Residence Permit

Residence Permit for Students

Start the Process Early

As a general rule, the residence permit should be applied for and granted before you arrive in Norway.

The processing of applications may take up to 6-10 weeks and we therefore recommend that you obtain all the required documents as early as possible. Among the required documents are your Letter of Acceptance, documentation of financing, and documentation of accommodation in Bergen.

We will also provide more detailed information about the process with your Letter of Acceptance and at our website for New Students. For more information about required documentation, please visit UDI's website.

Exceptions

Nordic citizens do not need a residence permit to stay in Norway.

EU/EEA/EFTA nationals do not need to apply for a residence permit, but must register online at the Application portal of UDI and visit the local police once you have arrived in Norway. However, you will need to obtain the required documentation before you leave your home country. For updated information about the documentation needed for EU/EEA/EFTA nationals please visit UDI's website.

Part-time Work Permit

Automatically Granted with First-time Residence Permit

Students are automatically granted a part-time work permit along with the first-time residence permit. The permit allows you to work up to 20 hours per week during the semester and full time between semesters. You do not have to pay a separate fee for this type of work permit, nor do you need to have an employment contract.

Although international students are granted a work permit, part-time work and holiday jobs are hard to find. Students should therefore not plan to partially fund their studies in Bergen by working part-time.

For further information, please visit UDI's website.

Family Immigration Permit

Family Immigration with a Student

If you are planning to bring a family member to Norway when you are here as a student, you should ensure that you and your family member meet the requirements to apply for this permit well in advance.

For more information about the family immigration permit, please visit UDI's website.

Documentation of Financing

Financial Means to Cover Living Expenses

International students must submit documentation that they have financial means to cover living expenses during their stay in Norway when applying for a residence permit. This currently amounts to NOK 94 400 for an academic year (10 months) and NOK 47 200 for one semester.

How to Document Financial Means when Applying for a Residence Permit

As a general rule, the required amount must be transferred to SiB's Deposit Account for Foreign Students, which is set up especially for this purpose. A few days after you have transferred the money into SiB's deposit account, you will receive a confirmation of the deposit by e-mail from UiB. This confirmation must accompany your application for a residence permit to UDI.

Instructions with the Letter of Acceptance

Together with your Letter of Acceptance you will receive detailed information about the transfer, and we ask you to please follow all the instructions carefully to ensure that you will receive your confirmation without delay.

You must not transfer the money until you have received your Letter of Acceptance (by mail or e-mail).

Please note that money transfers from some countries can be difficult. You should contact your bank well in advance to ensure that you will not have problems to transfer money to a Norwegian bank account from your country.

Money Upon Arrival

Once you arrive in Norway you can ask SiB for a check of up to NOK 20 000 of your deposit money. As soon as you have opened a Norwegian bank account and notified SiB of your bank account details, the rest of the money will be transferred to this account.