Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Family immigration with a foreign student in Norway

If you have a close family member who is studying in Norway, you can apply for a family immigration permit with him or her.
Family immigration permits can be granted to members of the student’s immediate family. That means a spouse/partner, children under the age of 18, and a cohabitant who has either lived with the student for more than two years, or who is expecting or has a child with the student. As a main rule, family immigration is only granted if the student is studying at a higher level (Master’s or doctoral degree) and has at least one year left of his/her education.
Applications for family immigration with a person who is going to study in Norway can be submitted along with the student’s residence permit application. However, the application will be processed after the student has been granted a residence permit in Norway.

Financial maintenance and shared accommodation
The student and his/her family members must also share accommodation. Moreover, the student must ensure that his/her family members are guaranteed financial maintenance (subsistence) during their stay in Norway.
Please note that there have been some changes to the regulations as regards what can be included when it comes to the requirement for financial maintenance. Own funds, i.e. money in a Norwegian bank account, is no longer included. Now, only student loans and grants and future income from part-time employment may be included in the coverage of the subsistence requirement. As a rule, it is the student who must meet the requirement for financial maintenance on his/her own.

Opportunity to work full-time

Persons who are granted family immigration permits with a foreign student can now work full-time during their stay in Norway. Family members can work full-time although the student can only work part-time in addition to his/her studies. Separate rules apply to persons under the age of 18.
A permit to work is granted at the same time as the residence permit, and you no longer need to apply for this separately.

Must return to their home country

A family immigration permit with a student does not form the basis for permanent residence in Norway. In principle, it is also a requirement that the family members and the student return to their home country once the student has completed his/her education.
Read more about family immigration permits with a student (UDI = Norwegian Directorate of Immigration)

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