What is a residence card?

The residence card confirms that you have been granted a permanent residence permit in Norway. The card also states that you are entitled to travel freely in the Schengen area. The residence card is not proof of identity, and you must still bring your passport when you travel.

If you are an EU/EEA national, you will not be issued a residence card.

How to get the residence card

• To be issued a residence card, you must go to the police in the place where you live. You must book an appointment in advance. 
• Log in to the Application Portal and book an appointment (external website). You first choose your application for a permanent residence permit, and then book the appointment under the header 'Has your application already been granted?'.
• If you are having problems booking an appointment online, you will need to call your local police district to book an appointment. You cannot call the UDI to book an appointment.

If you are under the age of 18, your parents/guardian must accompany you to the police.  

What happens when you go to the police?

The police will take your fingerprints and photo, and will then order your residence card. 

How long will it take until you get the card?

It will take at least ten working days from your appointment with the police until you receive the card in the post. Please check that you are registered with the correct postal address and that your name is on your letter box. If not, the card will not reach you. If the card is lost in the mail, it will take another ten working days until you can get a new one. 

If you are planning trips abroad, you should therefore make sure there is plenty of time between your appointment with the police and your planned departure date. 

Remember to renew the card

The residence card will be valid for two years. Please remember to order a new residence card before the old one expires. 

What is a residence card?

A residence card is a plastic card in credit card format that proves that you have been granted a residence permit in Norway. The police will order a residence card for you.

Most people can get a residence card without booking a new appointment with the police. The police will send you the residence card in the mail, and you do not have to book an appointment. Read below who must book an appointment to get a residence card.

What do you need to do to receive the card in the mail?

• Register as a new mail recipient in Norway (external website) at Posten, if you have not already done so.
• Check that you are registered with the correct postal address at Posten (external website), if you are already registered as a postal recipient. The site requires login with BankID or MinID.
• Make sure you have your name on the mailbox, otherwise you will not receive the card. If the card gets lost in the mail, it will take at least another ten business days before you can get a new one.
• You should not book trips abroad until you have received the new residence card.

Who must book an appointment to get a residence card?

• You who have an expired Norwegian alien's passport or travel document for refugees, which you have not already given to the police.
• If you have applied for a residence permit in accordance with the Brexit regulations, you will be notified to book an appointment after your application has been processed.

At the police, you must take a picture and give fingerprints.

How to book an appointment?

Booking an appointment in the Application Portal:

If you used the Application Portal to register your application, you can now log in here to book the appointment (external website).

Booking an appointment by phone:

If you did not use the Application Portal when you applied for a residence permit, you must instead call your local police district to book an appointment. You cannot call the UDI to book an appointment.

Please notify the Norwegian Tax Administration / Population Register if you move, either to a new address in Norway or into/out of Norway.

Losing a permit means that the UDI has decided that the residence permit is no longer valid. It may mean that you are no longer allowed to live in Norway or that you will be granted a new residence permit, and your residence period in Norway will restart.

There may be different reasons why you lose your residence permit, for example, if you:

• have stayed outside Norway for a continuous period of two years or for a total period of two years during a four-year period (if you wish to stay abroad for more than two years, you must apply for this)
• have provided incorrect information in your case

Here you will find more information about revoking a permanent residence permit.