In our waiting time guide, you will find regularly updated information about the waiting time for your type of application. This is the most accurate and up-to-date information we have about waiting times, and you will not receive other information about waiting times even if you contact us.

The information about waiting times in this article applies to all cases except applications for protection, which have a different way of informing about waiting times.

The waiting time you find on our website is calculated from when you have submitted the documents for the application to the police in Norway or at the application center/embassy abroad.

The period you have to wait from the time you registered the application until you show up and deliver the documents is not included in the UDI waiting time. How long you have to wait to get an appointment varies, and due to the corona situation, there can be a long wait in some places.

Waiting times at the police or the application center/embassy

The UDI cannot answer questions about waiting time and appointments with the police or application center/embassy.

• I will deliver documents to the police
  • Information about where to show up based on what you are applying for (external website)
  • To find information from the police where you live, you must enter your municipality at the bottom of this page (external website) and then select the relevant police station in the list that appears.
    
    
• I will deliver my documents abroad
  • information from the various embassies (external website)
  • information from the application centers (external website)

Can the waiting time for my application change?

Yes, it can. The waiting time we state will tell you what the waiting time is for the applications we process now. If it says that the waiting time is six months, then the cases we make decisions in now are approximately six months old. We update the waiting times every month.

We may have to change the waiting times. For example, this may be because we have received more applications than expected or that we must change the priority of the cases. When we change the waiting times, the new waiting time applies to new applications and the applications that have already been submitted and are in line.

So if, for example, you applied three months ago and the waiting time changes from six to seven months, then the new waiting time of seven months also applies to your case. We therefore recommend that you check on our website whether the waiting time has been adjusted for your case type before contacting us.

Can the waiting time be longer than what the UDI states?

Yes, we have to do research in some cases, and then processing the application will take longer. For example, we may have to send the case to the police or to an embassy to conduct an interview, perform a DNA test, check if a document is valid or if the information we have received from you as an applicant or from other places is correct.

The length of time that the police or embassy spends conducting interviews, recording DNA or conducting other investigations varies from place to place. You can find information about waiting times at the police on their website (external website) and about waiting times at the embassy on the embassy's website (external website). The UDI cannot answer how long you have to wait for investigations at the police or the embassy.

In some cases, we must first decide on your family member's application before deciding in your case. If there are things in your family member's case that make the case take a long time, it may mean that your case also takes longer.

If your case has taken longer than what is stated as the waiting time for your case type and you have not been notified of this, you can contact us.

Residence permit for victims of abuse

If you have applied for an independent residence permit because you have been abused by your spouse or cohabitant, you will normally receive an answer to your application within 16 months. 

Residence permit for medical treatment

If you have applied for a residence permit for medical treatment for citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA area, you will normally receive an answer to your application within 12 months.

If you are going to be interviewed by the embassy or the police, it may take longer before you receive an answer to your application. You will be notified if you are going to be interviewed. 

Residence permit for those who had a Norwegian mother or father when they were born

If you have applied for a residence permit for those who had a Norwegian mother or father when they were born, you will normally receive an answer to your application within 12 months. 

Residence permit because of strong humanitarian considerations or because you have a special connection with Norway

If you have applied for a residence permit because of strong humanitarian considerations or because you have a special connection with Norway (humanitarian grounds), you will normally receive an answer to your application within 12 months.

Application to have your legal expenses or other necessary expenses related to an appeal covered

You will normally receive an answer to your application within 6 months.

This information was last updated on

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If you are going to register with the police as an EU/EEA national, there is usually some waiting time to get an appointment. You have to check the waiting time in your local police district (external website, opens in new window).

Many persons have applied for a residence permit in accordance with the Brexit regulations. You must therefore expect to wait for an answer for quite some time. Most applicants will receive an answer in 2022.

The deadline for applying for a Brexit permit is 31 December 2021. If you have applied you do not have to leave Norway after 31 December 2021, but you can continue to live and work here until you have received an answer to your application.