It is important to note that this new system means that after you have visited the police and they have ordered the card for you, is will take up to 10 working days until you receive the card by post.
I have a sticker in my passport which is still valid, should I get a residence card anyway?
No, the sticker is valid until the expiry date, and you do not need a residence card as long as the sticker is valid. If you renew your permit, you will receive a residence card.
A new arrangement will be introduced later this year for those who wish to replace a valid sticker with a residence card. You can then pay a fee of NOK 300 to be issued a residence card. Before this arrangement is introduced, it will only be possible to replace a valid sticker with a residence card in exceptional cases. Information about when this arrangement is to be introduced will be available at www.udi.no.
I am going to renew my residence permit, will I have to get a residence card?
Yes, both those who get a residence permit for the first time, and those who renew their permit after May 25 will get a residence card.
What is a residence card?
The card is not proof of identity or a travel document. It is proof that you have a residence permit in Norway. Unless otherwise stated on the card, it will also be your proof that you can travel freely within the Schengen area. You must still bring your passport when travelling, so that you have a valid proof of identity.
The card is the size of a credit card and contains the following information: name, date and place of birth, citizenship, gender, type of permit, period of validity, when and where the card was issued, comments, photo and signature. There will also be a chip in the card with biometric information in the form of a photo and the fingerprints of the cardholder. This information will only be stored in the card itself.
What do I have do to get the card?
It is not necessary to apply for a card. When you are granted a residence permit, you will at the same time receive a letter which informs you that you must visit the police to have your fingerprints and photo taken so that the police can order a residence card for you. You will receive the card by post within ten working days of the date you visited the police.
If you previously have had a residence sticker in your passport, the police will remove this when they order the residence card for you. This means that you will not have a proof of your residence permit during the 10 days before you receive your residence card. If you are travelling out of the country, you should therefore order the card well in advance.
For a while, during the transition to the new system, it may say in the letter you receive when you are granted your residence permit that you should visit the police to get a sticker. Please disregard this. Everyone who visits the police after May 25, will get a residence card instead of a sticker.
I have right of residence in Norway as a family member of an EU/EEA national, but I am not a EU/EEA national myself, can I get a residence card?
Yes. You who have a letter which confirms that you have right of residence in Norway on those terms can now get a residence card. If you plan to travel abroad, we recommend that you get such a card. It is important to note that it will take 10 days from the date the card is ordered until you receive it by post. Therefore you must visit the police to have your photograph and fingerprints taken in plenty of time before you are going travelling.
What happens if I lose the card?
If you lose the card, you must notify the police. They will order a new card for you, but you must pay a fee of NOK 300.
Read more about residence cards.
