When you apply, UDI will consider which group you belong to, and whether you meet the requirements. Here you can check for yourself what the requirements are for the most common groups of applicants. Remember that you may belong to more than one group.
Which group do you belong to?
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Employee or self-employed person
Requirements for being granted permanent right of residence
In order to be granted permanent right of residence you must, as a rule, have been here continuously for five years and have had a right of residence throughout the period. That is, you must have been an employee, self-employed person, student, lived here with sufficient funds or been here as a family member of such a person.
If you are an employee or self-employed person, you can be granted permanent right of residence after a shorter period of residence in Norway if you
- take early retirement or become and old-age pensioner after having stayed in Norway for a continuous period of more than three years and having worked here for at least the past twelve months
- become permanently incapacitated for work after having stayed in Norway for a continuous period of more than two years
- become permanently incapacitated for work as a result of an accident at work or occupational illness that entitles you to full or partial public benefits (in such case, no requirements apply as to how long you must have stayed in Norway)
- have worked and stayed in Norway for a continuous period of three years in the past and are now working in another EEA country and commuting to your place of residence in Norway at least once a week.
In such case, these exemptions will also apply to family members who live with you.
How to applyCalculation of residence period
The residence time is reckoned from the day you fulfilled the requirements to have a right of residence in Norway.
Absence that will not be deducted in the calculation of the residence period
'Continuous residence' means that you cannot have stayed abroad for more than six months during a year. We accept longer stays abroad if they are shorter than 12 continuous months and are due to either
- pregnancy or childbirth,
- serious illness,
- research stays, studies or vocational training,
- secondment abroad, or
- military or civilian national service (in this case, we can accept stays that exceed 12 months).
If there have been periods when you have been involuntarily unemployed or if there have been temporary interruptions in your work period, or you have been unable to work due to a serious illness or accident, you must include this time in your residence period.
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Family member
How to applyRequirements for being granted permanent right of residence
You can be granted permanent right of residence if you have stayed in Norway for a continuous period of five years after having used the registration scheme for EU/EEA nationals and their family members.
Some people can be granted permanent right of residence before five years have elapsed
If your family member is in Norway as an employee or self-employed person, you can both be granted permanent right of residence after a shorter residence period if he or she
- takes early retirement or becomes an old-age pensioner after having stayed in Norway for a continuous period of more than three years and has worked here for at least the past twelve months
- becomes permanently incapacitated for work after having stayed in Norway for a continuous period of more than two years
- becomes permanently incapacitated for work as a result of an accident at work or occupational illness that entitles him or her to full or partial public benefits (in such case, no requirements apply as to how long he or she must have stayed in Norway)
- has worked and stayed in Norway for a continuous period of three years in the past and is now working in another EEA country and commuting to his or her place of residence in Norway at least once a week
If your family member is in Norway as an employee, you can also be granted permanent right of residence if:
- the employee dies and you have had legal residence in Norway for a continuous period of two years, or
- the employee dies as a result of an accident at work or an occupational illness
Calculation of residence period
The residence time is reckoned from the day you fulfilled the requirements to have a right of residence in Norway.
Absence that will not be deducted in the calculation of the residence period
'Continuous residence' means that you cannot have stayed abroad for more than six months during a year. We accept longer stays abroad if they are shorter than 12 continuous months and are due to either
- pregnancy or childbirth,
- serious illness,
- research stays, studies or vocational training,
- secondment abroad, or
- military or civilian national service (in this case, we can accept stays that exceed 12 months).
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Other type of EU/EEA national
Requirements for being granted permanent right of residence
In order to be granted permanent right of residence you must
- have stayed in Norway for a continuous period of five years holding residence permits and/or using the registration scheme for EU/EEA nationals
- have been here as a an employee, self-employed person, service provider, have lived here with sufficient funds of your own or been a student
How to applyCalculation of residence period
The residence time is reckoned from the day you fulfilled the requirements to have a right of residence in Norway.
Absence that will not be deducted in the calculation of the residence period
'Continuous residence' means that you cannot have stayed abroad for more than six months during a year. We accept longer stays abroad if they are shorter than 12 continuous months and are due to either
- pregnancy or childbirth,
- serious illness,
- research stays, studies or vocational training,
- secondment abroad, or
- military or civilian national service (in this case, we can accept stays that exceed 12 months).