible to use the same account for the whole family.
  7. In the Where to send your application section, choose Oslo Police district, FUF Service Center for Foreign Workers, provided that you will be living in Oslo. 
  8. As part of the registration, you will be asked to provide an address in Norway. If you do not know your address at this point, you can use the address of NIH of the reference person.
  9. In the Reasons for residency section, choose family member accompanying an European.
  10. In order to finalise your registration, you will be asked to book an appointment with the Immigration Office in the municipality you are moving to. Book an appointment for the first available time slot after your planned arrival in Norway. It is important to make this booking as soon as possible as the first available time slot often is months into the future. If you are doing this process parallel for the whole family, it makes sense to book an appointment for the same date for all. 
  11. You will find detailed information about this appointment and a list of the documents you need to bring with you at Finalising registration for EU/EEA nationals in the on arrival section.

Non-EU/EEA nationals NOT formally employed by NIH

How to obtain a residence permit if you are not a citizen of an EU/EEA country and not formally employed by NIH.

If you are a non-EU/EEA national not formally employed by NIH and your intended stay in Norway is more than 90 days, you need a residence permit. The application is a two-fold process consisting of an initial online registration and a subsequent personal meeting with the immigration authorities upon arrival to finalise the permit.

Start the process early

You must apply for a residence permit well in advance of your planned arrival in Norway.

Registration process for yourself

To start the registration process, follow the instructions on web page Want to apply to visit or live in Norway of the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). Here is some specific advise to help you along the way:

  1. On the initial web page Want to apply, enter the country of your citizenship and press the Choose button.
  2. In the next step, choose the Work immigration track, then the Vocational training and research track and, finally, the Researcher with own funds track.
  3. Study the displayed information carefully, then press the button How to apply.
  4. 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 with NIH.
  5. 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 non-EU/EEA nationals may apply for a residence permit from Norway. If for some reason you feel you need to apply from Norway, NIH for advice.
  6. Print out the Checklist for researchers with own funds and press the button Go to the application form.
  7. This will take you to the UDI application portal. Create a user if you do not already have one. Tick the disclaimer and press the button Go to application form.
  8. In the "Where are you submitting the application section", choose the country in which you are legally residing or the alternative agreed with NIH.
  9. Make a note of where you must submit the documents.
  10. Fill in the personal information.
  11. The next steps should be straight forward until you come to the Information about your work section. Here you are asked to provide the organisation number of NIH; this is 971526033.
  12. On how long you like your residence permit to be valid for you enter the length of the research stay agreed upon with the university spelled out in the invitation letter.
  13. 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.
  14. Depending on your nationality, you might need a visa to enter Norway. This visa will be issued automatically when the residence permit has been granted.
  15. As soon as UDI confirm that they have granted a residence permit, you proceed to the next step by following the instructions under On arrival, registration with Norwegian authorities. As part of this procedure you book a new appointment for getting the residence card. Do the booking well in advance of moving to Norway and choose one of the first available time-slots after your planned arrival in Oslo. Book the appointment at the Service Centre for Foreign Workers in Oslo.
  16. You find detailed information about this appointment and a list of the documents you need to bring with you at Finalising registration for non-EU/EEA nationals in the on arrival section.

Registration process for accompanying family members

Any documents on ID or family circumstances, like marriage certificate etc. must carry an apostille stamp from the issuing country.

Registration of family members is dependent on the reference person's registration. To start the process, follow the instructions provided on the web page Want to apply (udi.no) by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). Here is some specific advise to help you along the way:

  1. On the initial web page Want to apply (udi.no), enter the country of your citizenship and press the Choose button.
  2. In the next step, choose the Family immigration track and then enter the nationality of the reference person. Answer the question What type of residence permit does the reference person have? with Another type of residence permit and then None of the above. Finally, select the kind of family member you are. 
  3. Study the displayed information carefully, then press the button How to apply
  4. 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.
  5. Print out the check list and press the button Go to the application form.
  6. This will take you to the UDI application portal. It is not necessary to create an individual account for each family member in the UDI portal. All applications of a family can be registered using the same account. Tick the disclaimer and press the NEXT button.
  7. The next steps are personal information that you must fill in. 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.
  8. Depending on your nationality, you might need a visa to enter Norway. The visa will be issued automatically when the permit has been granted.
  9. As soon as the residence permit has been granted, you reenter the UDI portal to book an appointment for the final registration with the police upon arrival in Norway. If you are doing this process parallel for the whole family, it makes sense to book an appointment for the same date for all. Family of researchers with own funds book may also book an appointment at Service Centre for Foreign Workers in Oslo.
  10. You can find detailed information about this appointment and a list of the documents you need to bring with you at Finalising registration for non-EU/EEA nationals in the On arrival section.

