Residence Permit

Student Visa

As a general rule, the residence permit should be applied for and granted before the student arrives, irrespective of whether a visa is needed to enter Norway or not. Exceptions apply for students of certain categories.

A certified copy of the acceptance letter from the University of Bergen must accompany your application.

For further information and procedures, see Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI)

Part-time Employment

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 a 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 and procedures, see Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI)

Family Reunification

The Immigration Act and Immigration Regulations were enforced 1 January 2010. The new Act introduces new criteria for granting family immigration permits.

These are stricter requirements for assured subsistence (financial support).

Read more about family immigration/reunification at UDI's web site.

Residence Permit Deposit

International students must have financial means to cover living expenses during their stay in Norway, which currently amounts to NOK 90 800 for an academic year (10 months), and NOK 45 400 per semester.

Students who need a visa to enter Norway, as well as students from Hong Kong and Macau, must transfer money into a deposit account established by the Student Welfare Organisation (SiB) in Bergen. A confirmation of the deposit/receipt from the bank must, together with an acceptance letter from the University of Bergen, accompany an application for a residence permit.

Further information on requirements for residence permit.