Norway researcher visa (researcher with own funds)

UDI defines a researcher as a person with a master’s degree who is going to engage in research. You must carry out the research at a Norwegian university, university college, institute or similar body, have somewhere to live, and it must be likely that you return home afterwards. If a Norwegian institution employs and pays you, the correct permit is the skilled worker permit, not this one.

The invitation or agreement from the Norwegian research institution must describe the subject area, the project and your tasks. Your CV must list your current position, education, work experience, employers, supervisors, references, publications and co-authors, and you complete UDI’s questionnaire for researchers.

You need at least NOK 15,488 per month, or NOK 170,368 for a year. The money can be salary from your employer abroad during the stay, a grant from your home country or Norway, your own funds, or a combination. A grant must at least match the basic support of the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (Lånekassen) for full-time higher education, currently NOK 15,488 per month.

From abroad the route is the same for all residence permits: register the application in UDI’s portal and pay the fee, then hand in the documents and originals in person at the Norwegian embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence, or at the external service provider it uses. The mission verifies the originals and forwards the case to UDI, which decides. Your passport and originals are returned when the case is finished. Documents not in English or Norwegian need a translation, and for work permits the translation must be made by an authorised translator showing the translator’s name and date.

If you need a visa to travel, the Norwegian mission issues an entry visa (D visa) once the permit is granted. After arrival you must report to the police within seven days to have fingerprints and a photo taken; the police then order your residence card, a plastic card sent by post. Put your name on the letterbox so the card can be delivered, and avoid trips abroad until you have it. You should also report your move to the Norwegian Tax Administration to obtain a Norwegian identification number.

Your spouse or cohabitant and children can usually apply for family immigration, and if they apply at the same time you receive the answers together. Besides the research you may work up to 20 hours a week, including remote work, and full-time in holidays. When the permit ends, a researcher can apply for a job-seeker permit of up to one year before it expires. Time on this permit does not count towards permanent residence.

If UDI refuses, you can appeal within three weeks of receiving the decision letter. The appeal is free, must be signed and written in English or Norwegian, name the decision and explain what should change, and should contain new information; it can be uploaded through udi.no. If you cannot gather all documents in time, appeal anyway and explain, and you get up to two more weeks. UDI reconsiders the case and sends it to the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) if it maintains the refusal.