Norway Student Visa and Study Permit

Norway is a perfect destination to study! Besides that you will be able to see the charming architecture of Oslo, Bergen or Trondheim, studying in Norway will improve your professional prospects and horizons. The informal atmosphere on campus is likely to surprise you! Teachers are nice and classes are generally held in small groups where students are encouraged to develop critical thinking skills.

However, to be able to study in this beautiful country, you might need to obtain a Norway Student Visa. Every international student planning to enroll in a long-term study programme in Norway must apply for a Norway Student Visa. This includes US nationals, Canadian citizens, and anyone else who is ordinarily granted visa-free entry to Norway. The Student Visa, also known as a Norway Student Permit, allows the holder to reside, study, and work (part-time) in Norway.

You can apply for the Norway Student Visa if you already have a residence permit in Norway but only if you are there lawfully. If you’re applying from another country, you’ll need to complete the online application on the Directorate of Immigration’s website (UDI), gather all of the necessary documentation and pay the visa application fee.

Depending on where you live in Norway, you can apply to the local police station or the local Service Centre for Foreign Workers (SUA).

You can also bring your dependent family members to Norway on a Norway Family Visa if you have a Norway Student Visa. They might apply at the same time as you or after you have arrived in Norway. You may bring the following family members with you:

Your registered partner or spouse.
Someone who lives with you but both of you have to be over the age of 24 and have lived together for at least two years, or be expecting a child together.
Your child who is below eighteen years old

In most cases, a Norwegian Student Visa is obtained for the duration of your study. When you get your Study Permit, it will say how long it will be valid for.

While on the Norway Student Visa, you can also work in Norway for up to 20 hours per week (part-time) during the semester and full-time. You do not need to apply for a work permit because it is included with your Student Visa.

However, as an international student in Norway, you are not permitted to work for yourself or start a business. Even if you haven’t found work yet, you may be able to apply for a Job Seeker Visa, which allows you to stay in Norway after graduation while looking for work. You must, however, have sufficient funds to cover your stay (NOK 20, 521 a month, or approximately USD 2,280 per month), as well as a Norwegian university diploma.

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Who can obtain a Norway Student Visa?

To be eligible for a Student Visa for Norway, you must meet the following criteria:

Have a place to stay in Norway.
You must have been accepted into a university or institution in Norway.
The Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education must accredit the university or college (NOKUT).
Be enrolled in a full-time study course.
You must be able to pay for your tuition as well as your living expenses. Also, you will require at least NOK 123,519 (about USD 13,600) every year in living expenses. This money must be kept in a Norwegian bank account. The funding can come from your pocket, as well as student loans and grants or a part-time job.

Do you need a visa? Check out our other articles for more guidance:

Norway Student Visa Application Process

You must first apply for a Norwegian Student Visa online, then submit your documentation to the Norwegian Embassy or Visa Application Center nearest you. Here’s a more in-depth look at the procedure:

Gather all of the necessary paperwork.
On the website of the Directorate of Immigration (UDI), fill out the online application.
Pay the price for a student visa in Norway. Make the payment online using your credit card or debit.
Make an appointment with the Norwegian Embassy in your country or a Visa Application Center.
Submit the necessary paperwork for the Student Visa application.
Your application will be forwarded to the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) by the Embassy/VAC. Your application is processed by the UDI, and you will be notified of the outcome.

Remember that, while it’s frequently referred to as a “Student Visa” the actual document issued by the UDI, allowing you to reside and study in Norway for an extended time is the Norwegian Residence Permit for Students.

You can travel to Norway and commence your studies once you have received your Student Visa (Residence Permit for Studying). If you are from a country where a Norwegian visa is usually required, the UDI will simply give you an entry visa, which you may pick up at the Embassy/Visa Application Center and use to go to Norway. If you are a citizen of a nation that does not require a Norwegian visa before travel, you can just enter Norway before the deadline.

Required Documents for Norway Student Visa

You have to make sure that you submit the original documents, as well as copies of them. The documentation must be written in one of two languages: English or Norwegian. If they aren’t, include a translation alongside the original. A licensed translator must complete the translation.

Some documents, such as civil documents, may require an Apostille Stamp to be legalized. Don’t forget to print out the checklist. Depending on your country and situation, certain embassies may request additional documentation.

