Are you an international student wanting to seek permanent residency in Norway? Are you asking yourself-is it easy to get PR after study in Norway? Then you are at the right place! Norway issues Permanent Residency to international students! You can get a Norway PR after staying for just 3 years. Read this blog to understand the step-by-step process of getting a PR. You can also learn about the eligibility criteria, requirements, application process, fees, etc.
This Blog Includes:
- Is It Easy to Get PR after Study in Norway? An Overview
- How to Get PR in Norway After Study?
- How Long Does it Take to Get Permanent Residence in Norway?
- How Do You Qualify for Norwegian PR?
- Norway PR Requirements for International Students
- When to Apply for a PR in Norway?
- How to Apply for PR in Norway as an International Student?
- Where to Apply for a Norway PR as an International Student?
- How Long Does It Take to Process the Norway PR Application?
- What is the Cost of Norway PR for Indian?
- What Happens If a PR Application is Rejected?
- How Long is the Norweign PR Valid for?
- What are the Rights of Permanent Residents in Norway?
- How Long Do You Have to Stay in Norway to Get Citizenship?
- FAQs
Is It Easy to Get PR after Study in Norway? An Overview
Yes. It is easy for you to get a PR in Norway. However, you won’t get PR directly after graduation. The process of obtaining a PR is long. You will have to go to Norway as an international student and get a residence permit. Thereafter, you can apply for a residence permit eligible for PR. Norway issues PR to anyone who has stayed in the country for 3 years and has a valid residence permit.
How to Get PR in Norway After Study?
Is it easy to get PR after study in Norway? Yes. It is. However, you must have stayed in the county for at least 3 years to apply for permanent residency. This is how you can meet the duration of your stay to get a PR.
Complete Your Studies in Norway
You need to get a study permit and complete your studies in Norway. The study permit is also called the residency permit for studies. Unfortunately, this residency permit cannot be used as the basis for a PR. Nevertheless, you can aim to get a PR. It is recommended that you take up a degree program.
Get a Job Permit
After you have completed your studies you must enter the Norway labour market as a job Seeker. As a job seeker, you can stay in the country for 1 year. You are also permitted to work in a skilled or non-skilled profession. During this period, you can look for employment as a skilled professional.
Skilled Worker
Those who have completed their higher education or vocational training can apply for a residence permit as a skilled worker. You need this permit to get a PR. The skilled worker residency permit is valid for 1 year for those who have completed vocational training. It can be renewed as well. On the other hand, those who have completed a degree program can get this for 3 years!
Apply for Permanent Residency
After you have stayed in Norway as a skilled worker for 3 years (That is, on a residence permit for skilled workers) you are eligible to apply for a PR. The residence permit for skilled workers is also called a work immigration residence permit. It can be the basis for your PR. However, to you must meet all the requirements.
Learn about the top universities in Norway
How Long Does it Take to Get Permanent Residence in Norway?
Is it easy to get PR after study in Norway? Yes. You can get a PR after studying. However, you must have stayed in the country for a specific period. The time it takes to get a Norway PR is as follows-
Categories | Duration of Stay to Get a Norway PR |
Work immigration | 3 years |
family immigration with a Norwegian or other foreigners | 3 years |
If you are a refugee, an asylum seeker, or are in Norway due to humanitarian grounds | 5 years |
This means you will take 3-5 years to get a PR in Norway. Those applying for a PR on work immigration will get a PR in 3 years.
How Do You Qualify for Norwegian PR?
Is it easy to get PR after study in Norway? Yes. It is easy to get a PR in Norway. However, you must ensure that you meet these basic criteria before applying.
Basic Eligibility To Get a Norway PR | Description |
You must have a temporary residence permit that forms the basis for a PR | For example, a work immigration permit |
You must have stayed in Norway continuously | This means you must not have left Norway for more than 7 months in total |
Continuous stay exception for work immigration permit holders | You can stay outside of Norway for 15 months if at least 8 months of stay was due to work. |
Note– After fulfilling this basic criterion you can consider getting a PR. However, you must meet all the additional requirements.
Norway PR Requirements for International Students
Is it easy to get PR after study in Norway? Yes. You can get a PR in Norway after meeting all the requirements below.
Norway PR Requirements | Description |
Passport | You must have a valid passport |
Residency requirement | Stayed in Norway for 3 years on a work immigration permit |
Employment | You must have held a job and income for 3 years |
Residence permit Validity | Your current residence permit must be valid at the time of application, and you must continue to meet its requirements |
Financially support yourself | You must meet the income requirement for 1 year |
Criminal offence | You must not have been convicted of a criminal offence |
Medical treatment | You must not have been under psychiatric care or treatment |
Norwegian language and social studies | Cleared this compulsory exam |
Fee payment | Pay the application fee to get a PR |
When to Apply for a PR in Norway?
Is it easy to get PR after study in Norway? Yes. It is. However, you must know when you are applying for a Norweign PR. The PR application requires booking at the police department. Therefore, you must ensure that the application is submitted at an appropriate time.
