The requirements for a permanent residence permit will vary, depending on your situation. Here you can find information about the requirements for a permanent residence permit.

You can find our estimated wait times for permanent residence permit or permanent right of residence here.

1. The police may grant applications for a permanent residence permit. Still, if the conditions are not met, or it is unclear whether they are met, the police must send the application for a permanent residence permit to UDI.
2. If the application for a permanent residence permit is sent to UDI, the police must renew your temporary residence permit if the conditions for this permit are met. This is done so that you have a valid residence permit while you wait for the application for permanent residence to be processed by UDI. If the police have granted you a temporary permit and sent your application for permanent residence to UDI, you will not receive the messages described in points 3 and 4.
3. When your application reaches UDI, we will notify you by email or SMS.
4. The application is now waiting to be processed by UDI. Once a month, you will receive a confirmation by email or SMS that your application is still in line. You can read more about the waiting time in our guide to waiting time for applications for permanent residence.
5. When your application is first in line, it will be considered. When UDI has made a decision, you will be notified by UDI or the police. If you have given any power of attorney in your case, this person will always receive the answer and must inform you.

You can request confirmation of legal residence while you wait for a decision on your application. UDI cannot provide any other type of confirmation.

If you have new documentation that may be relevant to your application, you can send it to UDI.

You can find the date you applied for permanent residency permit after you log in and go to "My applications". You can also find the date you applied on the receipt from the police.

Yes, the police will send you a letter if they send your application to UDI.

You can find information about booking an appointment with the police here (external website). UDI cannot help you with booking an appointment with the police.

Only the police have access to the booking calendar.

If you experience problems with booking an appointment, you must contact the police where you live (external website).

You can apply for an immigrant’s passport or a travel document.

An application for permanent residence permit is not the same as an application for an immigrant’s passport or travel document.

You can order a new residence card.

How to get a residence card.

You can find information about booking and attending an appointment. UDI cannot help you with booking an appointment with the police. If you are not able to order a residence card you need to contact the police where you live (external website). 

You can apply for an immigrant’s passport or a travel document.

An application for permanent residence permit is not the same as an application for an immigrant’s passport or travel document.

You should apply three months before meeting the residence requirement and at least one month before your residence permit expires. You can register your application in the Application Portal earlier, but you should submit your application and documents to the police three months before you meet the residence requirement.

The police process most applications for a permanent residence permit. If you apply earlier than three months, the police may forward your application to UDI.

Waiting times at the police (external website) are shorter than waiting times at UDI.

The job offer should be signed within the last few months before you apply for a permanent residence permit. You cannot use the same job offer form that you used for your previous application.

See frequently asked questions about residence permits for skilled workers

It is recommended that you have all your documents ready when you apply for a permanent residence permit. You can electronically register your application before all documents are ready, but you should bring everything to your appointment with the police.

If you do not have all the documents when submitting your application to the police, you will be given a new deadline to provide the documents. If you do not submit them by the deadline, the police will send your application to UDI for processing.

Waiting times at the police (external website) are shorter than waiting times at UDI

It depends on when your temporary residence permit expires. Either way, you must always make sure that you meet all the conditions of your temporary residence permit when the police or UDI make a formal decision in your case.

There are three months or less until you meet the residence requirement

You do not need to renew your residence permit if you apply for a permanent residence permit one month before your residence permit expires, and there are three months until you meet the residence requirement.

For example, if your residence permit expires on 1 June and you meet the residence requirement on 1 August, you do not need to renew your residence permit if you apply for a permanent residence permit on 1 May.

If you do not renew your temporary residence permit, you will not receive a new residence card before your application for a permanent residence permit has been processed. If your residence card expires before you receive a decision, you can order a confirmation of legal residence.

There are more than three months until you meet the residence requirement

You must renew or apply for a new residence permit if you apply for a permanent residence permit when there are more than three months until you meet the residence requirement. You must do this at least one month before your residence permit expires.

