As a general rule, a residence permit and work permit must have been granted prior to the foreign national’s entry into Norway, cf. section 10 first paragraph of the Immigration Regulations. Consequently, an application for work- and/or residence- and/or study permit must be submitted from abroad.
Follow this link for information in Urdu.
How to apply:
As a general rule, personal appearance of the applicant is required. Days are Tuesdays and Thursdays between 0800 hrs. to 1000 hrs. (by appointment only). A token which gives the right to lodge the application will be given if the applicant has provided a fully filled out application form, has provided a passport, has provided 3 photos and a receipt that the fee has been paid.
All applicants have to meet in person. If you are applying for family reunification with Norwegian spouse, and your spouse is in Pakistan, he/she needs to meet at the Embassy together with you.
You will be interviewed at the Embassy. The purpose of the interview is to clarify your identity, the purpose of the application (your connection to Norway – family, job, school etc) and if you have money/income to pay for your stay in Norway.
Application for residence- and work permits will be sent to the Directorate of Immigration in Norway for decision.
The average processing time today is 10 months.
Fee for applying for work and residence permit:
A fee must be paid when (or before) applying for a work and residence permit. The relevant fees may be found here.
What kind of documents you need to bring:
1) For all kind of work/residence applications
Pakistani Citizens:
- Two application forms must be filled in block letters or typed in English.
- Family tree form: click "Family tree".
- Three new passport photos – the same for your children if they are applying. The photos must have white background and be 35-40 mm in width. For all details see: "Photo requirement".
- Passport and two passport copies of pages 1 - 4.
- ID card and two copies of both sides.
- Original + one copy of birth certificate for all applicants. Birth certificates are issued by the Union Council/Town Committee/Municipal Committee or DHO.
- Original + one copy of both Primary and Matric school certificates.
- If you have your father´s B-form issued by the ID-card Office (Registration Office), pllease present the original + one copy.
- Original + one copy of Nikah Nama, and photos from the wedding
- Original + one copy of divorce certificate/death certificate, if you have previously been married.
The documents must be translated into English or Norwegian.
Afghan Citizens:
- Two applications forms must be filled in block letters or typed in English.
- Family tree form (see "Family tree")
- Three new passport photos – the same for your children if they are applying. The photos must have white background and be 35-40 mm in width. For all details see: "Photo requirement".
- Passport, two copies of pages 1 - 4.
Many Afghan citizens do not have identification documents. Please be informed that if you do not have documents, such as tazkira and Nikah Nama, you should not make new or fake documents in order to present them to the Embassy. These documents have no relevance for the Immigration Authorities in Norway to decide your application. However, if you have the following documents, please bring them with you:
- Tazkira
- Nikah Nama, and/or photos from the wedding (Nikah).
The documents must be translated in to English or Norwegian.
2) Additional documents:
Family reunification with spouse:
- Invitation and copy of your spouse’s permit to stay in Norway.
- Proof of your husband’s/wife’s income in Norway.
- Proof of accommodation in Norway.
- In addition we ask that the applicant fill out a questionaire. See: Queatinaire family reunion
- If you are married to a citizen of an EEA country:
-The spouse from a third country (i.e. not Norway or any other EU or EEA country) has a right to family reunification after the EEA regulation, when the parties have entered into marriage in and/or the marriage is approved by an EEA country.
-It is not up to Norwegian authorities to recognize a marriage that has taken place outside the EEA area between two foreign nationalities. The marriage must be registered in the EU/EEA-county of the principal person.
-If the marriage can not be registered, the applicant has to provide a marriage certificate that is verified/legalized with the Embassy of the principal person.
-If it is not possible to register the marriage, and the current Embassy is not willing to verify/legalese the marriage certificate, then the marriage is not considered as approved by the principal person's country. This marriage does not fulfil the conditions for family reunification after the EEA regulation.
6 months "fiancé" permit in order to get married in Norway:
- Invitation and copy of your fiancé’s permit to stay in Norway.
- Proof of your fiancé’s income in Norway.
- Proof of accommodation in Norway.
- Documentation that neither one of you are married to any other person, and that you can enter into marriage in Norway.
9 months residence permit for parents:
- Documentation that you are the parent of the person who is inviting.
- Invitation and copy of your child’s permit to stay in Norway.
- Proof of your child’s income in Norway.
- Proof of accommodation in Norway.
Work permit
- Offer of employment from Norway
- Proof of correspondance between you and the employer
- Original documents of earlier employment
- For further inoformation/requirements pelase visit the homepage of the Directorate of Immigration – www.udi.no
Residence permit for studying in Norway
- Two forms of "Application for a first time residence permit for educational purposes". These forms must be filled in or typed in English.
- Family tree form: see "Family tree".
- Three new passport photos. The photos must have white background and be 35-40 mm in width. For all details see: "Photo requirement".
- Original passport together with 2 sets of photocopies of pages 1 - 4. (Also bring along old passports if any). Please also note that your passport must normally be valid for at least two months beyond the period for which the permit is granted.
- Original identity card along with 2 photocopies of both sides.
- Original + one copy of birth certificate. Birth certificates are issued by the Union Council/Town Committee/Municipal Committee or DHO.
- If you have your father´s B-form issued by the ID-card Office (Registration Office). Please present the original + one copy.
- Original + one copy of both Primary and Matric school certificates.
- Other relevant documents showing the applicant's education.
- Letter of admission or invitation from an educational institution in Norway.
- Study plan. See "Application Forms".
- Financial plan. See "Application Forms".
- A copy of the loan application if the studies are to be funded through the State Educational Loan Fund.
- Subsistence. See www.udi.no for the amount needed to be deposited into a Norwegian bank.
- Documentation of housing. Deed or tenancy agreement is approved as documentation.
Please note that the Directorate of Immigration requires that the presented certificates are translated into English or Norwegian.