Documentation of financing for applying for student visa or student residence permit

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NB! This is only neccessary if you need a residence permit to study in Norway. Please check with the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) if this applies to you. 

One of the requirements for obtaining a student visa or a student residence permit for Norway is that the applicant must document access to NOK 92 500 for the first academic year (10 months) or 46 250 for students accepted for only one semester. Students accepted for study periods shorter than one semester or between one semester and a year must document NOK 9250 a month.

As a main rule this money must be transferred to a Norwegian bank account. In some cases, a bank statement/payment guarantee from a bank in the student’s home country is accepted, but this is seldom recommended, as the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration is fairly strict about the financial guarantee for studies in Norway. For the same reason, guarantees from relatives or others (except a bank or a university) are not recommended. Usually, the lack of approved financial documentation makes the processing of the application for a student residence permit/visa take longer than usual, which might result in students not obtaining their residence permit/visa in time to start their studies.

It has proven difficult for students to open bank accounts in Norway on their own prior to receiving their Norwegian identity number, which is provided after the residence permit is granted. Therefore, the Student Welfare Organisation (SWO), associated with the University of Tromsø, has opened a deposit account in Fokus Bank for foreign students, where students can deposit the needed amount of money from their home country.

Instructions for deposit of money in SWO’s Deposit Account for Foreign Students

1. Conditions for depositing money in SWO’s deposit account for foreign students:
   Please read the following carefully:
   • Only students accepted to studies at the University of Tromsø may deposit money in this account. The money must be deposited in the student’s own name.
   • There is no interest on deposit money.
   • Please note that a banking fee may be deducted from the money deposited.
   • The student must notify the SWO of his/her address in Norway and of his/her Norwegian bank account number as soon as possible.
   • In case the student, for any reason, is not able to start the studies in Tromsø, the money will be returned. Except for the deduction of any banking fees.  If so is the case an e-mail to this respect with all banking details should be sent to international@uit.no.
     
     
2. If you want to accept the offer of transferring your money to the SWO’s deposit account and accept the conditions stated above, please fill in the reply slip below, scan and send it together with your Student Contract.
   
   
3. After sending the reply slip by fax to the University of Tromsø, please transfer the money, in your own name to the following account in Fokus Bank as soon as possible:
   
   

   Bank account number:	9731 05 35307
   Bank account owner:	Studentsamskipnaden i Tromsø
   Bank account title:	Deposit account foreign students
   Postal Address:	Teorifagbygget Hus 2, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
   SWIFT-BIC:	DABANO 22
   IBAN number:	NO35 9731 05 35307

4. The University of Tromsø will send you a statement from the Student Welfare Organisation confirming that you have deposited the actual amount of money in the deposit account
   
   
5. Please enclose the statement from the Student Welfare Organisation to the embassy when applying for a student residence permit to Norway.
   
   
6. The University of Tromsø will submit a list of students who have transferred money to the SWO’s deposit account, to the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration in order to save time.
7. Please bring along enough money for at least the first week and preferably also a credit card/ATM card valid in Norway (check with your bank), since it may take a few days before you get access to your money after arrival (see below).
   
   
8. Make sure to apply for a Norwegian identity number as soon as possible after registering at the local police station (within 7 days after arrival). The identity number is vital for opening a personal bank account in Norway. You will find more information about this in your information package after arrival.
   
   
9. Processing of the application for an identity number may take up to 5 weeks. If you should need access to your money in the deposit account while waiting for your identity number and bank account, you can withdraw up to NOK 15.000 from your money deposited in the SWO account. Please note that you must have registered at the local police station before withdrawing money from the deposit account, because all the money must be in the account when registering at the police station. Cheques can be collected at the SWO every Tuesday and Thursday between 12.00 and 14.00 a.m. More information about this will be provided after arrival.
   
   
10. Please notify the SWO immediately after your arrival of your address in Norway.
    
    
11. Make sure to open a bank account in a Norwegian Bank of your choice as soon as possible after receiving your identity number. After receiving the account number, please give the SWO the written confirmation from your Norwegian bank as soon as possible. Your money will then be transferred to your account in total, except for a small service fee and the money already withdrawn, if any.