Immigration matters & student visa deposit

Immigration Matters UiT

This website is for bachelor & master international grade students and inbound international exchange students from partner institutions. Please read the information on this website carefully before planning your trip.

  1. NON EU, Liechtenstein and Switzerland citizens: This means all students who are nationals of countries from outside the European Union and European Free Trade Association.
  2. EU, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland citizens: This means all students who are nationals of countries that are members of the European Union and European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland).
  3. Nordic students:This includes students who are nationals of Danemark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
  4. Foreign students residing in Norway (from outside EU/EFTA area): This category includes all foreign applicants residing in Norway on work visa, Study Permit, Protection (Refugee Status), Permanent Residency and long-term Marriage/Family visa

On UDI's website, you will find updated rules for entry to Norway and other rules regarding immigration are affected by the corona situation. You can find answers to frequently asked questions regarding entry to Norway, your application for Study Permit (student visa) or the renewal of student residence visa.

Questions and answers about the corona situation (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration).

Quarantine for arrival in Norway from abroad (Norwegian Institute of Public Health).

Please note: The advice may change rapidly so travellers to Norway should follow news and travel information from the above mentioned websites, their nearest Royal Norwegian embassies and consulates abroad and offical visa application centres.

STUDENT DEPOSIT ACCOUNT AND STUDY PERMIT

If you wish to study or go to school in Norway for more than three months, you must apply for a study permit. If you are granted a study permit, you will also be able to work for up to 20 hours a week while you are studying and full-time during holidays.

I - BEFORE ARRIVAL:

1 - DEPOSIT YOUR FUNDS

MASTER, BACHELOR & ONSITE ONE-YEAR PROGRAMME STUDENTS (PROOF OF FINANCIAL ABILITY)

You MUST transfer your proof of financial ability to the holding deposit account at The Arctic Student Welfare Organisation to be able to apply for a Study Permit within 1 JUNE.

Please note: after the transfer, you will receive confirmation of deposit, letter for visa purposes and housing guarantee to apply for student visa.

INBOUND EXCHANGE STUDENTS

You or your university can use the student deposit account arrangement to transfer your scholarships or funds for subsistence at The Arctic Student Welfare Organisation. The deadine is 1 JUNE.

Please note: you will receive a seperate letter for visa purposes, housing guarantee and proof of assured subsistence.

FOREIGN STUDENTS LIVING IN NORWAY

If you live in Norway, have your own Norwegian bank account, you do not need to transfer any fund to the deposit account at UiT.

Please note: that if you do not have a bank account in Norway you may use the deposit account.

2 - APPLY FOR STUDENT VISA

ALL VISA-SEEKING STUDENTS

Housing guarantee (for only visa-seeking students): the Letter for Visa Purposes is your housing guarantee to apply for student visa.

Condition for housing guarantee: to be guaranteed a student housing, you MUST apply directly to the Housing Department to be assigned a room.

II - AFTER ARRIVAL: REGISTRATION WITH THE POLICE

EU/SWISS CITIZENS: REGISTRATION & INSURANCE

EU/Swiss students who are staying for more than three months in Norway must register at the local police station upon arrival and secure their own insurance coverage

1- BEFORE ARRIVAL

EU/Swiss students who are staying for more than three months in Norway must register at the local police station upon arrival and secure their own insurance coverage

Note: If you are planning to stay in Norway for less than 3 months, you do not have to make a registration, and you do not have to meet at the police station.

What to do before arriving to Norway?

  1. It is important to make a registration on UDI's website before you meet at the police station: The registration scheme for EU/EEA nationals (Registration is free of charge)

  2. Log on to UDI's Application Portal and make an appointment with the police in your city of exchange studies.

Required documents:

2 - AFTER ARRIVAL: REGISTRATION WITH THE POLICE

NORDIC CITIZENS: REPORT YOUR ADDRESS IN NORWAY

This applies to nationals of Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Finland. You do not need to apply for a residence permit or register with the Police to live in Norway. All you need to do is to report your move to your new municipality in Norway to the local Tax office or the National Population Registry.

Tax/Population Registry offices in Norway

Foreign students residing in Norway on Student Visa:

You just need to print out a your financial statement from your local Norwegian bank as proof of financial ability to apply for the renewal of your student residence. If you have already obtained another degree in Norway, you will be asked to write a personal statement to explain why you want to take another degree programme in Norway. Please contact the nearest immigration/police office for further details.

Students with degree from a Norwegian higher education institution

If you have already obtained another degree in Norway, you will be asked to write a personal statement to explain why you want to take another degree programme in Norway. Please contact the nearest immigration/police office for further details.

Admitted to a new study programme at a higher level?

A new study programme will, in principle, always be deemed to be a continuation if you are admitted to a higher level than previously (for example if you proceed from a Bachelor degree to a Master’s degree).

  • Admission Letter to the new programme

  • Completion of the previous programme (complete transcript of records)

Admitted to a second master's degree programme?

If you have been admitted to a new study programme at the same level as the previous master's programme, this will generally NOT be deemed to be a continuation by UDI.

Please be aware that UDI will only grant you renewal of residence permit as an exemption. In exceptional cases, another study programme at a level corresponding to a previous study programme can be deemed to be a continuation, provided that it entails in-depth studies in a subject area and will clearly increase the student’s chances of finding employment as a researcher at a later date or being accepted to a doctoral degree programme.

  • You have not been significantly delayed in your earlier studies. More than half a years’ delay on a master’s degree programme is deemed to be a significant delay.

  • Admission Letter to the new programme

  • Completion of the previous programme (complete transcript of records)

  • A Written statement that must contain an assessment of whether the new study programme can be deemed to be in-depth studies in the subject area of your previous programme and whether it will clearly increase your chances of subsequently finding employment as a researcher at a later date or being accepted to a doctoral degree programme.

Foreign students residing in Norway on work visa, Protection (Refugee Status), Permanent Residency or long-term Marriage/Family

You DO NOT need to transfer any fund to the deposit account at UiT. All you need to do is to report your move to your new municipality/CITY in Norway to the local Tax office or the National Population Registry.

General information

Most international students (NON-EU, Liechtenstein and Switzerland citizens) must renew their student residence visa each year to be able to stay in Norway to continue Their studies. You can do this yourself online (UDI's Application Portal) and with the local police station in your city.

If you are an international student looking for work in Norway you might find this information useful. This is an introduction to how you can find vacant temporary positions in Norway. You will also find links to websites that provide more information..

NB! NON-EU, Liechtenstein and Switzerland students: Please note that the part-time work permit is not automatically renewed, and you must document satisfactory progress in your studies in order to continue to work part-time.

Website: Part-time work, Study Permit & Progress Report

Page administrator: Mustta B. Malharunmi
Last changed: 14.07.2021 09.26
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