If you have a permanent residence permit, the UDI can decide that your residence permit is no longer valid.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.
If you lose your permanent residence permit, you also lose your Norwegian travel documents.
How will I be notified that I risk losing my residence permit?
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You may be called in for an interview with the police
If we need more information about your case, the police or UDI may invite you in for an interview.
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You will be notified about revocation in advance
If UDI believes that your residence permit should be rescinded, UDI will notify you in advance and ask you to provide your perspective regarding the case. You may receive legal assistance to write the reply and your legal fees will be covered.
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You are entitled to legal assistance
If you receive advance notification or a decision concerning revocation, you have the right to have expenses for legal assistance covered. You must contact a lawyer yourself. See examples of how to do so here (external website)
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You have a right to see the documents in your case
If you wish to see the documents in your case, you must request access to the documents here.
Reasons for losing your residence permit
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You have provided incorrect information in your case
If you have provided incorrect information in your case, UDI may decide that your residence permit should be revoked. The information must be significant to your case in order for UDI to be legally allowed to decide to revoke your permit.
UDI may also decide that your residence permit should be revoked if you have withheld information of importance to your case.
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You have provided incorrect information about your identity
UDI may decide to revoke your residence permit if you have given us incorrect information about your identity.
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You have stayed abroad for too long
You cannot stay abroad for more than two years
You can lose your permanent residence permit if you stay abroad for too long.
- You cannot stay abroad for a continuous period of two years or more.
- You cannot have multiple stays that total two years or more during a four-year period.
- Stays lasting less than two months per calendar year are not deemed to constitute stays abroad in this context.
- If you stay in Norway for a continuous period of 15 months, you can stay abroad for a new period of up to two years.
You can apply to keep your permanent residence permit
If you are going to stay outside Norway for more than two years and wish to keep your permanent residence permit, you must apply for permission.
Exemption for those who have been abused in a relationship
In very special circumstances you can keep your permanent residence permit even if you have stayed abroad for two years or more. You must fill these four requirements:
- You must previously have had a residence permit in Norway for family immigration with a spouse, partner or cohabitant.
- You have, against your will, been unable to return to Norway
- You, or your child, have been a victim of domestic abuse. By abuse we mean that you are a victim of physical or psychological violence
- Your relationship with your spouse or cohabitant must now be finished.
You must contact Norwegian authorities as soon as this is practically possible after you were unable to return against your will, and give information about your situation.
The exemption does not cover children who, against their will, have been unable to return or unmarried persons over the age of 18 who have been kept from returning by their parents or others.
How will I be informed that I have lost my residence permit?
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You will receive a decision from UDI
If UDI decides that you will lose your residence permit, you will receive a decision from UDI. The decision will state why UDI is revoking your residence permit.
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You can appeal the decision
You can appeal the decision on revocation. See https://www.udi.no/ord-og-begreper/klage-pa-et-vedtak/#link-1009 for more information.
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You are entitled to legal assistance
If you receive advance notification or a decision concerning revocation, you have the right to have expenses for legal assistance covered. You must contact a lawyer yourself. See examples of how to do so here (external website)
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You have a right to see the documents in your case
If you wish to see the documents in your case, you must request access to the documents here.
Must I leave Norway?
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You can be granted a new permit
UDI will consider whether you can be granted a new permit, for example if:
- you have a particular connection to Norway
- there are strong humanitarian considerations in your case, or
- if you are protected against refoulement (return)
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You may need to leave Norway
If your permit is not renewed, you must leave Norway. The decision states whether you must leave Norway, and what the deadline for leaving the country is.