When applying for a Norway Student Visa, you must submit the following documents:

The Application for a Student Visa in Norway. Once you’ve finished the online application on the Immigration Directorate’s website, print this out.
A valid passport which includes copies of your passport’s used pages.
Two Norwegian passport-size photos with a white background.
The Letter of Admission into your school which states your name, your course of study, the level of study, and the duration of the programme must all be included in the letter.
Proof that you have the financial resources to support your stay in Norway, e.g. a Statement of Support from the State Education Loan Fund (Lnekassen) proof that you have received grants or cash, bank statements from a Norwegian bank account or part-time work contract that specifies the hours you will work, your remuneration, and the length of the contract.
Proof of accommodation. If you want to study in Norway, you must show that you have a place to live by a written rental contract, the Admission Letter from school.
Proof that you can afford to pay your tuition (if required). For example, a payment receipt from the university, or proof of funds through one of the methods listed above. The funds for tuition must be in addition to the funds for living expenses.
If you are applying from a nation other than your own, you must show proof that you are lawfully present in the country (i.e., a Residence Permit).

Health Insurance Coverage In Norway for international students

If you want to stay in Norway for more than a year, you are eligible to join the National Insurance Scheme as an international student. This indicates you’ve been allocated a fastlege (General Practitioner) with whom you must seek medical treatment.

If your studies or Student Residence Permit will last shorter than a year, you may consider purchasing private international health insurance.

How to apply for a Norway Student Visa for minors?

Minors (15-18 years old) who want to apply for a study permit in Norway need to gather:

Certificate of Birth.
Passport photocopies of your parents or legal guardians.
The UDI website has a Consent Application for a Residence Permit for Children/Minors to Study in Norway form. This form must be filled out and signed by your parents or legal guardians. Alternatively, they could write and sign a Statement agreeing to your studies in Norway.
If just one parent has custody of the children: It is confirmed by a document from the relevant public authority.
If one of the parents has died, the following steps should be taken: Certificate of Death.
The required documents are listed on a printed checklist. This can be printed from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration’s website (UDI).

Renewing or Changing a Student Visa in Norway

To renew a Norwegian Student Visa, go to the Directorate of Immigration (UDI) website and log in with the same account you used when you first applied. This should be done three months before your residency permit expires.

You must also schedule an appointment with the local police department, where you must submit the necessary paperwork. Setting up an appointment could take a few weeks, which is why you should apply three months ahead of time. You must not be behind on your studies to renew your Norway Study Visa.

Even if you have been in Norway for more than three years, you cannot move from a Student Resident Permit to a Permanent Residence Permit. The time you spend as an international student in Norway does not count toward your permanent residence eligibility. You must apply for a Work Visa in order to obtain a Permanent Residence Permit.

Different Categories of Norway Study Visas

Apart from studying in a Norwegian university, the following Study Visas for Norway are also available:

Norway Study Visa for Upper Secondary School.
Norway Study Visa for Vocational Studies.
Norway Study Visa for Folk High School.
Norway Study Visa for a Religious School.
Norway Student Visa for a University Summer School.

How much are the fees for Student Visas in Norway?

The charge for a student visa in Norway is NOK 4,900. (appx. USD 545). Minors (under the age of 18) are eligible to apply for free.

When you submit your online application on the Directorate of Immigration’s website, you must pay the fee with a credit or debit card. If you are unable to pay online, you may be able to pay the cost at the Embassy or Visa Application Center when you submit your application.

Norway Student Visa Photo

A photo in a passport-style is one of the essential documents for the Norway Student Visa. We recommend using the Passport Photo Online service to get the proper one for this study permit.

Before you begin taking photos for your application, make sure you meet the photo standards listed on our website or in the app which you may download from the AppStore or GooglePlay, and then follow these three simple steps:

Take a photo with your phone or use a camera. Instead of taking a selfie, enlist the help of a friend or family member.
Select the document you want to apply for and upload your photo to our app or website (for example, Norway visa photo).
The photo tool will now alter the image and develop a template for you to download and attach to your student visa application, or you can choose to receive the digital version of the image through email or have these shots sent to your home!

Sources

[1] https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/studies/studietillatelse/?resetguide=1

Justyna Matuszak

Justyna graduated from journalism and social communications at the University of Lower Silesia. She is an avid journalist with passion for travels and sport, being also a professional athlete for the past 8 years. Justyna is the author of articles concerning biometric photography.