Provide information about you and your family member in order to check to check whether you must use one of the schemes or if you can choose between the two.

If you have the option to choose between the two schemes, you should check which suits you the best. 

Short overview:  Advantages and disadvantages to the two schemes 

Family immigration 

• You can apply for a permanent residence permit after three years in Norway.
• You must pay an application fee.
• You will get the rights described in the introduction programme (external website), for example the right to Norwegian classes.
• The reference person must have an income of 

  NOK 300 988 per year pre-tax

  . In addition, the reference person’s income last year must have been at about the same level. The reference person cannot have received any financial assistance from NAV (økonomisk sosialhjelp) during the last 12 months. Please check the income requirements, what kind of income that counts and whether you can be exempted from any of the requirements.

Residence card 

• You can apply for permanent right of residence after five years in Norway.
• No application fee.
• The reference person does not have to have the same level of income as when you apply for a family immigration permit.
• If you wish, you can apply for a family immigration permit at a later time.
• The case processing time is generally shorter than for family immigration permits.
• You do not have the rights described in the introduction programme (external website).