Student Visa for Norway: Study Permit, Funds and Registration

Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.

Norway does not issue a "student visa" for degree studies. Students from outside the EU and EEA apply for a study permit, a residence permit for studies, from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). EU, EEA and Swiss citizens only register. The rules below are as of October 2026; UDI changes the amounts every year.

Who needs what

Nordic citizens need no permit. If you stay for more than six months, you report your move to the Norwegian Tax Administration (Skatteetaten).
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens need no permit, but must register with UDI online if they stay for more than three months. For longer stays this is followed by an appointment with the police or a Service Centre for Foreign Workers.
Everyone else, including UK citizens, needs a study permit for any stay of more than three months. You apply after admission and before you travel.

Requirements for the study permit

According to UDI, for studies at a university or university college you must:

be admitted to a full-time programme at an accredited institution;
pay the application fee;
have enough money to live on: NOK 15,488 a month, or NOK 170,368 for the 2026/27 academic year (about €1,470 and €16,140);
have the money for your tuition fee as well, or show that it is paid;
have somewhere to live;
be likely to return home when your studies end.

Money: the deposit account

The living money must be in a Norwegian bank account or in the deposit account of your institution, or come from a student loan, a grant or a job offer in Norway. Most new students have no Norwegian bank account, so they transfer the full amount to the institution's deposit account. The account is often run by the student welfare organisation. After you arrive and open a Norwegian bank account, the money is transferred to you; NMBU warns that opening the account can take up to three months, and Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL) advises bringing enough money for the first weeks. If the permit is refused, the money is returned.

Timing matters. The University of Oslo asks admitted students to transfer the funds immediately after the offer, and for its English-taught bachelor's you must already document the money by the application deadline. Follow your institution's instructions to the letter.

How to apply

Accept your offer and pay the tuition fee or the deposit as your institution instructs.
Create an account in UDI's application portal, fill in the application and register your institution's organisation number.
Pay the application fee. The University of Bergen and Volda University College give it as NOK 5,400 (about €510); a visa application centre may add a service fee.
Book an appointment at a Norwegian embassy or an external service centre (VFS) to hand in your documents and prove your identity.
Wait for the decision before you travel.

Typical documents are your passport, the admission letter, proof of funds and a housing contract or confirmation. The University of Bergen says that applications submitted by 1 July (for the autumn) or 1 December (for the spring) will be processed in time for the semester start. Apply as soon as you can.

Health insurance

If you will stay in Norway for 12 months or more, you normally become a member of the National Insurance Scheme from your date of entry, and have access to public health care. For shorter stays you need private health insurance; EU and EEA students can use the European Health Insurance Card. See health insurance for students in Europe.

Working while you study

A study permit includes the right to work up to 20 hours a week during your studies, including remote work, and full time in the holidays. You may not be self-employed or run your own business. EU, EEA and Swiss students can work without these limits. More in working while studying in Europe.

After arrival

Non-EU students must register with the police and have their residence card made soon after arrival. Some universities, such as the University of Bergen, book these appointments for their new students, so follow your institution's instructions. Students who will stay more than six months must also report their move to the Tax Administration.

Good to know

Your spouse or partner and children can usually apply to join you, but UDI says it cannot process their applications at the same time as yours.
Time spent on a study permit does not count towards permanent residence.

Where to look next

Official sources

UDI: Study permit: requirements and amounts
Study in Norway: Cost and requirements: permit, registration and work rights
University of Bergen: First-time study permit: application steps and fee
NAV: Membership of the National Insurance Scheme

Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.