Residence permit

Find out what type of residence permit you need, e.g. in connection with work, studies, family immigration or to stay in Norway as an au pair. You will find information on the different types of residence permit on UDI’s website. 

In order to apply for a residence permit from Ghana, you must either be a citizen of Ghana or have a valid residence permit in Ghana. You must have had the residence permit for at least six months before you apply for the residence permit in Norway.

All applications for residence permits should be submitted at the Visa Application Centre (VFS) in Accra. Applicants can no longer submit applications directly to the Norwegian Embassy in Accra.  All enquiries should also be directed to the VFS Application Centre.

You must gather all the documents in the relevant checklist on UDI’s website. Some of the documents must be provided by your contact person in Norway; others you will have to obtain yourself. 

Before you can hand in your passport and other documentation at a VFS application centre or a Norwegian diplomatic or consular mission, you must register your application online and pay the fee. If this is the first time you are registering an application in the portal, you will need to create a user account first.

Once you have completed the application form online and paid the fee, you will receive confirmation by email with a copy of your application summary, a signature letter (cover letter) and payment receipt attached. You need to print the signature letter, sign it, and submit it together with the other required documentation.

Once you have registered, you will receive confirmation by email, with a cover letter attached. The cover letter will confirm that you have filled in the application form and paid the fee. You need to print this letter and submit it together with the other required documentation.

Application fees

Please note that there two separate fees to be paid:

The application fee must be paid online when you register the application. Information about the relevant  fees can be found at UDI.no

VFS Global will charge an additional €30 service fee which can be paid in local currency. The fee must be paid directly upon submission of the applications to VFS. Please note that the VFS service fee is non-refundable.

You must bring your passport and all the documents listed in the checklist with you. You will find the relevant checklist when you register your application online. You can also find it on www.udi.no/en (checklists).

We will contact you if we need more information.

VFS Global, Plot No. 29, 9 Kakramadu Road
Cantonment, Accra (Next to the GOETHE institute)

Tel.: +233 (0) 302746212

Website: www.vfsglobal.com/norway/Ghana/

You do not need to book an appointment.

VFS may contact you to arrange an interview at the embassy if necessary, before forwarding your application to UDI for processing.

Applications for a residence permit are processed by UDI. You will find information about the processing time on UDI’s website. 

The Embassy will normally send the application to the Directorate of Immigration (UDI) within one week after having received the application. The case processing time is counted from the date the Embassy receives the application, not from when it is registered in the UDI Application Portal.

If you have been granted a residence permit, you will be asked to provide a recent passport picture, passport (if not submitted with your application) and a flight reservation. An entry visa sticker will be placed in your passport to allow you to travel to Norway.

VFS Global is mandated to notify you by telephone once there is a decision on your application.

The decision can be picked up at the VFS Application Centre where the application was submitted or can be delivered by courier service for an extra cost. Information about DHL charges to different destinations both local and international dispatch.  

If your application has been rejected, you will receive a written explanation for the reasons of rejection. You can appeal the decision within 3 weeks. More information on appeals.

When you cross the border into the Schengen area, you will have to present:

• your passport with the entry visa sticker (if you need an entry visa)
• documentation showing the purpose of your stay

Once you know when you will be arriving in Norway, you need to make an appointment with the police in order to obtain a residence card. You must pre-book this appointment, normally through the Application Portal, and the appointment has to be either during the first seven days you are in Norway, or the first available appointment you can find.

More information on residence cards, including how to book an appointment