Student Visa In Norway: The Ultimate Guide

Chasing the Northern Lights isn’t the only reason to head to Norway; its world-class education awaits!

But before you pack your bags and textbooks, there’s the student visa labyrinth to navigate.

Join us as we chart a clear path through Norway’s academic entry requirements.

Let’s dive in!

Types Of Student Visas For Norway

One may assume that one can only get a student visa to pursue higher education in Norway, but there are different student visas. It all depends on the program choice and the student’s age group.

The different student visas for diverse study programs in Norway have been mentioned below:

Norway Study Visa For Higher Education

To get admission to a university in Norway to pursue Higher Education, one needs to go through a regular student visa application. The first thing will be to collect the confirmation letter for admission to the Norwegian University.

The university where one has scored admission must also be on the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education’s (NOKUT) list as an approved and accredited educational institution.

Norway Study Visa For Upper Secondary School

To apply for Upper Secondary School in Norway, one would need to get accepted in one of the following programs:

Entering A Norwegian school via a student exchange program
Getting admission to an IB (International Baccalaureate) study program
Or getting accepted Into the Bårdar Academy, Norwegian College of Elite Sport, or Barrat Due Institute of Music

The only exception is given to the students who are residents of another Nordic country or Russians of the Barents region. There are no requirements for particular schools or study programs for both nationalities.

Instead, at a general studies program, they are provided with residence permits and thus can pursue any study program and school they want to.

Norway Study Visa For Vocational Studies

Suppose one wants to study in a Norwegian vocational school. In that case, one must verify that the desired vocational school is included on the list of approved schools of the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT).

Otherwise, the admission and, in return, the student visa for Norway will not be accepted.

Norway Study Visa For Folk High School

Getting accepted to Norway Folk High School and then the desire to pursue education there will also require one to apply for a student visa for Norway.

The prerequisite for acquiring the student visa also includes verifying if the program is included on the Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training’s list of accredited schools.

Another condition stipulated for getting one’s student visa for Norway approved is that one must not have previously had a visa for studying in a religion/belief-based school or a folk high school.

Norway Student Visa For A Religious School (Bible School)

Pursuing education in a Religious School, also known as the Bible School, must be authorized by the Adult Education Act of Norway.

Also, to study in this school and to get a student visa for Norway for a religious and belief school, one must neither have attended a religion/belief-based school previously nor a folk high school.

Norway Student Visa For A University Summer School

To attend a Summer School, one would not need a resident permit. Instead, one would need to apply for a short-term Norway Visa.

Eligibility For Norway Student Visa

There are specific questions to which one needs to know the answers to verify the applicant’s eligibility. These questions are related to each study visa for Norway. Knowing the details will make it easy to apply for it. Some of those common questions are given below:

What is the application fee?
What is the duration of the study visa?
Is there any Required Financial Fund to maintain throughout the stay?
Does the study program offer the option of pursuing full-time or part-time studies?
Can one’s family accompany the student to Norway on a Family visa?
Is the residence provided, or must one get one’s residence?
Can one work part-time while studying?

All of these questions have been answered in the table below. One can consult to verify the applicant’s eligibility for a particular study visa in Norway.

School for Study Permit in Norway	ApplicationFee Required	Fulltime Study/Parttime	Required Personal Funds Monthly	Required Personal FundsYearly	Work HoursAllowed	Family Can Come?	Residence	Permit validity
University/College	Yes	Full-time study	12,537 NOK	137,907NOK	20 hours weekly part-time	Allowed on Family visa	Own	Until studies are complete.
Upper Secondary School	Yes, for Non-EU/EEA citizens	Full-time study	12,537 NOK	137,907NOK	20 hours weekly part-time	–	Own	Until studies are complete.
Vocational Schools	Yes	Full-time study	12,537 NOK*	137,907NOK**	20 hours weekly part-time	–	Own	1 Year
Folks High School	Yes	Full-time study	110,989 NOK tuition required yearly		20 hours weekly part-time	Not allowed.	Own	1 Year
Religion based school	Yes	Full-time study	12,537 NOK	137,907NOK	20 hours weekly part-time	Not allowed.	Own	1 Year
University Summer School	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Additional Education	Yes	At least 3-year program	12,537 NOK	137,907NOK	20 hours weekly part-time	Allowed on Family visa	Own	2 Year

If the student wants to study for only one semester in a Vocational School in Norway, then one would need to:

* Show proof of 62,685 NOK for the Fall semester.

** Show proof of 75,222 NOK for the Spring semester.

So, for one to get a Student Visa for Norway, one will need to comply with the following requirements:

One must be accepted into a study program in a Norwegian university or college.
The Norwegian University or College one has been admitted to must be accredited by NOKUT.
The course of study has to be full-time.
One shall also have enough money to pay tuition and living expenses and at least NOK 12,537 per month and 137,907 NOK per year in savings in a Norwegian bank account.
The money saved in a Norwegian Bank Account can be from one’s funds or part-time job, student loans, or grants.
One also needs to find one’s accommodation in Norway during the stay as a student.

Required Documents For A Student Visa To Norway

When one is applying for a Norwegian Student visa, one must fulfill all the required criteria and attach the following additional documents with the application form for a Student visa to Norway:

No Objection Letter

Suppose the students applying for a visa in Norway are enrolled in another educational institute in their home country. In that case, they must provide a No Objection Letter from the educational institution where they have been enrolled.

