What does the requirement for financial support entail?
The rules on this page apply to applications for family immigration submitted after 23.10.2009 , and that will be processed after 01.01.2010. If the family member has applied before 23.10.2009, transitional rules apply (see end of page).
The requirement for financial support (called the subsistence requirement) means that you must document that you as a resident in Norway
- can support the family member financially when he or she comes to Norway, and
- have had previous income
In addition, there is a requirement that you have not received financial support or qualification benefit from the social services in the past year.
When your family member applies for a residence permit, it is important that he or she encloses documentation from Norway that you can provide financial support. This will shorten the case processing time.
Before we describe the requirement for financial support in more detail, please note that there are a few exemptions from this requirement.
Exemptions from the requirement for financial support
In some cases, certain family members (spouse, partner, children) may get a family immigration permit even if you who live in Norway (the sponsor) cannot support him or her financially. The subsistence requirement does not apply if you
- have been granted a residence permit or a permanent residence permit in Norway as a refugee (asylum or other protection grounds, including protection against refoulement). If your family member is your spouse, you must have entered into the marriage before you came to Norway. As a rule, your family member must apply for a residence permit within a year of you being granted your residence permit here.
- you have been granted a residence permit because of your status as a witness or because you are a victim of human trafficking, and your child, who is under the age of 18, is the one applying for a residence permit with you. As a rule, the child must apply for a residence permit within a year of you being granted your residence permit here.
- are a child under the age of 18, and your parents are the ones who are applying for residence permits on the grounds that they have custody of or access rights to you.
The requirement for financial support does not apply when the applicant is
- your child, who is under the age of 15 and without care providers in his/her home country
- your child, who is born in Norway. The application must be submitted within one year after the birth.
If, in your view, you are among those who should be exempt from the subsistence requirement, your family member must enclose documentation of this with his/her application.
Future income
As a rule, it is the person living in Norway who must meet the requirement for financial support. You must document a total income corresponding to salary grade eight in the pay scale for Norwegian state employees. The income can be:
- income from employment – documented by an employment contract and pay slips from the last three months
- sickness benefit, pregnancy benefit, parental benefit, disability pension or retirement pension from the National Insurance Scheme – documented by copies of decisions from NAV and pay slips for the last three months
- other permanent pensions or periodical benefits (insurance payments or similar) – documented by copies of decisions or similar and payments for the last three months
- introduction benefit for newly arrived immigrants – documented by a copy of the decision letter from the municipality and transcripts of payments for the last three months
- loans or grants received in connection with studies – documented by a copy of the decision, agreement or similar and payments for the last three months
The requirement for future income can be a combination of the above-mentioned types of income, as long as it exceeds the minimum income requirement.
Social support, housing allowance, unemployment benefit and income you receive from the public authorities to raise children, such as child benefit, cannot be included in the future income. Own funds (money in the bank) cannot be included either.
If the person living in Norway receives permanent retirement pension or disability pension, totalling in excess of or equal to the minimum pension, it covers the subsistence requirement. Certain benefits from NAV (arbeidsavklaringspenger, unemployment and social benefits) are not covered by the terms “other permanent pensions or periodical benefits” because they are only temporary. Being temporary benefits, they cannot be included as part of the documentation when considering your future income.
The applicant can contribute to the total income if:
- the person living in Norway is taking higher education (university college or university) and has completed at least 60 credits, or
- the person living in Norway is studying at a technical college and has completed at least one year of the nominal length of study and you have both turned 23, or
- the applicant has already taken legal employment in Norway
Previous income
It is also a requirement that the person living in Norway had a registered income corresponding to salary grade eight in the pay scale for Norwegian state employees he year of your latest Tax settlement notice, and that he/she still receives this income. This must be documented by enclosing your latest tax certificate.
If you are a Norwegian citizen, a citizen of one of the Nordic countries or holds a permanent residence permit (settlement permit) in Norway, has worked abroad and received income there corresponding to salary grade eight in the pay scale for Norwegian state employees – documented by pay slips and employment contracts, tax assessment or similar from the country in which he/she has stayed.
As a main rule the requirement for previous income applies to all reference persons. However, if you can provide documentation showing that you did not have an income corresponding to salary grade eight in the year of your latest Tax settlement notice, for one of the following reasons, you can be exempted from the previous income requirement:
- You are over the age of 23 and had a registered net wealth of at least NOK 1 million in the last two tax settlements
- You receive permanent retirement pension or disability pension, totalling in excess of or equal to the minimum pension in the period concerned
- You have completed military or civilian national service
- You hold a residence permit as a skilled worker or a specialist, or you hold a residence permit that does not form the basis for a permanent residence permit (settlement permit), which nonetheless forms the basis for family immigration (for example study permit, or a permit as a researcher with own funds).
- You have been a student. This applies if you are a Norwegian national, a Nordic national or a foreign national with a permanent residence permit who have undergone higher education (university college or university) in Norway or abroad and have accumulated at least 60 credits or the equivalent, or have undergone vocational tertiary education in Norway equivalent to one year’s nominal length of study as a compensation for paid work. If you have finished your studies in the spring, you must hand in documentation which shows that you have taken a total of 60 credits or the equivalent in the last student year. If you have not had a normal progression of your studies (less than 60 credits) because of illness, you must give us documentation of your illness. In these cases we will make an individual evaluation based on the documentation.
Not receiving social support for the past 12 months
The person living in Norway must not have received financial support or qualification benefit from NAV in the year before his/her family member applies for family immigration. This criterion does not apply, however, if you received such support while you were waiting for National Insurance benefits that could be included in future income, or housing allowance (see the paragraph about future income), or if you have received support pursuant to the Introduction Act. The person who is applying to be reunited with you in Norway must present confirmation from NAV/ a social security office that you (the sponsor) have not received social support in the last 12 months before the application is submitted.
Housing
For family members other than immediate family, it is a requirement that the person living in Norway has a home that is big enough to house the relatives. Documentation of housing can be the lease or the purchase contract for the house/apartment.
Particularly strong humanitarian considerations
The Directorate of Immigration (UDI) will always consider whether very special circumstances exist in the case (particularly strong humanitarian considerations) that mean that your family member can be granted a residence permit even if the requirement for subsistence and housing is not met.
Transitional rules for applications submitted before October 23rd 2009
If your application was submitted before October 23rd 2009, not only income from employment but also own funds and unemployment benefits can contribute to the total income requirements. Also the applicant's income can contribute in these cases.
There is no requirement for previous income if the application was submitted before October 23rd 2009. The requirements of not having received social support for the past 12 months does not apply either.
In addition to that, according to the instruction GI/19-2010 issued by the Ministry of Justice and the Police, the UDI may make exemptions from the requirement for financial support. However, this applies only for a spouse or cohabitant when the reference person is a Norwegian citizen or if the reference person has a permanent residence permit. Furthermore it is a condition that they have been married or cohabitants for at least three years and that both parties are above the age of 23. You may read the instruction here (in norwegian).
Further information
If you have more questions about this topic, contact your nearest Norwegian embassy or consulate, the nearest police district or the UDI’s Information Service.
