Questions and answers

• How do I submit new documentation?

  If you have new documentation which is important for your application, you can send it to UDI.

• What happens to my application while I wait?

  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.

• How long do I have to wait for an answer to my application?

  Go to our guide to waiting time for residence permits for work.

• Am I allowed to enter Norway before I have received an answer to my application?

  Rules for seasonal workers

  • 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.

  Rules for skilled workers

  Please check whether you qualify as a skilled worker.

  • 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

  Rules for others applicants

  All other employees must wait to enter Norway until they have received an answer to their application.

• Can I get an entry visa for skilled workers?

  Skilled workers who need a visa to visit Norway can in some cases be issued an entry visa, so that they can travel to Norway in order to hand in their application for a residence permit to the police, or wait for an answer to their application for a residence permit.

  Such a visa does not entitle you to work in Norway, but it does entitle you to stay in Norway while you wait for UDI to process your application for a residence permit.  

  To be granted such a visa, it must be probable that your application for a residence permit for skilled workers will be granted.

  Please note! If you already have been granted a residence permit for work, you should not apply for an entry visa for skilled workers.

  Requirements for entry visas

  • You must have applied for, or are going to apply for, a residence permit for skilled workers with an employer in Norway or a residence permit for athletes or coaches.
  • You must have received a concrete job offer from one specific employer in Norway.
  • The job must normally be full-time.
  • You must have qualifications as a skilled worker.
  • The job you are offered must require qualifications as a skilled worker. You must have the qualifications that the job requires.
  • If you are going to work in an occupation for which approval or authorisation is required (external website), you must have such approval or authorisation. Health personnel, for example, must enclose an authorisation or licence from the Norwegian Directorate of Health (external website).

  How to apply for an entry visa

  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.

• Can I receive healthcare while I wait for an answer to my application for a residence permit?

  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).

  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.

• Am I allowed to start working before I have received an answer to my application?

  As a rule, you cannot.

  However, you can start working if you have applied for a residence permit for a skilled worker with an employer in Norway and already have received a confirmation of early employment start from the police.

• Can I request priority?

  Very few applications can be prioritised. To request priority, you must send us

  • a detailed explanation
  • documentation, for example a medical certificate

  You cannot request priority by phone, chat or email.

  Visit our Can I request priority-page?-page and choose the alternative that best describes your situation for more information about priority.

• What do I do if I move before my application is processed?

  You are registered in the National Population Register

  You have to report your new address to the National Population Register (external website) as soon as you know you will be moving. UDI automatically receives your new address from the register.

  You are in Norway, but not registered in the National Population Register

  If you are in Norway, and you move before your application has been processed, you must notify the police of your move no later than one week after you have moved. You can notify the police where you are moving to, or where you lived before.

  You are abroad

  If you are abroad, and you move before UDI has processed your application, you must notify the embassy or consulate where you submitted your application. If you fail to do this, you risk not receiving the answer to your application. 

• How can I withdraw my application and get a refund of my fee?

  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 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.