Norwegian visa resources
Eligibility for a Norway visa application
Non-EU/EEA nationals staying in Norway longer than 90 days need a residence permit, with eligibility set by the specific national route.
Important
Norway's national long-stay system is built around residence permits rather than a generic long-stay visa. As a general principle, citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA who wish to stay in Norway for longer than 90 days, or to work, must hold a residence permit. Which permit you qualify for, and the conditions attached, depend entirely on your purpose of stay.
There is no single eligibility test: each route (skilled work, study, family immigration, protection, au pair and others) has its own requirements. UDI provides a tailored guidance tool so applicants can identify the correct route based on citizenship and purpose. Note that you cannot hold two different residence permits in Norway at the same time.
Main national residence routes
- Work (for example skilled worker, seasonal worker)
- Study/research
- Family immigration (spouse, cohabitant, fiancé/e, children, parents and other relatives)
- Protection (asylum)
- Au pair and certain other special categories
General principles
- EU/EEA citizens use the separate EU/EEA registration scheme, not these permits
- Eligibility criteria (income, qualifications, admission, relationship) are set per route
- You must apply for the route that matches your actual purpose of stay
Next steps
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
Verified against official sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.