Internship Agreement

Suppose a person is applying for a student visa to Norway to participate in an internship. In that case, they need to present a signed copy of the contract between the company in Norway, the establishment of origin, and the applicant who has been accepted to intern there.

Passport

A valid passport that still has the same time before expiry, at least equivalent to the duration of stay of the student in Norway. One must also attach copies of the used pages on the passport with the student visa application.

Norway Student Visa Application Form

The most crucial document is the carefully filled Norway student visa application form that can be downloaded from the official website. One needs to print this application once one has finished the online application on the Immigration Directorate website.

Two Passport-Sized Pictures

One also needs to take passport-sized pictures of oneself. They have to be taken recently and also have a white background.

Letter Of Admission

One must also attach the letter of admission to the school or University of Norway where one has been accepted.

The admission letter should have the applicant’s name, chosen course of studies, the level of studies, and the length of the study program.

Proof Of Financial Means

Proof of financial means to support one’s stay in Norway must also be attached. This proof grants funds, such as a Statement of Support from the State Education Loan Fund.

The bank statements from a bank account in Norway. You may open a bank account, or your University may open one.

Work Contract

If a student has already gained a part-time work contract, one can attach the proof of the work contract with one’s application.

The document will state the hours one will work for, one’s salary, and the extent of the contract.

Proof Of Tuition

Attaching the document showing the proof of tuition with one’s application is a must. One can pay the tuition first and then attach the receipt of the paid tuition.

Proof Of Accommodation

The admission letter will inform the student if they provide in-school accommodation like dormitories. However, if the school does not provide accommodation, one will need to find a residence on one’s own.

After finding the place, one must attach proof of accommodation, residence, or rental contract with the application.

Additional Documentation

If one applies from another country other than one’s home country for a student visa in Norway, then one needs to prove that one is legally residing in that country.

Applicants Who Are In The Age Bracket Of 15-18 Years Old

They would need the following documents:

Birth certificate
The parents or guardian signs the Consent Application for a residence permit for children and minors.
Also, the parent or guardian may write a statement consenting to studying in Norway and sign it.
Copy of passports of parents or legal guardians.

If Only One Parent Has Custody

One would need to provide documents from the official authorities confirming that one parent has sole custody.
If one of the parents has passed away, a Death certificate will need to be attached.
One would also need to attach the printed checklist of the required documents. One can get it printed from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) website.

Every student applying for a Norway student visa needs to gather all the documents as mentioned earlier and, after verifying their authenticity, should compile and attach them before submitting the application form.

The Steps For Applying For Norway Student Visa

After checking and gathering all the required documents mentioned in the visa application checklist, one can hand over the application forms with the documents to the nearest Norwegian Visa Application Center.

They will hand over the applications to the Norwegian Embassy. After verifying the submitted documents, they will be returned to the applicant via the VAS center where one had initially applied.

Some students may also be asked to provide biometrics during the visa application. The biometrics include fingerprinting and live pictures used for security purposes in some countries.

One may or may not be called for a visa interview. The Student visa for Norway is valid for over 3 months, but the validity duration differs for different programs.

One may need to renew the visa to stay for the degree one wants to pursue. One may also be able to apply for immigration or some different continuous visa.

After getting the visa approved and arriving in Norway, one must register with the local police station or Service Centre for Foreign Workers (SUA).

FAQs For Norway Student Visa

What Is The Norway Student Visa Fee?

The average Norway Student Visa fee is NOK 4,900 to 5900 NOK. Minor applicants who are under the age of 18 years are not charged any fee.

One may pay the fee online through one’s credit or debit card while submitting one’s application to the Directorate of Immigration website of Norway.

Can One Renew The Visa In Norway?

If one is already in Norway, one may apply for a renewal of a Norwegian Student Visa only if one is there legally. One will need to follow the steps given below:

Collect and verify all the required documents.
First, complete the online application at the website of the Directorate of Immigration (UDI) Norway.
Then, pay the fee for the student visa renewal and attach the receipt with the documents.

How To Get Health Insurance For International Students In Norway?

If one has to stay in Norway as an international student for a year or more, one would be eligible for the National Insurance Scheme.

Through this insurance program, one will be specifically allocated a General Practitioner to whom one can reach out for any medical concerns.

What Is The Average Duration Of Norway Student Visa?

The validity of the duration of the student visa depends upon the chosen study program, so it is different for different study programs.

Can One Switch From A Norway Student Visa To A Work Visa?

In case of permanent employment during one’s studies in Norway and meeting all the requirements, one may successfully apply for the Norway Work Visa.

Can One Get A Permanent Residence Permit After Student Visa?

Unfortunately, one is not eligible for switching from a Norway Student Residence Permit to a Permanent Residence Permit, even if one has spent 3 or more years while continuing one’s degree.

For permanent residency, the time spent as a student is not counted.

Can I Work With A Norway Student Visa?

As a student, one may work for a maximum of 20 hours/week in a part-time job during the semester and may work full-time during the holidays.

However, he is not allowed to be self-employed or run a business while staying in Norway and pursuing studies as an international student.

Can I Have Dependents With A Norway Student Visa?

Some of the student visa categories allow one to have dependents with them in Norway. They may come to Norway on a family visa.

Only these family members can come to Norway with the student:

Spouse
Children under the age of 18.

Conclusion

Having illuminated the pathway to a Norwegian student visa, you’re one step closer to academic adventures beneath the midnight sun.

With clarity on your side, the classrooms of Norway beckon. Study well and explore even better!

Keep Studying!

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