1. Once you have submitted your application documents, your case is forwarded to UDI. When UDI receives your application, you will be notified by email or SMS. 
2. The application is now waiting to be processed by UDI. Normally, the oldest cases are processed first. When your application is first in line, UDI will check your case.
3. If information or documents are missing from your application, we will contact you.
4. If your application is complete and does not require additional investigations, we will consider your case and send a decision to you.
5. In some cases, UDI must do additional investigations. It is difficult to estimate your waiting time if we must do additional investigations. You can read more about what additional investigations may involve.

• If you do not need a visa to visit Norway, you can enter Norway before you have received an answer to you application.
• If you need a visa, you must wait until you have received an answer to your application before you can enter Norway.

• If you do not need a visa to visit Norway or if you have a valid visa, you can enter Norway and stay here until your application has been decided, even if your visa or the visa-free period expires in the meantime. 
• If you need a visa to visit Norway and the police have given your employer confirmation that you can start working before you application has been processed (early employment start scheme), a Norwegian embassy or consulate will issue you an entry visa. You can then stay in Norway until you have received an answer to your application.
• If you do need a visa to visit Norway and your employer has not been given confirmation of early employment start, you must apply for an entry visa for skilled workers. If you are granted an entry visa, you can enter Norway and stay here until you have received an answer to your application

1. You must apply at a Norwegian embassy. If you live in a country where a Swedish or Danish embassy represents Norwegian authorities, you must contact a Norwegian embassy in a country where Norwegian authorities are not represented by a Swedish or Danish embassy. Please see our overview of embassies in order to check if the embassy is Norwegian or not.
2. Submit an application for a visitor visa, but write in the application that you wish to be granted an entry visa (D visa).
3. If you haven't already submitted your application for a residence permit, you must now submit all the documents on the checklist for skilled workers.
4. The embassy will consider your application for an entry visa. If your application is rejected, you can submit a written appeal to the embassy. The embassy will consider your application again. If they do not grant it, they will send it to UDI. UDI will consider the application again, and either reject it or grant it.

UDI cannot answer what your rights are concerning healthcare. You can read about this on Helsenorge's website (external website).

Everyone who resides in Norway is entitled to urgent medical care (external website), and everyone who stays in Norway is entitled to free healthcare if they have been infected with the coronavirus (external website).

If you have a renewable residence permit in Norway and you apply for renewal at least one month before your permit expires, you have the same rights during the waiting period as you had before.

The application fee can only be refunded if you have not yet attended your appointment to hand in the application in person. If you have sent an application where you are not required to meet in person, but only need to upload the application documents electronically, you cannot get the fee refunded after you have uploaded the documents.   

If you want your application fee refunded, you must contact the police district or the embassy responsible for your application. UDI cannot assist you with reimbursement. 

If you have already handed in your application in person but wish to withdraw it, even if you will not be reimbursed, you must notify us in writing. You can write a short letter explaining that you wish to withdraw your application. The letter must be signed by you, the applicant. You must send the letter electronically. When we receive the information that you want to withdraw your application, we will dismiss the case and send you a written confirmation.