For example, if your residence permit expires on 1 June and you meet the residence requirement on 1 October, you must renew your temporary residence permit no later than 1 May and apply for a permanent residence permit separately.

To obtain a permanent residence permit, you must meet the conditions of your temporary residence permit until the police or UDI decide your case. Your residence permit decision states what type of work you may do.

New employer in the same type of position

If you have a new job with a new employer but in the same type of position, you do not need to apply for a new residence permit.

New type of position

If you have a new job in a new type of position, you must apply for a new residence permit, whether it is with the same employer or a new employer. You cannot start in a new type of position before receiving the new residence permit.

The application was sent to UDI, but your residence permit was not renewed

If your temporary residence permit was not renewed when your application was sent to UDI, you can order a confirmation of legal residence. Remember, you must always meet the conditions of your temporary residence permit to qualify for a permanent residence permit.

See frequently asked questions about residence permits for skilled workers

One of the requirements for a permanent residence permit is that you meet the conditions of your temporary residence permit at the time the police or UDI make a formal decision in your case, not when you applied.

For example, one of the conditions for a temporary residence permit as a skilled worker may be that you must work full-time. If you do not have a full-time job when the police or UDI make a formal decision in your case, you do not meet the conditions of the temporary residence permit and therefore do not meet the requirement for a permanent residence permit.

Your decision letter for your temporary residence permit shows the conditions that apply to your permit.

See frequently asked questions about residence permits for skilled workers

A residence permit as a job seeker does not qualify for permanent residence. To obtain a permanent residence permit, you must have lived continuously in Norway for the past three years with a residence permit that forms the basis for a permanent residence permit.

This means that the time you have spent in Norway as a job seeker does not count towards the three-year residence requirement for a permanent residence permit as a skilled worker.

One of the requirements for a permanent residence permit is that you have met the conditions of your temporary residence permit throughout the residence period.

For example, one of the conditions for a temporary residence permit as a skilled worker may be that you must work full-time. If you lose your job and receive unemployment benefits, you are no longer working full-time and therefore do not meet the conditions for your temporary residence permit. As a result, you do not meet the requirements for a permanent residence permit.

The decision letter for your temporary residence permit shows which conditions apply and what you must do if you lose your job.

See the frequently asked questions about residence permits for skilled workers

One of the requirements for a permanent residence permit is that you have met the conditions of your temporary residence permit throughout the residence period.

For example, one of the conditions for a temporary residence permit as a skilled worker may be that you must work full-time. If you lose your job or are laid off, you are no longer working full-time and therefore do not meet the conditions for your temporary residence permit. As a result, you do not meet the requirements for a permanent residence permit.

The decision letter for your temporary residence permit shows which conditions apply and what you must do if you lose your job.

See the frequently asked questions about residence permits for skilled workers

No, if you have a residence permit as a skilled worker with an employer in Norway, you cannot start a sole proprietorship or company. The decision letter for your residence permit shows which conditions apply.

Read more about your rights and obligations as a skilled worker

One of the requirements for obtaining a permanent residence permit is that you have lived continuously in Norway without long gaps and have not stayed outside Norway for too long. With a three-year residence requirement, you may stay abroad for up to seven months in total during the last three years, regardless of the reason.

Have you been on assignment for your employer abroad?

If you have a residence permit as a skilled worker, you may stay abroad for an additional eight months, but the stay must be on assignment for your employer. This means you may stay abroad for a total of 15 months during the last three years, but time abroad beyond seven months must be on assignment for your employer. When applying for a permanent residence permit, you must document this with a confirmation from your employer.

This does not apply to:

• Working from home abroad, even if your employer has approved the stay.
• Residence permits as a self-employed person.

Yes, but only if you have a valid residence card.

If your temporary residence permit has expired while you are waiting for a formal decision on your permanent residence application, you do not have a valid residence card.

To obtain a valid residence card, you must either apply to renew your temporary residence permit or wait until your permanent residence application has been processed.

Read more about travelling abroad