How much must the reference person have earned last year?

As reference person, you must have had a total income of at least 

 in 2023.

This must be income that your employer has reported to the Tax Administration and that corresponds to what is stated in your payslips. When your last year's tax settlement is ready, it must show an income of at least the amount shown above. If we do not have the information about your income from last year, the previous year will apply.

Please note that as of 1 October 2021, there was a change in the regulations that affects the requirement. If you have received introduction benefits after 1 January 2021 they will not count as part of your income, and they will be deducted from the total income in your tax settlement.

The requirement for income was at least 

 in 2022.

Your income must also meet the requirement in the period until we make the decision. Unemployment benefits are counted as previous income.

If you are self-employed, we have other arrangements for how we consider your income.

How much must the reference person earn now?

As reference person, you must have a total income of at least 

. It must be probable that you are going to continue having this income for at least another year. You may later be asked to document that you had this income the first year your family member was in Norway.

Types of income counting towards the reference person’s future income

• income from employment
• sickness benefit, pregnancy benefit, parental support, disability benefit or retirement pension from the National Insurance Scheme (folketrygden)
• other permanent pensions or periodical benefits (insurance payments or similar)
• loans or grants received in connection with studies
• If the applicant is already in lawful employment in Norway, the applicant's income can be included in order to meet the requirement.

As reference person, you can have one or more of the above types of income.

Types of income not counting towards the reference person’s future income

• financial assistance from NAV (økonomisk sosialhjelp)
• housing support
• unemployment benefit and work assessment allowance (Arbeidsavklarings­penger (AAP)) (this is also the case if you were temporarily laid off (permittert) due to the corona situation. We will publish information here if the rules regarding this change.)
• any benefits you receive because you have children
• lump sum grant in connection with birth
• own funds (money in an account)

The kinds of residence permits this applies to

This only applies if you, as reference person, have one of the following residence permits:

• skilled worker 
• employee of a humanitarian, non-profit or religious organisation
• artist, musician, performer or culture worker
• Norwegian Peace Corps volunteer / FK Norway
• trainee
• researcher with own funds

No requirement for the reference person’s income last year

As reference person, you do not need to have had any income last year.

How much must the reference person earn now?

If the spouse, cohabitant, or a child of the reference person applies for family immigration

How much must the reference person have earned last year?

As reference person, you must have had a total income of at least 

.

This must be income that your employer has reported to the Tax Administration and that corresponds to what is stated in your payslips. When your tax settlement is ready for last year, this must show an income of at least the amount shown above. If we do not have the information about your income from last year, the previous year will apply.

Please note that as of 1 October 2021, there was a change in the regulations with an impact the requirement. If you have received introduction benefits after 1 January 2021 it will not count as part of your income, and it will be deducted from the total income in your tax settlement.

Your income must also meet the requirement in the period until we make the decision. Unemployment benefits are counted as previous income.

If you are self-employed, we have other arrangements for how we consider your income.

If you have a job where it is common that the level of income varies from year to year (for example, farmer), but on average you have had enough income over some years, we can accept that your income was too low last year.

How much must the reference person earn now?

You, the reference person, must have a total income of at least 

. It must be probable that you are going to have this income for at least another year. You may later be asked to document that you had this income the first year your family member was in Norway.

If you have a job where it is common that the level of income varies from year to year (for example if you are a farmer), but you have, on average enough income over some years, we can accept that your income is too low this year.

Types of income counting towards the reference person’s future income

• income from employment
• sickness benefit, pregnancy benefit, parental support, disability benefit or retirement pension from the National Insurance Scheme (folketrygden)
• other permanent pensions or periodical benefits (insurance payments or similar)
• loans or grants received in connection with studies
• If the applicant is already in lawful employment in Norway, the applicant's income can be included in order to meet the requirement.

As reference person, you can have one or more of the above types of income.

Types of income not counting towards the reference person’s future income

• financial assistance from NAV (økonomisk sosialhjelp)
• housing support
• unemployment benefit and work assessment allowance (Arbeidsavklarings­penger (AAP)) (this is also the case if you were temporarily laid off (permittert) due to the corona situation. We will publish information here if the rules regarding this change.)
• any benefits you receive because you have children
• lump sum grant in connection with birth
• own funds (money in an account)

If other family members apply for family immigration

As reference person, if family members other than your spouse, cohabitant or children apply for family immigration, you must have a total income of at least 

. 

In addition, there are requirements for your last year's income. As reference person, you must have had a total income of at least 

.

This must be income that your employer has reported to the Tax Administration and that corresponds to what is stated in your payslips. When your tax settlement is ready for last year, this must show an income of at least the amount shown above. If we do not have the information about your income from last year, the previous year will apply.

Your income must also meet the requirement in the period until we make the decision. Unemployment benefits are counted as previous income.

If you are self-employed, we have other arrangements for how we consider your income.

How much must the reference person have earned last year?

As reference person, you must have had a total income of at least 

 in 2023.

This must be income that your employer has reported to the Tax Administration and that corresponds to what is stated in your payslips. When your last year's tax settlement is ready, it must show an income of at least the amount shown above. If we do not have the information about your income from last year, the previous year will apply.

Please note that as of 1 October 2021, there was a change in the regulations that affects the requirement. If you have received introduction benefits after 1 January 2021 they will not count as part of your income, and they will be deducted from the total income in your tax settlement.

The requirement for income was at least 

 in 2022.

Your income must also meet the requirement in the period until we make the decision. Unemployment benefits are counted as previous income.

If you are self-employed, we have other arrangements for how we consider your income.

How much must the reference person earn now?

As reference person, you must have a total income of at least 

. It must be probable that you are going to continue having this income for at least another year. You may later be asked to document that you had this income the first year your family member was in Norway.

Types of income counting towards the reference person’s future income

• income from employment
• sickness benefit, pregnancy benefit, parental support, disability benefit or retirement pension from the National Insurance Scheme (folketrygden)
• other permanent pensions or periodical benefits (insurance payments or similar)
• loans or grants received in connection with studies
• If the applicant is already in lawful employment in Norway, the applicant's income can be included in order to meet the requirement.

As reference person, you can have one or more of the above types of income.

Types of income not counting towards the reference person’s future income

• financial assistance from NAV (økonomisk sosialhjelp)
• housing support
• unemployment benefit and work assessment allowance (Arbeidsavklarings­penger (AAP)) (this is also the case if you were temporarily laid off (permittert) due to the corona situation. We will publish information here if the rules regarding this change.)
• any benefits you receive because you have children
• lump sum grant in connection with birth
• own funds (money in an account)

If the spouse, cohabitant, or a child of the reference person applies for family immigration

No requirement for the reference person’s income last year

As reference person, you do not need to have had any income last year.

How much must the reference person earn now?

As reference person, you must have a total income of at least 

. It must be probable that you are going to continue having this income for at least another year. You may later be asked to document that you had this income the first year your family member was in Norway.

Your income can be your own money that you have in a Norwegian bank account.

Types of income counting towards reference person’s future income

• income from employment
• sickness benefit, pregnancy benefit, parental support, disability benefit or retirement pension from the National Insurance Scheme (folketrygden)
• other permanent pensions or periodical benefits (insurance payments or similar) 
• loans or grants received in connection with studies
• If the applicant is already in lawful employment in Norway, the applicant's income can be included in order to meet the requirement.

As reference person, you can have one or more of the above types of income.

Types of income not counting towards reference person’s future income

• financial assistance from NAV (økonomisk sosialhjelp)
• housing support
• work assessment allowance
• any benefits you receive because you have children
• lump sum grant in connection with birth