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. 

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.

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

Service fee and courier fee at the Visa Application Centre

In Saudi Arabia applications are received by the external service provider VFS Global, which charges a service fee. 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 about the current fees, services and local rates, visit the VFS Global website.

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 the following VFS Global offices:

Riyadh

Address: Joint Visa Application Centre (JVAC)

First floor, Dove Plaza (Hyper Panda), Omm Al Hamam street

Omm Al Hamam, Riyadh,

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Jeddah

Address: TasHeel Commercial Center, Ground Floor,

Suwaid Bin Sakher Street, 

Off Jundub Bin Kaab Street (Off Prince Sultan Street),

Al Mohammadiya District 1, Jeddah,

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Al Khobar

Address: Unified Visa Application Center

7639 Mohammed Alfateh St., Ar Rakah

Al Janubiyah, Al Khobar,

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

You need to book an appointment. You can book here

From Oman:

Work/residence permits and family reunification:
Royal Norwegian Consulate General
P.O. Box 89, Ruwi - Muscat
Post Code 112
Sultanate of Oman 

Visiting address:

Bait Towell, Builing no. 81, Exhibition Road, Al Athaiba, Muscat, Oman
Telephone: (+968) 245 26233
Fax: (+968) 245 26050
E-mail: alwyn@wjtowell.com

From Bahrain:

Work/residence permits and family reunification:

P.O. Box 94380
Riyadh 11693
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Visiting adress: Diplomatic Quarter,
Riyadh

Phone: +966 (0)11 488 1904
Fax: +966 (0)11 488 0854

E-mail: emb.riyadh@mfa.no

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

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