Spouse/partner/cohabitant
If you are married to or are the registered partner or cohabitant of the person living in Norway, you are entitled to a family immigration permit if you otherwise meet the criteria.
If you are married/ partners, the following requirements apply:
- You are both over the age of 18.
- If your spouse has been married to another person from your home country, and this person has been granted a family immigration permit to Norway, you must submit documentation from the authorities in your home country that this marriage is dissolved.
If you are cohabitants, the following requirements apply:
- You are both over the age of 18.
- Neither of you are married to other people.
- You have already lived together for at least two years. (Cohabitation time while you are married to other people does not count.) If you have lived together in Norway, you must have had legal residence in Norway during the time you have lived together. If you have or are expecting a child with the person living in Norway, the requirement for two years’ cohabitation does not apply.
- You will continue to live together in Norway.
Children whose parents live in Norway
Children whose parents live in Norway are entitled to come here and live with them provided that the other criteria are met.
Children are entitled to family immigration when:
- he/she is under the age of 18 and has no cohabitant or spouse, and
- both parents live in Norway and have legal residence here, or
- one of the parents lives in Norway and has sole parental responsibility, or
- one of the parents lives in Norway, and the other parent has agreed to the child moving to Norway (if they have joint parental responsibility)
If the case concerns an adopted child, the Norwegian Directorate of Children, Youth and Family Affairs must have agreed to the adoption before the adopted child enters Norway. Read more about approval of intercountry adoptions on Bufetats website (in norwegian).
Foster children of persons living in Norway are also entitled to come here. You must then enclose valid documentation that the child is, and has been, part of the household. Parental responsibility must have been transferred to the foster parents, and they must also be deemed as having legal responsibility for the child pursuant to the legislation in the child’s home country. The Norwegian child welfare authorities must approve the foster home.
When your child applies for family immigration, documentation of the family relationship must be enclosed. You can do this by enclosing a birth certificate or other documentation of the family relationship. In special cases, the UDI offers to carry out a DNA test to confirm the relationship.
Read more about the application process for children on the page Children applying for family immigration
Other family members
Certain other family members can also be granted a family immigration permit. You can apply for family immigration if you are:
- a foreign national and one of your parents was a Norwegian citizen at the time you were born
- a single mother or father over the age of 60 of a person living in Norway. You cannot have a spouse, cohabitant, parent, child, grandchild, or great-grandchild in your home country. Your son or daughter in Norway must be over the age of 18.
- a child between the ages of 18 and 21 without a spouse or cohabitant, who has previously stayed in Norway for a prolonged period (with a permit).
- a child over the age of 18 without a spouse or cohabitant, who remains or will remain in your home country while the rest of your family are granted residence in Norway. You must intent to continue living with your parents or for medical reasons be completely dependent on personal care from your parents in Norway.
- a foster child under the age of 18, if valid documentation can be submitted that proves that you are and have been part of the household of the person in Norway. Parental responsibility must have been transferred to your foster parents, and they must also be deemed as having legal responsibility for you pursuant to the legislation in your home country. The Norwegian child welfare authorities must approve the foster home.
- a full sibling under the age of 18 who has no living parents or other care providers in his/her home country or country of residence.
How to apply
Documentation list 2