This section provides an overview of how long it takes to process applications received by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI).
Most applicants would like their applications to be processed faster. To ensure equal treatment, we are not able to prioritize applications, unless there are special circumstances concerning the application that must be considered.
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Expected processing times
The period taken to process a case is calculated from the day we receive the application from the police or at the embassy or consulate, until the day we takes a decision on the case. In the case of applications for citizenship, the period is calculated from the day the application is submitted, until a decision is taken or, until citizenship is granted.
Information about case-processing times is intended as a guide. Some cases make take shorter or longer time to process.
The case-processing times indicate how long it has taken us to process most of the applications the last three months.
Not constant
The table is updated every third month because the case-processing times are changing. This means that the case-processing times for your application can be changed after it has been submitted.
Prioritised applications
The Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion (AID) has decided that the following types of cases are to be prioritised: Applications from children under the age of 18 applying alone, applications for work permits and family immigration with migrant workers, applications for residence for study purposes before the start of the academic year and applications for temporary residence from victims of human trafficking.
Applications processed by the police and diplomatic missions abroad
It is not always the UDI that decides cases. The police and the embassies/consulates can also take decisions on many kinds of cases.
If your application is to be processed by the police or an embassy/consulate you should ask at the place you submitted your application when you can expect an answer. The case-processing times vary from place to place.
The police process nearly all applications for residence permits under EU/EEA/EFTA regulations and most applications for the renewal of permits and certain types of application that can be submitted within Norway. However, the police cannot reject applications and therefore send applications to the UDI if they are in any doubt about what decision to make.
The embassies/consulates process nearly all applications for a visa, and are able either to approve or reject such applications. Appeals against rejection and applications about which there is some doubt are processed by the UDI.
