Norway

Information for all students

Always make sure your passport is stamped when entering and exiting Schengen borders - these stamps are your proof that you haven't overstayed your 90-day limit. Please also ensure your passport is valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen Area.

The Schengen 90/180 rule allows visitors to visit any Schengen Zone country without requiring a visa for 90 days within a 180-day window. These days are calculated on a rolling basis, meaning you look back at the last 180 days to count how many days you have spent in the Schengen area. To be eligible to return, you must wait for enough of your previous stay to fall outside of the current 180-day period. You can calculate your days spent in the Schengen Area using this calculator.

Read more about the Schengen rules.

If you are a British student, you may need to renew your British passport. Make sure to do so in enough time.

On the day you travel, your passport is required to have at least 3 months validity remaining from the date that you intend to leave the EU. Nevertheless, it is strongly recommended, that your passport is valid for at least 6 more months when entering Norway. This would in many cases save you from having to prove the date of your intended leave of the EU,

Your passport must also be less than 10 years old (even if it has six months or more left).

Studying for less than 3 months

EU/EEA students do not need to apply for a residence permit to study in Norway.

UK students who wish to study for up to 90 days (within in a period of 180 days) can do so without the need for a visa, due to the Schengen Visa waiver.

UK students do not require a Visa to enter Norway for less than 90 days to complete the following activities:

• Tourism
• Visiting family or friends
• Attending business meetings
• Cultural or sports events
• Short-term studying or training

Check if you need a visa to enter Norway here. 

Students from outside the EU/EEA will need a Schengen visa if their country is on the visa-required list. 

Students from the following countries can travel visa-free if they have a biometric passport, if not they must apply for a Schengen visa (visitor visa) before entering Norway.

• Albania 
• Georgia
• Macedonia
• Montenegro 
• Ukraine
• Serbia
• Hong Kong
• Macao
• Taiwan 

A Visitor's Visa allows you to stay in Norway (and other countries within the Schengen Zone) for up to 90 days, over a period of 180 days.

Please learn more here.

Gather your documents

Students looking to obtain a Visitors Visa need to gather the following documents:

• Valid passport
• Residence permit
• Application form and photograph
• Evidence of occupation or student status
• Evidence of sufficient funds
• Tickets (flights, coach, train or ferry)
• Accommodation
• Travel insurance
• Travel insurance certificate, issued in the UK

Discover the full list of documentation.

How to apply

In the UK, applications are made through the external service provider VFS Global. Information about fees, document requirements and how to book your appointment can be found on the VFS Global website.

Studying for more than 3 months

Nationals of EU/EEA countries and Nordic countries do not need a study permit or residence permit to stay in Norway.

However upon arrival EU/EEA students will need to register with the police.

UK students who wish to study in Norway for more than 90 days will need to apply for a residence permit.

Gather your documents

Students looking to study for more than 90 days in Norway need to gather the following documents:

• Valid passport
• A signed signature form from the application portal
• A recent passport-sized photo
• Admissions letter
• Proof of sufficient funds
• Proof of accommodation

Discover the full list of documentation.

How to apply

You must hand in your application and necessary documents in person.

When handing in your documents from the checklist, please go to the VFS application centre in London or Edinburgh.

The VFS application centre will send your documents to the Norwegian embassy in London, UK. The embassy will then send your documents to UDI.

Working in Norway

EU/EEA students do not need additional documents to work in Norway, however, you must register with the police. This registration is free of charge. You can book an appointment here.

Swedish, Danish, Icelandic and Finnish citizens can work in Norway without registering with the police, but you must report a move to the National Population Register.

UK students who want to work in Norway will need a residence permit. Learn more about different types of residence permits for work and about who does not need a residence permit.

Once you have been granted a residence permit, you must apply for a residence card. Police stations are responsible for issuing residence cards.

If the residence permit has an expiry date, the employee or employer must apply for renewal no later than one month before the permit expires. After three years in Norway, the employee will be granted a permanent residence permit. The employer is obliged to check that the employee's residence permit is in order.

Students who wish to work in Norway must gain authorisation to work from their employer, prior to applying for a residence permit.

By agreement with the employee, the employer can apply for a residence permit on behalf of the employee. In such cases, the employer must be given authorisation.