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 here)
- 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
- Go to UDI's website and fill in the necessary
information to access the specific application process that relates to your nationality. - 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.