Foreign nationals - studying abroad

Information for those without Norwegian citizenship wanting to take a degree or individual courses abroad.

Permanent right of residence in Norway

You are an EEA citizen with permanent right of residence in Norway, or you have permanent right of residence as a family member of an EEA citizen. Permanent right of residence is a right you can obtain after at least five years of residence in Norway.

Documentation requirements

If you have a permanent residence permit/residence card, you must submit a copy of this. Registration certificate for EEA citizens is not the same as permanent residence permit/residence card. 

If you are an EEA citizen and do not have a permanent residence permit, you must submit a confirmation showing that you have been resident in Norway for a continuous period of at least five years. This means documentation showing that you have been employed, self-employed, a student or that you have had sufficient means to support yourself while living here.

If you are an EEA citizen and apply for support on the basis of permanent right of residence as a family member of an EEA citizen, you must submit documentation showing that both you and the EEA citizen you are related to, have been resident in Norway for a continuous period of at least five years.

If you are not an EEA citizen and apply for support on the basis of permanent right of residence as a family member of an EEA citizen, you must submit documentation showing that

  • the EEA citizen you are related to has been resident in Norway for a continuous period of at least five years. This means documentation showing that the EEA citizen has been employed, self-employed, a student or has had sufficient means while living here.
  • you have had legal residence during the same period as the EEA citizen, and you have lived with the EEA citizen during this period.

Nordic citizens must also document that they are permanent residents of Norway under these rules. We check the (Norwegian) National Registry to see if you are registered as a resident in Norway. 

EEA or EFTA employees

You are an EEA or EFTA citizen and have employee status in Norway.

This condition applies when you stop working in order to pursue an education. There must be a professional link between the work you have carried out in Norway and the education you are applying for loans and grants for. If you have become involuntarily unemployed and have been registered as a jobseeker with the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) for the entire period, the professional link requirement may laps.

Documentation requirements

In some cases we find information on employment relationships in the State Register of Employers and Employees. If we are unable to get the information we require from there, you must yourself submit documentation of employment in Norway.

You must submit the following

Confirmation (reference) from your Norwegian employer(s) that show the period(s) you have worked in Norway, what the work comprised and the percentage of full time equivalent you have worked. The confirmation must be signed by the employer and be written on official headed paper or have the employer’s stamp. An employment contract is not sufficient.

Children of EEA or EFTA employees or their spouses

You may be eligible for loans or grants for study abroad if you are the child or grandchild of an EEA or EFTA employee, or of someone who is married to an EEA or EFTA employee.

If the employee has a cohabitant with joint children, the cohabitant is considered a spouse.
You must also meet at least one of these two conditions:

  • You must be under the age of 21
  • You must be supported by the employee or the employee’s spouse

If the EEA or EFTA employee no longer has a status of employee in Norway, you will lose the right to loans and grants.

Documentation requirements

In some cases we find information on employment relationships in the State Register of Employers and Employees. If we are unable to get the information we require from there, you must yourself submit documentation of employment in Norway.

You must submit the following

Documentation showing that one of your parents or the spouse of one of your parents is employed in Norway, for example confirmation from an employer. An employment contract is not considered sufficient documentation.

Parents or grandparents of EEA or EFTA employees or their spouses

You are the parent or grandparent of the EEA or EFTA employee or the employee’s spouse, and you are supported by the employee or the employee’s spouse/cohabitant with joint children.

If the EEA or EFTA employee no longer has a status of employee in Norway, you will lose the right to loans and grants.

Documentation requirements

In some cases we find information on employment relationships in the State Register of Employees. If we are unable to get the information we require from there, you must yourself submit documentation of employment in Norway.

You must submit the following

You must submit confirmation showing that he/she is employed in Norway, for example confirmation from an employer. An employment contract is not considered sufficient documentation.

Married to a EEA or EFTA employee in Norway

This also applies if you are cohabitants and have joint children. If the EEA or EFTA employee no longer has a status of employee in Norway, you will lose the right to loans and grants.

Documentation requirements

In some cases we find information on employment relationships in the State Register of Employees. If we are unable to get the information we require from there, you must yourself submit documentation of employment in Norway.

You must submit the following

You must submit documentation showing that your spouse/cohabiting partner is employed in Norway. This may for example be confirmation from an employer. An employment contract is not sufficient.

Don't meet the conditions?

If you fail to meet the conditions for citizenship, you are not entitled to loans and grants for studies abroad. You may however be entitled to loans and grants for studies in Norway.
Foreign nationals

Conditions that must be met

In order to be entitled to loans and grants, you must have general study competence, an affiliation with Norway and satisfy one of the exceptions from the requirements for Norwegian citizenship.

General study competence

You may meet the requirement for general study competence by either completing upper secondary education in Norway, or with education from abroad.

You can find more information on these requirements on the Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service website (samordnaopptak.no). Norwegian language requirements to achieve general study competence do not apply to applicants who have completed upper secondary education abroad or International Baccalaureate (IB).

Links to Norway

There are several situations that can allow you to meet this requirement. It can depend on whether you have lived in Norway for a longer period of time, whether you have close family in Norway or whether you have studied in Norway. You can find more information about the various situations that can be considered as affiliated with Norway on this page.

Click here to see which education programmes and places of study that Lånekassen has given loans and grants to the last three years.

Rules