Visa and Study Permit

Inbound exchange students from outside the EU/EEA must apply for a student permit / visa immediately after they have received their admission letter. Check the UDI website for more information.

• In order to be granted a study permit/visa to Norway as a non-EU student, UDI requires that you show documentation that you have enough money to live on while studying in Norway. How you document financing as an exchange student depends on your citizenship and student status. Please check "Documentation of funds" below for what you need to do.

• Some students do not need a visa to visit Norway because they hold a passport from a country that Norway has a visa exemption agreement with. This also applies if you have a residence permit in an EU/EEA country or if you have a special passport. Check the UDI list of persons who do not need a visa to enter Norway to see which category applies to you.

When applying, you will need the following:

• UiS organisation number: 971 564 679 (click “Search and Verify”)
• UiS contact e-mail: inboundexchange@uis.no
• A credit card to pay the application fee
• Passport number, date of issue and validity
• Date of arrival in Norway/Schengen area (check our semester dates)
• Information about your marital status and family
• Correspondence address in your home country
• Address in Norway. Use the visiting address of the university, as your correspondence address in Stavanger will be provided on arrival:
  
  The University of Stavanger
  International Office
  Rennebergstien 30
  4021 Stavanger
  Norway

Unfortunately, the International Office cannot assist you directly with the application process to obtain a study permit in Norway. Any questions regarding study permits (visas), should be directed towards the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI).

However, some general guidance is provided below:

Application procedure

1. Go to UDI's website and fill in the necessary
   information to access the specific application process that relates to your nationality.
2. When you fill in the information, it is important to indicate that you are coming to Stavanger as an exchange student (either Erasmus+ or taking part in an exchange between a Norwegian and a foreign higher education institution).
3. The website will tell you whether you need to submit your study permit application from your home country or if you are eligible to submit the application from Norway and where to submit your supporting documents.
4. After you have submitted the application, and paid the application fee, the status of your application can be checked online. When asked to send the application to the reference you listed, please choose “NO”, as this has no relevance to your application.
5. After receiving your study permit/visa, you must book an appointment to register your arrival with the Stavanger Police Station through UDI's Application Portal. You must book the earliest available appointment after your arrival.
   

After arrival

You are required to register at the local immigration office at the Stavanger Police Station within seven days after your arrival in Norway. The registration is by appointment only. The residence card will be sent to you by post. It may take at least ten working days from your appointment with the police until you receive the residence card by post. At the same time, the police will give notice to the Tax Administration that you need a national ID number. Therefore, you do not need to attend the Tax Administration to request this.

More information here.

The study permit is valid for one semester or one year. If you applied for one semester, but extend your stay for one extra semester, then you need to renew your study permit and pay the application fee again.

If the above procedure has changed, please send us an e-mail.

It is your responsibility to check with whether you need a study permit/visa to study in Norway through the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI).

If you do need a study permit/visa to study in Norway, you must submit proof of sufficient funds along with your other application documents in Søknadsweb.

Student not coming through Erasmus+

The amount is determined by UDI and will depend on whether your are staying one or two semesters. The current rate of NOK 151 690 (March 2024, adjusted yearly) is intended to cover living expenses during one academic year. Exchange students must document NOK 68 950 for the autumn semester 2024 and NOK 82 740 for the spring semester 2025.

We ask you to submit proof of funding to us during the application process because it allows us to include a confirmation of sufficient funds in your Admission Letter. You may then use this document when you apply for your study permit/visa, without having to transfer funds to a Norwegian bank account.

Requirements for the proof of funds:

• The document must be in English or Scandinavian language
• The document must be an official copy: scholarship confirmation, bank statement, etc. If you submit an official bank statement, the account must be in your name
• The document must clearly state the amount and the date. The document must not be older than 1 month before submission
• The currency should be in NOK, EUR, or USD

Students coming with an Erasmus+ grant

Please submit documentation showing that you will receive Erasmus+ grant for the entire exchange period in your study permit application. You may also submit this documentation to us in the exchange application portal for a confirmation of funds in your admission letter.

Students coming with other external funding

If you receive a grant as part of a project funded by UiS, you do not need to submit proof of sufficient funds.

• NORPLUS students that are receiving a scholarship do not need to upload documentation to prove sufficient funds.

• Please check if your Letter of Admission provides a confirmation from UiS that you have sufficient financial means to cover your period of studies in Norway before applying for your study permit (visa).

The application process should be initiated immediately after receiving your admission offer. Information about how to apply for a study permit is available on UDI’s website. Please note that the processing time for a study permit application may take up to three months.

As part of the study permit application, UDI requires a financial guarantee to cover your living expenses while studying in Norway. The required amount for the first year — NOK 166,859 (as of March 2025, adjusted annually) — must be deposited into a Norwegian bank account, in accordance with UDI’s regulations.

Further information regarding the study permit application process will be provided to students who receive admission to a study programme at UiS.

As part of the study permit application, UDI requires a financial guarantee to cover your living expenses while studying in Norway. The required amount for the first year — NOK 166,859 (as of March 2025, adjusted annually) — must be deposited into a Norwegian bank account, in accordance with UDI’s regulations.

Since it is not possible to open a Norwegian bank account before arrival, UiS offers a deposit account for new international students where the required amount can be transferred.

The deposit must be transferred to UiS’ deposit account within 3 weeks after receiving admission. Details about how to transfer the deposit will be available after receiving admission.

Normally, you are required to register in person at the local immigration office (Stavanger Police Station) within seven days after your arrival in Norway. You must book an appointment in advance through the UDI Application Portal.

After completing your police registration, you will receive your residence card and Norwegian ID number. The residence permit is usually valid for one year and must be renewed for the second year of studies.

Once you have received your Norwegian ID number, you can open your own bank account in Norway and request UiS to transfer your deposit to this account.

If you need access to the deposit before opening a Norwegian bank account, UiS can provide you with a cash card upon arrival. A part of the deposit will be transferred to this card, which can be used for purchases and cash withdrawals.