Non-EU/EEA national formally employed by NIH

Permits for non-EU/EEA nationals employed by NIH.

If you are a non-EU/EEA national formally employed by NIH and your intended stay in Norway is more than 90 days, you need a residence permit. The application is a two-fold process consisting of an initial online registration and a subsequent personal meeting with the immigration authorities upon arrival to finalise the permit.

Start the process early

Please note that as a rule you are not allowed to start working in Norway before the residence permit has been granted. Therefore, you must apply for a residence permit well in advance of your planned arrival in Norway.

Registration process for yourself

To start the registration process, follow the instructions provided on the web page Want to apply to visit or live in Norway by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). Here is some specific advice to help you along the way:

  1. On the initial web page Want to apply, enter the country of your citizenship and press the Choose button.
  2. In the next step, choose the Work immigration track, then the Skilled workers track and, finally, the Skilled worker with an employer in Norway track.
  3. Study the displayed information carefully, then press the button How to apply.
  4. 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 with NIH.
  5. 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 non-EU/EEA nationals may apply for a residence permit from Norway. If for some reason you feel you need to apply from Norway, NIH for advice.
  6. Print out the Checklist for skilled worker and press the button Go to the application form.
  7. In the next step, choose Completed higher education and then press button Continue.
  8. This will take you to the UDI application portal. Create a user if you do not already have one. Tick the disclaimer and press the button Go to application form.
  9. In the Where are you submitting the application and who will hand in the documents section, choose Employee (or the alternative agreed with NIH) and then Outside Norway (or the alternative agreed with NIH).
  10. Make a note of where you must submit the documents.
  11. Fill in the personal information.
  12. 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 NIH.
  13. The next steps should be straight forward until you come to the Information about your work section. Here you are asked to provide the organization number of NIH; this is 971526033. Under What field you are going to work choose Professionals. That should open up the correct alternatives in the next box. All other information you find in the Offer of employment form which you should have received together with your employment contract. Length of permit equals the length of your contract.
  14. 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.
  15. Depending on your nationality, you might need a visa to enter Norway. This visa will be issued automatically when the residence permit has been granted.
  16. As soon as you receive a message from UDI stating that your residence permit has been granted, log back on the UDI portal to book an appointment for the final registration with the police upon arrival in Norway. Book the appointment at the Service Centre for Foreign Workers in Oslo. Do the booking well in advance of moving to Norway and choose one of the first available timeslots after your planned arrival in Oslo. Note that under normal circumstances you would not be allowed to start working until you have been to this appointment. As a temporary solution due to the limited availability of time slots in the UDI portal you are allowed to start working before you have been to this appointment.
  17. You find detailed information about this appointment and a list of the documents you need to bring with you at Finalising registration for non-EU/EEA nationals in the on arrival section.

Registration process for family members

Any documents on ID or family circumstances, like marriage certificate etc. must carry an apostille stamp from the issuing country.

Registration of family members is dependent on the reference person's registration. To start the process, follow the instructions provided on the web page Want to apply by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). Here is some specific advise to help you along the way:

  1. On the initial web page Want to apply, enter the country of your citizenship and press the Choose button.
  2. In the next step, choose the Family immigration track and then enter the nationality of the reference person. On the question of what type of residence permit the reference person has choose residence permit for skilled workers. Finally choose your relation to the reference person.
  3. Study the displayed information carefully. Income for the reference person will be above the necessary annual income if the reference person is employed by the university. The reference person must however fill in the self declaration about not having received benefits from NAV: then press the button How to apply
  4. If the reference person has applied as a skilled worker, you will be asked whether you wish the employer to apply on your behalf. Choose No if not otherwise agreed upon.
  5. 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 non-EU/EEA nationals may apply for a residence permit from Norway. If for some reason you feel you need to apply from Norway, NIH for advice.
  6. Print out the check list and press the button Go to the application form.
  7. This will take you to the UDI application portal. It is not necessary to create an individual account for each family member in the UDI portal. All applications of a family can be registered using the same account. Tick the disclaimer and press the NEXT button.
  8. The next steps are personal information that you must fill in. 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. NB! Any marriage certificates and birth certificates must carry an apostille stamp from the issuing country.
  9. Depending on your nationality, you might need a visa to enter Norway. The visa will be issued automatically when the permit has been granted.
  10. As soon as the residence permit has been granted, you reenter the UDI portal to book an appointment for the final registration with the police upon arrival in Norway. If you are doing this process parallel for the whole family, it makes sense to book an appointment for the same date for all. Family of skilled workers book an appointment at the Service Centre for Foreign Workers in Oslo.
  11. You find detailed information about this appointment and a list of the documents you need to bring with you at Finalising registration for non-EU/EEA nationals in the on arrival section.

Moving household goods

Please find the rules for import of your personal household effects to Norway at Norwegian Customs. 

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