A Comprehensive Guide About Norway Residence Permit Requirements

One of the distinguishing features of Norway is its technological and information soundness. Norway is a Scandinavian country located in the Schengen area. Therefore, it is mandatory for the foreign nationals to apply for a visa and a residence permit.

The visa application is based on your intended purpose. In simple words, it means that if you want to undertake a study plan in Norway, you are supposed to apply for the student visa. On the other hand, if you are in search of a job, you are required to apply for a work visa.

Types of Norwegian Visas:
Norwegian authorities offer the following visas to the foreign nationals. Make sure your application form is filled according to your intentions.

1- Study visa
2- Work visa or employment visa
3- Refugees visa or visa for asylum seekers
4- Norwegian medical treatment visa
5- Family reunification visa

A Residence Permit and Its Types:

You must have a valid reason for residing in Norway such as family reunification, study, medical treatment and job. Therefore for any of the above mentioned purposes, you should have a valid residence permit that allows you to stay for more than 90 days.

There Are Two Types Of Residence Permit:

1- Temporary residence permit: it is the type of permit that is issued for 1-3 years. This permit can be renewed. The most common include:

A- Residence permit for employment
B- Study residence permit
3- Norway family reunification permit

2- Permanent residence permit: it is received subsequent to your stay in Norway for consecutive three years. In other words, if you want to receive a permanent residence permit, you must have lived in Norway continuously for three years. If you get a permanent residence permit, you can live and work for an unspecified period. In this scenario all you need to do is to renew your residence permit every two years.

The Residence Permit For The Refugees

Norway has the distinguishing feature of extending a residence permit on humanitarian grounds. Persecuted citizens around the world can apply for refugee visas. This type of visa is processed speedily. It may take almost 2-3 weeks to process a refugee visa.

Standardised documents required for the residence permit:

Application of residence permit requires some important documents. However, your visa application may require some additional documents that should be procured otherwise your application form is rejected.

• Visa application form; Make sure to download your visa application form and fill it out by providing correct information
• Make sure you have a valid passport containing two empty pages for stamps.
• Cover letter is mandatory for the visa application form. It contains information regarding your intended stay, the date of your return.
• Visa: visa is mandatory requirement for non European citizens . there are few exemptions such as citizens from EU, EEA and some other nations require no visa for entrance but for residence permit they should consult the local authorities
• Proof of accommodation: Proof of accommodation is the information about the place of you stay. It can be hotel booking, rental agreement, letter of invitation from your sibling, friend and other relative.
• Flight reservation: if you are planning to travel to Norway, you are required to have your flight reserved. Making a flight reservation with a Schengen Flight Reservation Visa is a wise decision.
• Proof of health insurance: All the Schengen countries require a visa applicant to have travel health coverage. It must not be less than 30,000 euros. Your health insurance should cover all your medical expenses such as emergency medical treatment, and emergency medical evacuation
• Your visa application needs two identical pictures. The pictures must be clear, covering 80% of your face. Schengen countries require a white background for photographs

What Is The Process Of Getting A Residence Permit?

As already mentioned above, you are eligible to get a residence permit if you get enrolled into a Norwegian educational institute for your degree or you find a job. In the same way you can also apply for the residence permit if you are a family member of a Norwegian citizen.

• Register yourself on the website of Norwegian Directorate of Immigration. Fill out the online for with accurate details
• On completion, you will receive an email along with a cover letter. You are supposed to submit the above mentioned to the embassy of Norway in your country. Your application form has a specific fee that must be paid
• You also have to pay your residence permit fee through your debit card on the website of Norwegian Directorate of immigration also called UDI
• Make sure to submit all the required documents online, book an appointment in the Norwegian embassy, consulate or visa application centre. Submitted all the documents in person. Consequently, the embassy, consulate or the visa application centre will forward your application to UDI.
• UDI is the concerned authority that finally processes your visa and notifies you about it.
• Wait until the UDI issues you an entry visa and collect it from the embassy

Additional Documents Required For A Business Or Entrepreneurship:
You can establish your business in Norway.  Foreign entrepreneurs are allowed to register their business. Following additional documents should be presented;

1- A business licence is required
2- Statement of your bank transaction in the last 6 months or so
3- The projected profit must be 25 thousand euros per year
4- Make sure your prospective business is a long term in nature

What Are The Advantages Of A Norwegian Residence Permit?
Norway is not a part of the European Union but it is a Schengen nation. Therefore the visa holder of Norway has the right to travel around all the Schengen region. Moreover you can have the following advantages.

1- To get a high quality free education
2- Highly paid employment
3- you can get a permanent residence permit with the passage of time
4- The right to establish private business in a country that has a sound system of business related laws and human rights law