How to secure a student visa for Norway

The Northern Lights, Fjords and the Arctic Circle – there are many natural beauties to experience on your Norwegian study adventure.

Nothing beats the Northern Lights! Source: Giphy

The power of UDI 

To start your search, you should first check with The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) that your country of residence is eligible for student visa status.

Through UDI’s user-friendly search system, you can tap in your country and within seconds, the system produces informative results.

For instance, if you state that you’re a citizen of  the United Arab Emirates, the information you’ll be presented with will read as follows:

“If you wish to study or go to school in Norway for more than three months, you must apply for a study permit. If you are granted a study permit, you will also be able to work for up to 20 hours a week while you are studying and full-time during holidays.”

What’s also great about the UDI student visa system is that it tells you how long you’ll have to wait for the permit to arrive, the requirements for the visa and what your rights and obligations are while your application is being processed.

Through this website, you can apply for your student visa and receive support every step of the way.

New English version of the Immigration Act:https://t.co/jQ7zVzPqYt https://t.co/piwhtIM5t2

— UDI (@Utlendingsdir) May 24, 2018

Student visa renewal 

As the best system for student visa applications in Norway, UDI also grants users the freedom to renew their permits online.

On this webpage, you’ll be steered through the renewal process and advised on the status of your application.

As UDI explains, the requirements relating to renewal are as follows:

• You must pay an application fee.
• You must either be a student in upper secondary school or a student at a university college/university.
• It is not possible to hold a residence permit as a student at a religion/belief-based school or folk high school for a total of more than one year.
• You must have had normal study progress, meaning you cannot be more than one year behind in your studies.
• You must still have a place on a study programme at a university college or university, or at an upper secondary school.
• You must be in full-time education.
• You must have enough money to live on, i.e. at least NOK116,369 per year. This money may consist of student loans, grants, funds you have in a Norwegian bank account or a combination of these. If you have a part-time job in Norway, any income from this work can also be included.

When the visa requirements are listed… Source: Giphy

Extra information you should know

If you’re from Finland, Iceland, Denmark or Sweden, you currently do not need a student visa to study in Norway!

But if you’re about to move there, you must notify the Norwegian tax office that you’re moving and opt for an ID check.

Plus, students from nations within the European Economic Area (EEA) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) are very lucky, getting the chance to study in Norway for up to 90 days without applying for a student residence permit!

Liked this? Then you’ll love…

How to get a German student visa 

How easy is it to obtain a student visa for Uzbekistan?