Norway student residence permit and post-study job seeking in 2026
Non-EU/EEA students admitted to a Norwegian university or university college normally need a study residence permit for programmes lasting more than three months.
University-level students must study full time and currently document at least NOK 15,488 per month, or NOK 170,368 per year, for living costs, in addition to tuition where tuition applies. They must also have accommodation.
A study permit automatically includes permission to work up to 20 hours per week, including remote work, alongside studies and full time during holidays. Students cannot be self-employed or run their own business. Study-permit time does not itself count toward permanent residence.
A graduate who completed qualifying education in Norway, or certain researchers, may apply before the existing permit expires for a job-seeker residence permit. The current support figure is NOK 28,448 per month / NOK 341,373 per year. This route can be granted for a maximum of one year.
Graduate/researcher job seekers may work full time or part time while looking for relevant skilled work, including in jobs that do not require skilled-worker qualifications, but cannot be self-employed. Job-seeker time does not count toward permanent residence.
A separate exceptional category exists for visa-free skilled job seekers, generally for up to six months; that group cannot work while searching.
Official guidance: UDI study permit and UDI job seekers.
Related: skilled work, family immigration, permanent residence, Norway hub.
Official and supporting sources
- Official Norway source 1government · accessed 2026-09-20
- Official Norway source 2government · accessed 2026-09-20