Moving to Norway from the UK

The main types of Norwegian visas for UK citizens include:

• Norway Work Visa: This is a long-term visa that’s ideal for British citizens who have found employment with a Norwegian company.
• Norwegian Student Visa: This is a long-term visa as well, issued to international students who are looking to pursue their studies in a Norwegian educational institution.
• Norway Family Visa: This is also a long-term visa usually issued to the family members of Norwegian citizens or residents.
• Norway Visa for Business Purposes: this allows foreign nationals to Norway to establish and manage businesses in the country.

There are also other visas, including those for medical treatment and transit.

Each visa has specific requirements to meet and documents to provide during the application process to ensure that you have a high chance of success. We can help you complete and submit a high standard application and advise on the documents that will boost your chances. For more information on how we can help you move to Norway from the UK, please call us on 0333 305 9375 or chat with us online via live chat.

If you are moving to Norway from the UK, you have to fulfil certain conditions to be eligible for the Norway residence permit.

In this regard, if you are moving for work, you need to have a job with a Norwegian employer and have a qualifying salary as well. And if you are moving for studies, you must first get accepted into a Norwegian educational institution and have sufficient funds to sustain yourself while living there.

On the other hand, if you are joining a family member in Norway, you must be a close family member (partner, spouse, child) of someone already residing in Norway legally, and they must be able to sustain you financially. Your close family members can join you and settle in Norway at any time in the future.

Before making an application for a residence permit, you must submit the following vital documents.

• Your passport: Besides your original passport, attach copies of the personal information page as well as all used pages (The ones with visas or entry points on them).
• The cover letter: Once you are through with the online application, you’ll receive this document in your email, and you only need to print it and subsequently attach it to your application.
• Passport-size photos: These photos should be recent and feature a white background.
• Proof of accommodation: This should be a rental agreement or another proof showing you have a place to live after moving to Norway from the UK.
• If you are moving to Norway from the UK for work, you’ll need to submit your offer of employment form, proof that your wages meet the income requirements, proof of your academic qualifications, Your CV as well as proof of previous employment experience.
• Other documents as it pertains to your purpose in Norway. For example:
  • If you are moving to Norway from the UK to study and are looking for a study permit, you’ll have to submit your letter of admission, and proof you have sufficient financial means to sustain your stay in Norway.
  • If you are moving to join family members, you’ll have to show proof of family relationship, proof your family member earns or has enough funds to sustain you financially, and proof the family member hasn’t received social benefits in the last 12 months.

Once you meet the above-described requirements, you’ll have to undergo the following application process:

• Gather the required documents, depending on the purpose of your travel.
• Apply online: You’ll need to register on the official UDI website (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration) and finish your online application. And once you are done, you will get an email along with a cover letter, which you’ll submit to the Embassy.
• Pay the application fee. On the official UDI website, you also have to pay the residence permit fee through a credit or debit card.
• Submit your documents: After gathering all the necessary documents and completing your online application, schedule an appointment at your nearest Norwegian embassy, Visa/Consulate application centre. Submit your documents and the Embassy will forward your application to the UDI.

The UDI will process your application and inform you about the outcome. In case you need an entry visa, the UDI will issue you with a visitor’s visa, which you can collect at either the embassy or Visa Application Center.

To make an application for your permanent residence permit in Norway you must gather the required documents, complete the online application on the UDI application portal, pay the required fee, and hand in your documents to the local police service for residence permits and protection, or the service centre for foreign employees.

The required documents for a permanent residence permit application include:

• Proof of your income. Depending on your situation, your income could be from formal employment, self-employment, pensions, or other regular income sources like life insurance or rent, student loans, or even social security benefits
• Proof you haven’t received financial help from NAV.
• Proof of your status and necessary fulfilment under that status, such as:
  • Proof you have completed the tuition hours and passed the Norwegian language as well as social studies test.
  • If you hold a residence permit for family reunification for a spouse, you’ll need to show UDI’s declaration of relationship form, a copy of your spouse, proof of the time your spouse has spent abroad, and any other document that the UDI may require to help you become a Norwegian citizen.

It is worth noting that if you are moving to Norway from the UK, you must meet the Schengen area travel regulations. In this regard, your passport should meet two requirements, including:

• It should be less than 10 years old on the day you enter.
• It should be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave.

Always carry your valid passport when travelling within the Schengen area. If you have citizenship of an EFTA or EU nation, in addition to your British citizenship, you can enter and exit Norway using your EU or EFTA passport.

If you travel to other Schengen area member states outside of Norway, you should ensure you don’t exceed the visa-free 90 days in any 180-day period. It is imperative to note that you are responsible for keeping track of how long you stay under the Schengen visa waiver, and you should adhere to these regulations.

If you were living in Norway before 1 January 2021, you must willingly show your residence card, or any other proof of residence status, whenever you are required to show your passport at the border control. Until you are issued a residence card, you should show one of the approved documents to verify you are a Norwegian resident. This could be the application receipt or:

• Receipt for registration under the registration scheme for EEA nationals.
• Certificate of an application under sections 19 to 33 and 19 to 35 of the Norwegian immigration laws.
• Registration certificate or proof of permanent residence offered under the registration scheme for EEA nationals.
• Residence certificate from the National Population Register

Moving to, and living in, Norway can prove a challenging and complicated process for UK nationals. Navigating the Norwegian immigration system isn’t so easy especially if this is your first experience with obtaining a visa for Norway. Also, with Brexit and the UK’s exit from the EEA agreement, it may be tough to understand what rights you have in Norway as a non-citizen but rather as a UK citizen.

At Immigration Advice Service, we pride ourselves on our total commitment to helping UK citizens and residents with immigration and visa support for several countries including Norway. Our immigration lawyers have years of expertise in navigating the UK and Norwegian immigration rules and systems and can help you obtain the right permit and even get moving and concierge services to smoothen your move to Norway from the UK.

If you are considering moving to Norway, don’t hesitate to book an advice session with our excellent immigration lawyers. We have offices located across the UK, including in London, Manchester, and Birmingham. You can also use the office finder to find the closest branch to you. Call us now on 0333 305 9375 or chat with us online via live chat.