Whereas EU/EEA nationals are issued a permanent residence certificate, family members who are not themselves from the EU/EEA area will be issued a permanent residence card. A permanent residence card is confirmation that you have been granted a permanent right to reside and work in Norway. Permanent right of residence also means that you will not require a visa to enter Norway.

How to get the residence card

To be issued a residence card, you must go to the police in the place where you live. You must book an appointment in advance. In most police districts you must do this through the Application Portal.

You cannot call the UDI to book an appointment.

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

Booking an appointment via the Application Portal

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

• Log in (external website)
• Choose the right application (by clicking the 'pen and paper' icon on the right-hand side of the application) from the list of your applications.
• Choose the option for booking a new appointment and select your police office or service centre for foreign workers. 

What happens when you go to the police?

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

How long will it take until you 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 you are registered with the correct postal address and that your name is on your letter box. If not, the card will not reach you. If the card is lost in the mail, it will take another ten working days until you can get a new one. 

If you are planning trips abroad, you should therefore make sure there is plenty of time between your appointment with the police and your planned departure date. 

Remember to renew the card

A permanent residence card is valid for ten years. You do not need to apply for renewal of your permanent residence card, but in good time before the card expires, you must order a new residence card.

You will be sent a permanent residence certificate, which confirms that you have been granted permanent right of residence.

A permanent residence certificate is valid indefinitely and does not need to be renewed. You will not be issued a residence card, and you will not get a sticker or stamp in your passport. 

A permanent residence certificate confers more rights than a registration certificate. Among other things, you can stay abroad for longer periods without losing your right of residence, and you are better protected against expulsion and rejection. Family members of EU/EEA nationals also retain the right to stay in Norway if the parties divorce or the EEA national dies.

Please notify the Norwegian Tax Administration / Population Register if you move, either to a new address in Norway or into/out of Norway.

If you stay outside Norway for a continuous period of more than two years, you will lose your permanent right of residence. The same exemptions that apply to the calculation of absence when you apply for permanent right of residence also apply here.

In order to apply for permanent right of residence again, you must, as a rule, first have stayed in Norway for another continuous five-year period.

The UDI can also revoke your permanent residence certificate if you have given incorrect information to the immigration authorities or if you are rejected or expelled from Norway.