Permit | When to Apply |
Norway PR | 3 months before the requirement for PR is met or the expiry of the residence permit. |
Note– You must apply early. If your previous permit expires, and you don’t get a residence card renewed or get a decision soon, you can be detained at the border. That is if you try to leave the country.
How to Apply for PR in Norway as an International Student?
Is it easy to get PR after study in Norway? Yes. It is. You can get a PR in Norway as an international student by following the steps below. Ensure you meet the requirements before applying.
- Visit the official website– You can visit the official website of the Norwegian permit application (UDI), and go to the page for permanent residency
- Ensure you meet the requirements- Ensure you meet the requirements, and start the application process. You can download the checklist to ensure you do not miss any documents.
- Apply online– You can fill out your PR application online, and download the same.
- Visit the Immigration office– You will have to visit the immigration office in your municipality For example the, Immigration Office in Oslo, Oslo police district. The police website details are available on UDI to book an appointment.
- Book an appointment– You will have to book an appointment for a PR application.
- Submission- Show up on the date of your appointment and submit the documents required along with your application form.
- Pay the PR application fee- At this stage, you are required to pay the fees charged for permanent residency.
- Get the decision – After your PR application is processed you will get a decision.
Watch this video to learn about the most in-demand jobs in Norway:
Where to Apply for a Norway PR as an International Student?
The Norway PR application can be filled out by visiting the official website of UDI. However, to complete the application process you will have to visit the Police Department of the nearest municipality. The application and the documents are submitted to the police for verification.
How Long Does It Take to Process the Norway PR Application?
Is it easy to get PR after study in Norway? Yes. It is. The Norwegian Police processes your PR application. The processing time varies depending on where you are applying form. However, the general processing time taken is provided below-
Permit | Norway PR Processing Time |
Norway Permanent Residence | 5 to 16 weeks (depending on your municipality) |
What is the Cost of Norway PR for Indian?
The cost of Norway permanent residency for Indian nationals is provided below:
Permit | Norway PR Fee |
Norway Permanent Residence | NOK 4.000 |
Understand the cost of living in Norway as an international student
What Happens If a PR Application is Rejected?
Is it easy to get PR after study in Norway? Yes. The PR application can be made easily. However, your PR application can be rejected. That is, if you haven’t met the requirements your application can be rejected.
A PR application can also be rejected if you meet the requirements but your current permit expires. In such cases, the Norwegian police or UDI will renew your residence permit.
How Long is the Norweign PR Valid for?
Has your Norwegian PR application been approved? Congratulations. You can now live in Norway for an indefinite period.
Permit | Norway PR Validity |
Norway Permanent Residence | Indefinite |
Note: Ensure that you apply to maintain your PR 6 months before staying abroad for PR. You cannot stay abroad for more than 2 years. Otherwise, you will lose your permanent residency status
What are the Rights of Permanent Residents in Norway?
Is it easy to get PR after study in Norway? Yes. It is. After you get a PR, you can access several benefits. Some of these benefits and rights are provided below-
- You can stay in Norway for an indefinite period
- You can work or study in Norway as long as you like.
- Choose to start up your own business
- Access the social security benefits like education, healthcare system
- You can sponsor your family members to join you
- Travel to other schengen states without a Visa (max 90 days)
- You do not have to renew your permanent residence
- Since you have a PR status you can access better work opportunities
- It reduces your chance of deportation
- This is a path to citizenship in Norway
Norway Work Visa Requirements for a Skilled Worker from India
How Long Do You Have to Stay in Norway to Get Citizenship?
Is it easy to get PR after study in Norway? Yes. It is. Once you get a PR you can even apply for citizenship. The Norway citizenship is available to applicants between the ages of 18 to 67. You must have stayed in the country for at least 8 years to get citizenship. Moreover, you need to meet the specific citizenship requirements.
FAQs
No. It is not difficult to get a PR in Norway. You can get a PR in Norway after you have stayed in the country for 3 years. To get a PR you must have held a residence permit that can become the basis of your application. For example, a work immigration permit.
Yes. It is difficult for international students to get a job in Norway. The Norway job market is competitive and as an international student, you can face language barriers. Construction, tourism, engineering and healthcare are some of the sectors that require workers the most.
The difficulty level is moderate to get a Norway PR. The Norway PR is available to anyone who has stayed in the country for 3 years. However, you must have held an eligible residence permit. Your study time is not counted for PR.
It will be difficult for you to find a job in Norway if you don’t speak English. The large companies only require you to know English. However, small and medium-sized companies prefer candidates who can speak Norwegian.
Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Portugal, and Ireland are the countries where you can get the PR is an easy way. Iceland and Canada also give PR to eligible students.
We hope you now have the answer to your question- Is it easy to get PR after study in Norway? Want to apply for a Visa for your study abroad journey? Drop us a comment in the section below, or visit our visa page for more such articles. You can also connect with a visa expert at Leverage Edu, and we will guide you on your dream journey!
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