Family immigration to Norway: the 2026 rules
Family immigration under the Immigration Act (utlendingsloven), decided by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (Utlendingsdirektoratet, UDI), has requirements on age, income, a valid marriage and, for some, four years of work or education in Norway. Family members of EU/EEA citizens can use the EEA rules instead. Read this before you start your assessment.
Updated 30 October 2026
Key figures
Age rule
24 years
If you married after the person in Norway moved there, both of you must normally be at least 24 when UDI decides.
Income requirement
NOK 436,957
Future income a year before tax for the person in Norway, from 1 May 2026.
Application fee
NOK 11,900
First application for an adult; NOK 5,950 for a child under 18.
Waiting time
Up to 4 months
Before UDI looks at a first application when the family member in Norway has a work permit (updated 29 October 2026).
Three routes
Norwegian national rules (utlendingsloven)
For spouses, registered partners, cohabitants and children of Norwegian citizens and of people with a residence permit in Norway. UDI decides. The income requirement, the 24-year rule and, in some cases, the four-year rule apply.
EEA rules (free movement)
For family members of an EU/EEA citizen who lives in Norway as a worker, self-employed person, student or with sufficient funds. Family members from outside the EU/EEA apply within 3 months of arrival for a free residence card, valid for up to 5 years. UDI's waiting time is about 6 months.
Norwegians returning from another EEA country
If you lived together with a Norwegian citizen in another EEA country, where the Norwegian worked, studied, was self-employed or had sufficient funds, the EEA rules can apply when you move to Norway together. The stay there must normally have lasted more than 3 months.
Main requirements under Norwegian law
- Age: both of you must be over 18. If you married after the person in Norway moved there, or that person has always lived in Norway, both must normally be at least 24 when UDI decides. An exception is possible where it is obvious that the marriage is voluntary.
- Marriage: it must be valid and recognised in Norway, not forced and not a marriage of convenience. Since 1 January 2025, foreign marriages where one party was under 18 are, as a rule, not recognised.
- Future income: the person in Norway must normally earn at least NOK 436,957 a year before tax (from 1 May 2026), and the income must be likely to continue for at least one more year.
- Last year's income: the tax settlement must normally show at least NOK 409,972 for 2025. Skilled workers do not need income last year.
- Cohabitants: you must have lived together for at least 2 years, or have or expect a child together.
- Four-year rule: if the person in Norway has or had protection, a permit on strong humanitarian grounds or a family immigration permit, a newly formed family can normally come only after that person has worked or studied full-time in Norway for 4 years.
- Interview: UDI may call you both for an interview, and always does so when the relationship is with a person under 25 who lives in Norway.
- Housing: UDI's requirements for spouses include no housing condition, but you must plan to live together in Norway.
Refusals and appeals
- If UDI refuses your application, you can appeal within 3 weeks of receiving the decision. An appeal is free, and you can write it in Norwegian or English.
- UDI first reviews the case and may change its decision. If it does not, the appeal goes to the Immigration Appeals Board (Utlendingsnemnda, UNE), whose decision is final.
- UNE decides 8 in 10 family immigration appeals within 17 months (UNE, updated 4 September 2026).
- After a final decision you can ask UNE to reverse it if you have new and important information (UNE rarely does so), or bring the case before Oslo District Court (Oslo tingrett).
Read more
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