Person with own funds

The conditions for living in Norway based on your own funds are that you are financially independent and can manage on your own money during your entire stay in Norway. You are not entitled to financial assistance or benefits from the Norwegian authorities. You must have an insurance policy that covers health services in Norway until your stay exceeds 12 months. This means that if you are going to stay in Norway for less than 12 months, you must be covered for the duration of your stay.

Requirements

  • You are financially independent.
    You have enough money to manage yourself when you are in Norway. If you have family members moving in with you, you also need to have enough money to support your family members.

    If you are single, you must normally have at least

    NOK 255 191 per year before tax

    .

    If you plan to attend a folk high school, you must have enough money to live on and pay the tuition fee. If you plan to live at the school, it’s sufficient if you have at least NOK 130,745 for the 2026/2027 school year. If you plan to live in a private home with board and lodging covered, it’s sufficient if you have enough money for the tuition fee and at least NOK 3,922 per month.

    You are responsible for having enough money to live on and work in Norway, and you are not entitled to financial assistance or benefits from the Norwegian authorities.

    You can document that you have enough money by showing:
    • a bank statement showing that you have enough money in your account, or
    • a bank statement showing that you regularly receive money in your account, as well as documentation of where this money comes from, or
    • documentation that you receive a pension from your home country

  • You must have private health insurance
    You must have private health insurance or, if you are retired, you must document that you are entitled to healthcare (see information below).

    You must document that you have insurance that covers health services for the period of stay in Norway. This means that the insurance must cover all expenses in connection with illness or other health conditions. To stay in Norway on your own funds, you must be financially independent, and you are thus not entitled to free healthcare in Norway. You must be covered by insurance until your stay in Norway exceeds 12 months. This means that if you are going to stay in Norway for less than 12 months, you must be covered for the duration of your stay.

    Where to buy insurance?
    UDI cannot recommend where to buy insurance. Several insurance companies offer international health insurance. If you choose an insurance that does not cover expenses for follow-up or treatment of a pre-existing condition or pregnancy and childbirth, you will have to cover the related costs yourself when you are in Norway. 

    If you are retired
    You must document that you are entitled to healthcare by obtaining a S1 certificate from the country you receive a pension from. Information about S1 certificate can be found here: Health rights for pensioners (external website).

Rights and obligations

  • You can work in Norway. If you change the basis of your stay from your own funds to an employee, self-employed person or family member of an EU/EEA citizen who is an employee or self-employed, you will no longer be required to have health insurance. See the conditions you must meet to be an employee, self-employed or family member. If you are retired and are going to start working, you must notify Helfo (external website).
  • You can bring your family to Norway. They must also register according to the EU/EEA regulations. 
  • If you do not have enough money to manage financially in Norway, you will have to leave Norway unless you fulfil the requirements for residence on other grounds such as employment.
  • After 5 years in Norway, you may be granted a permanent right of residence if you fulfil the conditions.

How the registration scheme works

  • You can move to Norway and start working right away, but you must register no later than three months after your arrival in Norway.
  • You only need to register once, regardless of how long you will be living in Norway. You can also, for example, go from being a student to being employed without having to re-register.
  • While you live in Norway, you must belong to one of the residence categories described on this page. You may be an employee, self-employed, family member, student, have your own funds, or be employed by a foreign company. If you are a student or are here on your own funds, you must have insurance.
  • If you meet the requirements for registering, the police will issue you a registration certificate.
  • Registration is free.