Questions and answers

• How do I get a residence card if I applied before 16 April 2021

  What is a residence card?

  A residence card is a plastic card in credit card format that proves that you have been granted a permanent residence permit in Norway.

  How do I obtain a residence card?

  To be issued a residence card, you must go to your local police. You have to book an appointment in advance. 

  If you are under the age of 18, your parents/guardian must accompany you to the police.  

  Booking an appointment over the phone

  You can call your local police district to book an appointment. You cannot call UDI to book an appointment.

  What happens when I go to the police station?

  The police will take your fingerprints and photo, and will then order your residence card. 

  How long will it take for me to get the card?

  It will take at least 20 working days from your appointment with the police until you receive the card in the post. 

  Please check that your correct postal address is registered and that your name is on your letterbox to ensure delivery of your card. If the card gets lost in the mail, it will take another 10 working days until you can get a new one. 

  If you are planning any trips to abroad, you should allow for plenty of time between your appointment with the police and your planned departure date. 

• How to get a residence card if you applied on 16 April 2021 or later

  What is a residence card?

  A residence card is a plastic card in credit card format that proves that you have been granted a residence permit in Norway. The police will order a residence card for you.

  If you are applying from Norway, you may be able to get a residence card without meeting with the police again. If this applies to you, the police will send you the residence card in the mail, and you do not need to book an appointment. Read below who must meet with the police to get a residence card.

  I have applied for protection (asylum) for the first time and have been granted a residence permit

  If you have applied for asylum for the first time with the police, the police contact you and give an appointment. You must meet with the police, but you do not have to book an appointment yourself.

  I have applied for a residence permit from abroad

  You must book an appointment to get a residence card.

  I have applied for a renewal of my residence permit

  You must book an appointment if you have a Norwegian alien's passport or travel document for refugees that has expired and that you have not already given to the police.

  At the police, you must take a picture and give fingerprints.

  You should not book an appointment if you handed in your old travel document to the police when you applied. The police will send the residence card to you in the mail.

  What do you need to do to receive the card in the mail?

  • If you are a new mail recipient in Norway, fill in this form (external website) and hand it in at a post office or in-store post office. Remember to bring identification.
  • Check that you are registered with the correct postal address at Posten (external website), if you are already registered as a postal recipient. The site requires login with BankID or MinID.
  • Make sure you have your name on the mailbox, otherwise you will not receive the card. If the card gets lost in the mail, it will take some time before you can get a new one.
  • You should not book trips abroad until you have received the new residence card.

  How to book an appointment?

  Booking an appointment in the Application Portal:

  If you used the Application Portal to register your application, you can now log in here to book the appointment (external website).

  Booking an appointment by phone:

  If you did not use the Application Portal when you applied for a residence permit, you must instead call your local police district to book an appointment. You cannot call UDI to book an appointment.

• How do I get a national ID number (fødselsnummer)?

  The police will order it for you. You do not have to do anything.

• Can my family come to Norway?

  Check your decision letter from UDI. It will state whether or not family immigration is possible.

  If it is possible, you will find more information about which family members can apply to come and live with you in Norway.

• How can I get a bank account and a bank card?

  To open a bank account in Norway, you must have:

  • a registered address
  • valid, approved ID

  Examples of valid ID include:

  • a valid foreign passport
  • a valid travel document for refugees
  • a valid immigrant’s passport

  The bank may ask you to provide another valid ID or additional documentation to substantiate your identity before they are able to open a bank account for you. 

  See further information from Finans Norge on how to open a bank account or how to obtain a bank card (external website). 

• Can I travel to other countries while I am living in Norway?

  • After you have been issued your residence card, you can travel into and out of Norway for as long as your residence permit is valid.
  • You must bring your passport and residence card when you travel. 
  • You can visit other Schengen countries for up to 90 days.
  • You must live in Norway at least half of the time your residence permit is valid for. If you have been issued a residence permit for 1 year, you cannot stay abroad for more than 6 months in total during that year. If you have been given a residence permit for multiple years, you cannot stay abroad for more than a total of 182 days in any 365-day period. If you do, you can lose your residence permit, and you will have to apply for a new residence permit.
  • If you are going to apply for a permanent residence permit at a later point, you can normally not have stayed outside Norway for more than a total of 7 months in the past three years.

• Will this residence permit count towards the residency requirement if I later choose to apply for a permanent residence permit?

  • Your decision letter from UDI will state whether your residency under this permit counts as part of the requirement for a permanent residence permit.
  • See the requirements for a permanent residence permit.

• Can I my residence permit be taken away?

  In some cases, you may lose your residence permit.

  Losing a permit means that UDI has decided to revoke your residence permit, making it invalid. If your permit is revoked, you will either no longer be allowed to live in Norway or you will be granted a new residence permit and your residence period in Norway will restart.

  A residence permit can be revoked for a variety of reasons, for example: 

  • providing incorrect or incomplete information 
  • staying too long outside Norway
  • receiving a different type of residence permit 

  Here you will find more information about revoking a residence permit with refugee status (protection).