The three schemes are:

• The registration scheme for  EEA nationals.
• Family immigration with an EEA national for applicants who are not EEA nationals themselves (the residence card scheme)
• Family immigration
  

Some people are only able to use one scheme, while others have the option of choosing between two of the schemes (See Which scheme can I use).

What are the three schemes?

The three schemes have different conditions. Here is a short summary:

The registrations scheme for EEA nationals

• You can move to Norway and start working or looking for work straight away. 
• The person living in Norway does not have to document income corresponding to 88 percent of salary grade 19 in the pay scale for Norwegian state employees, but he or she must be established in Norway,  meaning that they are an employee, self-employed, a service provider, a student or have sufficient funds. 
• Short case processing time. 
• No application fee.
• You can register independently or as a family member of an EEA national living in Norway.
• Five years after you  registered for the first time, you can apply for a permanent right of residence.
• You do not have the rights described in the Introduction law.
• If you wish, you can apply for a family immigration permit at a later time, if you fulfill the requirements.
Read more about the registration scheme

Family immigration with an EEA national for applicants who are not EEA nationals themselves (the residence card scheme) 

• You can move to Norway and start working or looking for work straight away, as long as you fulfill certain requirements.
• Short case processing time, with the exeption of complex cases. 
• No application fee.
• The person living in Norway does not have to document income corresponding to 88 percent of salary grade 19 in the pay scale for Norwegian state employees, but he or she must be established in Norway,  meaning that they are an employee, self-employed, a service provider, a student or have sufficient funds.
• Five years after you got a residence card for the first time, you can apply for a permanent right of residence.
• You do not have the rights described in the Introduction law.
• If you wish, you can apply for a family immigration permit at a later time, if you fulfill the requirements.
Read more about the residence card scheme

Family immigration

• Is the scheme which gives you the most rights in Norway.
• You have the rights described in the Introduction law.
• It is a requirement that the sponsor must have a certain income.
• There is an application fee.
• You can get a permanent residence permit after three years. 
• Longer case processing times than the other two alternatives.
Read more about family immigration 

Which scheme can I use?

Please choose the bullet point which describes you and your family situation:

• EEA national, family member is also an EEA national
• Not an EEA national, family member is an EEA national.
• EEA national, family member is a Nordic national
• Not an EEA national, family member is  a Nordic national.
• Nordic nationals

You are an EEA national, and your family member who lives, or is going to live, in Norway is also an EEA national

• If you are an employee, self-employed, a service provider, a student or have sufficient funds, you can use the registration scheme independently of your family member.
• If the person you are going to live with in Norway is registered through the registrations scheme for EEA nationals, you should use the registration scheme yourself, as a family member.
• If the person you are going to live with in Norway has a permanent residence permit (settlement permit) you can choose either to use the registration scheme or to apply for family immigration.
• If the person you are going to live with in Norway has a residence permit (is not registered through the scheme for EEA nationals,) you can apply for family immigration.

You are not an EEA national, and your family member who lives, or is going to live, in Norway is an EEA national

• If the person you are going to live with in Norway is registered through the registration scheme for EEA nationals, you should apply for a residence card.
• If the person you are going to live with in Norway has a residence permit (is not registered through the scheme for EEA nationals,) you can apply for apply for a residence card  or family immigration (or for example a residence and work permit or a study permit).

You are an EEA national, and your family member who lives or is going to live in Norway is a Nordic national

• If you are an employee, self-employed, a service provider, a student or have sufficient funds, you can use the registration scheme independently of your family member.
• If your family member  who lives in Norway is an employee, self-employed, a service provider, a student or have sufficient funds, you can register through the registration scheme as a family member.
• You can apply for family immigration.
 

You are not an EEA national and your family member who lives or is going to live in Norway is a Nordic national

• If your family member who lives in Norway is an employee, self-employed, a service provider, a student or have sufficient funds, you can apply for a residence card.
• You can apply for family immigration.

You are a Nordic national

You do not need to register or apply for a residence permit in order to live or work in Norway.

Further questions?

If you have further questions about this topic, please contact the UDI's Information Service for Applicants (OTS).