Residence permit

Citizens of Romania do not need a residence permit, but must register with the police within three months.

For nationals of other countries:

Nationals of EU/EEA countries do not need a residence permit to stay or work in Norway. However, all nationals of EU/EEA countries who want to stay for longer than three months must register with the police.
Nationals of non-EU/EEA countries who want to work in Norway or to stay for longer than 90 days need a residence permit.

The Directorate of Immigration (UDI) normally processes applications for a residence permit.

Information to applicants residing in Romania, Bulgaria or Moldova:

Applications for residence permit for Norway are handled by the Norwegian Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. You may submit your application at one of the VFS Global application centers in Kosovo, Serbia or Turkey which collaborate with the Norwegian Embassy in Ankara.

Phonenumbers VFS Global:

For Kosovo: +383 38 412 712 or +383 38 412 812
E-mail: info.kosovonor@vfshelpline.com
Webpage: www.vfsglobal.com/Norway/Kosovo/

For Serbia: + 381117357366
E-mail: info.norsrb@vfshelpline.com
Webpage: https://www.vfsglobal.com/Norway/Serbia/English/

For Turkey: +90 212 373 58 16
E-mail: info.notr@vfshelpline.com
Webpage: https://www.vfsglobal.com/norway/turkey/

If you apply for a residence permit, please note that the Embassy must have your passport together with the application in order to perform ID-control according to instructions from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway. Therefore, when applying from Kosovo, Turkey or Serbia you should make the necessary arrangements to stay in Kosovo, Turkey or Serbia while the Embassy examines the passport as this may take up to seven (7) days.

Before you apply

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

Gather the necessary documentation

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.

If you want someone to act on your behalf in connection with your application, you must authorise this person to do so. Please visit the UDI website for more information and the relevant form: Power of Attorney.

Online registration and payment

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.

Go to online application

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 visit the UDI website for information about the fees: Fees.

Please note that you pay the fee when registering the application in the portal.

Service fee and courier fee at the Norway Visa Application Centre (VFS)

Applications are received by the external service provider VFS Global, which charges an additional service fee for each application. The fee is paid directly to VFS Global when submitting the application.

Please note that an additional courier fee will also be added.

Optional services provided at the Visa Application Centre

Certain additional services offered by VFS are not included in the service fee. Please note that these services are optional. For more information please visit the VFS Global website.

Handing in the documents

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.

You can hand in your application and the required documents at one of VFS Global application centers in Turkey, Kosovo or Serbia:

NORWAY VISA APPLICATION CENTRE PRISHTINA (NB With prior appointment)
Str.Rrustem Statovci No 36 ,
10000 - Prishtina / Republic of Kosovo
Web: VFS Global Kosovo

NORWAY VISA APPLICATION CENTRE BELGRADE (NB Opens 2nd September 2019)
Web: VFS Global

NORWAY VISA APPLICATION CENTRE IN ANKARA, IZMIR OR ANTALYA
Web: Contact information VFS Global Turkey

Processing time

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

Once you have submitted all the application documents at your VFS application center , your application will be sent to the Embassy in Ankara which is responsible for forwarding the application to UDI. You will receive regular updates on your application status by email or SMS.

On this page you will find information about what happens while your application is in process.

Please note that in connection with some applications for residence permit you may be summoned for an interview. You will be notified if this applies to you and where you should meet, normally at an application center or embassy near you.

If you need a visa, you must wait until you have received an answer to your application before you can enter Norway. If you need your passport while waiting for the application to be processed, you must contact the Embassy in Ankara.

Result

You or the person you have authorised will be notified when your application has been concluded and when the decision can be collected.

Your passport can be picked up where you submitted the application, normally within 1-2 weeks after UDI made the decision depending on the courier sendings.

If you have been granted a residence permit and need a visa to enter Norway, a sticker will be placed in your passport to allow you to travel to Norway.

If your application was rejected, you will receive a written explanation as to why it was rejected. You may appeal the decision. The appeal must be sent to the Directorate of Immigration by uploading the documents on their website.

You can find more information about the appeal process and waiting times on the UDI website.

On arrival

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