Many Norwegian companies struggle to find the right skills domestically and therefore recruit skilled workers from abroad. But what happens when one of your employees wants to bring their family along? Family reunification is a key factor for employee well-being and stability when in Norway – and an important tool for employers who want to attract and retain valuable talent.
In this blog, we explain the rules for family reunification when the employee is a skilled worker from a country outside the EEA, such as the United Kingdom, India, or Malaysia. We review the application requirements and provide practical tips on how you can help ensure that your employees are able to bring their families with them while working for your company in Norway.
Distinguishing between EU/EEA vs third countries
Before addressing family reunification, it is essential to understand the fundamental distinction between EU/EEA citizens and citizens from countries outside the EU/EEA.
EU/EEA citizens do not require a residence permit to reside and/or work in Norway and may commence employment immediately upon arrival. However, if their stay exceeds three months, they must register with the police and obtain a registration certificate for EU/EEA citizens.
Citizens from countries outside the EU/EEA must, generally, have a residence permit to reside and/or work in Norway.
Also read: How employers apply for a skilled worker permit in Norway
Key definitions: The reference person and the applicant
To understand family reunification, it is important to be familiar with these terms:
- The reference person: the family member living in Norway.
- The applicant: the person who wants to move to Norway or continue living here and who needs a residence permit.
How is a skilled worker defined?
Family members may apply for family reunification if the reference person has either received, or has applied for, a residence permit as a skilled worker.
The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) defines a skilled worker as someone who has completed higher education (minimum three years) or completed a vocational training program of at least three years at upper secondary school level or obtained special qualifications/skills through extensive work experience (typically seven years in a relevant field).
A residence permit for skilled workers allows individuals to reside and work in Norway for a specified period, travel in and out of Norway multiple times during the permit's validity, and work in a position that matches their qualifications.
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We help employers and their employees with family reunification regularly. Contact us today.
Which family members can apply for family reunification?
There are numerous categories of family members who may apply for family reunification. We focus on the most common:
- Spouses and registered partners: Spouses and registered partners have the right to family reunification when they are married, or the registered partnership was entered into before the application date. Marriages that took place abroad must be recognizable in Norway. They must document genuine cohabitation and have plans to live together in Norway. There is a requirement that both spouses must be 24 years of age, but exceptions to the age requirement may be made in special circumstances. Spouses receive work authorization upon approval. It is not necessary to apply for a separate work permit.
- Cohabitants: Cohabitants may obtain family reunification when they have lived together for at least two years and neither party is married to anyone else, or have or are expecting a child together and have plans to live together in Norway. There is a requirement that both parties must be 24 years of age, but exceptions to the age requirement may be made in special circumstances. Cohabitants receive work authorization upon approval. It is not necessary to apply for a separate work permit.
- Children under 18: Children under 18 years have the right to family reunification when they are joint children of the reference person and their spouse/cohabitant, or they are the reference person's own children or they are the spouse's/cohabitant's children for whom the reference person has parental responsibility.
This group has a strong right to family reunification. The child receives the right to schooling immediately. - Children over 18 years: Children over 18 years may obtain family reunification in special circumstances, but this requires a more thorough assessment. In these cases, higher requirements are imposed regarding connection to parents and stricter financial conditions. Children over 18 years receive work authorization upon approval. It is not necessary to apply for a separate work permit.
- Parents who will move to children over 18 years in Norway: Parents may obtain family reunification with adult children in Norway, but this requires documentation of special connection and dependency relationships.
The application process for family reunification
1. Where to apply
The first step is to complete and submit the application form electronically via UDI's website. Citizens from certain countries cannot, however, apply electronically and must instead submit the application in person at a Norwegian foreign service mission in their home country. In such cases, an appointment must be booked in advance.
2. Necessary documentation
When completing the electronic application, one will receive a checklist tailored to the applicant and their situation.
The applicant should generally submit the application documents themselves. The applicant must appear in person at an application Centre in their home country or country of residence to submit the application documents. The employer or client of the reference person may in many cases submit the application documents from Norway on behalf of the applicant.
In cases where a representative is used to submitting the application documents, the police must be contacted to establish a case. Necessary documents are uploaded to the UDI portal as soon as this is confirmed.
The following documentation may be necessary when applying for family reunification, depending on the situation:
- Copy of passport, all used pages
- Passport photograph
- Documentation of family connection (e.g., marriage certificate, birth certificate, and cohabitation certificate)
- Financial documentation
- Housing documentation
- Health certificates for certain family members
- Documentation of civil status
- Powers of attorney if using representatives
- Copy of reference person's passport and contract
- Various questionnaires
Note: This is not a comprehensive list.
Family reunification: Processing time and fee
There is no application fee when submitting an application for children under 18 years.
For adults over 18 years, an application fee must be paid to UDI, which as of 2025 is NOK 11,900. If the applicant submits their application at a Norwegian foreign service mission in their home country, an additional service fee/courier fee may be required in some cases. This fee is in addition to the standard application fee.
The processing time is calculated from when the applicant has submitted all necessary documents. If the applicant applied simultaneously with the reference person, they would receive an answer when the reference person receives an answer. The case processing time may otherwise take up to 6 months.
Duration of temporary residence permit for skilled workers and their family
A temporary residence permit may be granted for up to three years but cannot exceed the duration of the job offer.
When the applicant is granted a residence permit based on family reunification, they receive the right to reside in Norway for the same period as the reference person and the opportunity to travel in and out of Norway freely.
Also read: What is a temporary residence permit?
Renewal of residence permit
When the residence permit expires, one may apply for renewal. UDI recommends applying for renewal three months before the residence permit expires.
Most applications for renewal of residence permits are processed by the police.
Be aware that complications may arise when travelling to and from Norway whilst awaiting processing of a renewed permit. When the current residence permit has expired, one no longer has a valid residence card.
Common challenges and solutions when applying for family reunification
One of the greatest challenges is obtaining correct documentation from the home country.
It is important to:
- Start the process early (it may take months to obtain documents)
- Have documents translated by an authorized translator
- Ensure that documents are apostilled or legalized
Proper planning and documentation are an excellent foundation for obtaining approval for family reunification applications in Norway. The process requires thorough planning and correct documentation, but with proper preparation, families can be granted residence permits and begin their lives in Norway.
Get professional help applying for family reunification for your skilled workers
At Magnus Legal law firm we have extensive experience in guiding employers and their families through the entire process with family reunification. We can help assess which category best suits the particular situation, prepare documentation, and ensure a successful application process. Contact us for a personal review of your situation.
The most important points to remember:
- The reference person must have education/competence, job offer, and finances as skilled labor
- Different family members have different requirements and rights
- All documentation must be complete, correct, and translated
- The process takes time, so start early
CONTACT US
We help employers and their employees with family reunification regularly. Contact us today.
