🌐 Visa and immigration requirements for incoming exchange students at UiT
Understanding Norway's visa and immigration rules is an important part of preparing for your exchange at UiT. The requirements depend on your citizenship, the length of your stay, and whether you are coming as an exchange student, trainee, or visiting researcher.
❗ Important before you begin
- Start early. Visa and immigration processes may take several weeks or even months.
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The information on this website is intended to help incoming exchange students understand the various visa and immigration categories. However, we strongly encourage all students to always check the latest information on the UDI website: 🔗 www.udi.no.
- Arriving without the correct visa or immigration status may require you to leave Norway and re-enter.
- Non-EU or EEA citizens: If your stay is less than 90 days, check whether a Visitor Visa is sufficient.
- If you are unsure which immigration category applies to you, contact mobility@uit.no.
📋 Guide to visa and immigration requirements
1️⃣ Check your citizenship category → 2️⃣ Find out whether you need a visa or registration → 3️⃣ Apply before travelling (if required) → 4️⃣ Travel to Norway → 5️⃣ Complete any required registration after arrival
| Citizenship | Visa requirement | What you need to do |
|---|---|---|
| Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden) | ❌ No visa required | Report your address if staying for more than 6 months. |
| EU/EEA citizens | ❌ No visa required | Register after arrival if staying for more than 3 months. |
| Non-EU/EEA citizens | ✅ Usually require a visa or residence permit | Apply before travelling to Norway. |
- List of Nordic countries: 🔗 Facts about Nordic Countries
- List of EU/EEA countries: 🔗 EU/EEA Member Countries
- Visa-free countries: 🔗 Persons who do not need a visa
Erasmus+ students who are not EU or EEA citizens: As a general rule, you need a visa for exchange studies in Norway. If you have a valid Schengen residence permit from the EU country where you study, you can travel to Norway as a visitor and apply for a Study Permit within seven days of arrival. See STEP 4 for information about how to apply for Study Permit .
Students from visa-free countries: As a general rule, you need a visa for exchange studies in Norway. However, if you are a citizen of a visa-free country, you can travel to Norway as a visitor and apply for a Study Permit within seven days of arrival. See STEP 4 for information about how to apply for Study Permit.
If you are a citizen of Denmark, Finland, Iceland or Sweden:
- ❌ No visa is required.
- ❌ No registration with the police is required.
- ✅ If you stay in Norway for more than 6 months, you must report your move: 🔗 Norwegian Population Register
If you are staying in Norway for more than 3 months, you must register after arrival.
- ❌ No visa is required.
- ✅ Registration is required for stays longer than 3 months.
- Create a user account (after arrival): 🔗 Students who are EU/EEA nationals – UDI
- Prepare the following documents to be submitted to the police after arriving in Norway:
- Passport or national ID card
- Letter of Acceptance from UiT
- 🔗European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or private health insurance
- Declaration of sufficient funds: download the template (to be submitted to the police after arriving in Norway)
- Book an appointment (after arrival): 🔗 Booking and attending – Norwegian Police
A. Study Permit (stays over 90 days)
- Your stay in Norway is longer than 90 days.
- You have sufficient funds to cover your exchange stay in Norway.
- You must be enrolled at a higher education institution that has a cooperation agreement with UiT.
- You have received a Letter of Acceptance for incoming exchange students.
- Apply before travelling to Norway.
- Read more about the requirements on UDI's website: 🔗 Study Permit
Erasmus+ students who are not EU or EEA citizens: As a general rule, you need a visa for exchange studies in Norway if you are staying for more than 90 days. If you have a valid Schengen residence permit from the EU country where you study, you can travel to Norway as a visitor and apply for a Study Permit within seven days of arrival.
Certificate of sufficient funding: Ask your Erasmus+ Coordinator or the International Office at your home institution to provide an official letter confirming that your Erasmus+ scholarship is sufficient to support your stay in Norway. You must include this document when applying for a Study Permit.Students from visa-free countries: As a general rule, you need a visa for exchange studies in Norway for more than 90 days. However, if you are a citizen of a visa-free country, you can travel to Norway as a visitor and apply for a Study Permit within seven days of arrival.
B. Trainee Permit (practical training)
- You cannot have completed your education at your home higher education institution.
- The purpose of the traineeship must be to receive practical training as a part of your study programme at your home higher education institution.
- You must have turned 18 years old when you apply, and not have turned 30 years old.
- Usually applies to stays longer than 90 days.
- Read more about the requirements on UDI's website: 🔗 Trainee Permit
C. Researcher Permit (Researcher with own funds)
- The term researcher refers to a person with a master's degree who will engage in research, thesis work, or academic supervision at UiT.
- For stays longer than 90 days.
- You must have enough money to live on while in Norway.
- You must have an invitation from a UiT academic host.
- UDI information: 🔗 Researcher Permit
D. Visitor Visa - "to visit UiT" (stays under 90 days)
- For stays shorter than 90 days.
- You must have received a formal invitation from UiT: Letter of Acceptance (incoming exchange students) or an invitation letter from the host professor or the academic department at UiT.
- You must have enough money to finance your stay in Norway.
- You must have valid travel insurance..
- Read more about the requirements on UDI's website: 🔗 Visitor Visa
Students from visa-free countries: You can stay in Norway for up to 90 days without applying for a visa before arrival. More information: 🔗 Persons who do not need a visa
Erasmus+ students who are not EU or EEA citizens: If you have a valid Schengen residence permit from the EU country where you study, you can travel to Norway without applying for a visa and stay for up to 90 days.
Information needed for UDI's Application Portal
- UiT Organisation Number: 970 422 528
- Contact email: mobility@uit.no
- Norwegian address:
C/O The Arctic Student Welfare Organisation (Samskipnaden)
Teorifagbygget House 2
9010 Tromsø, Norway - Date of arrival: Use the date stated in your Letter of Acceptance or Learning Agreement.
💰 Student deposit service (Non-EU/EEA students)
- UDI may require proof that you have sufficient funds to support yourself while studying in Norway.
- You may need to transfer funds to a student deposit account.
- More information: 🔗 Incoming exchange students: Student Deposit Account for Visa Purposes
The information on the following website will help you navigate the essential steps after arriving in Norway, including police registration, visa renewal, and working part-time.
Last changed: 24.07.2026 13.47
