Application for a Residence Permit
A child who is in the care of the Child Welfare Services, and who is not an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child, may in certain circumstances apply for a residence permit in Norway on humanitarian grounds.
Signing the Application
The child should sign the application if they are able to do so.
As a general rule, the parent or parents with parental responsibility must also sign the application.
If neither the child nor the parents are able to sign, the Child Welfare Services may sign on the child's behalf. In such cases, the Child Welfare Services must provide a written explanation of why the parents were unable to sign.
Responsibility of the Child Welfare Services
The Child Welfare Services are responsible for:
- Providing information about the child's current care arrangements.
- Supplying documentation showing that the child is under their care.
- Supporting the child through the application process.
- Explaining any exceptional circumstances where required documentation or signatures cannot be obtained.
Application Process
The application must be submitted together with supporting documentation, including:
- A passport and copies of all used pages (unless the child was born in Norway).
- A birth certificate.
- Documentation confirming that the child has been taken into care.
- Information from the Child Welfare Services regarding the child's current care situation.
- An explanation if any required documents cannot be provided.
The child and the parent or parents with parental responsibility will normally attend a police appointment to submit the application and supporting documents. If the parents are unable to attend, the Child Welfare Services may attend with the child instead.