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Family member of a Norwegian citizen returning under EEA rules

NorwayFree movement

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

Which citizenship, status or regional agreement creates the person's right to move/reside?

Family members of a Norwegian citizen are covered by the EEA chapter of the Immigration Act if they accompany or join a Norwegian citizen who returns to Norway after exercising the right of free movement under the EEA Agreement or the EFTA Convention in another EEA or EFTA country.

See recorded sources
  • https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2008-05-15-35/KAPITTEL_15
    Familiemedlemmer til en norsk borger omfattes av bestemmelsene i dette kapittelet dersom de følger eller slutter seg til en norsk borger som returnerer til riket etter å ha utøvet retten til fri bevegelighet etter EØS-avtalen eller EFTA-konvensjonen i et annet EØS-land eller EFTA-land.

Under which circumstances can the person reside: worker, self-employed, student, jobseeker, self-funded person or another recognised basis?

The family member can register if they lived together permanently with the Norwegian citizen in another EU/EEA country, where the Norwegian was an employee, self-employed person or student or lived with sufficient funds of their own, and they have moved or are moving to Norway together. In Norway the Norwegian must have a right of residence as an employee, self-employed person, student, or by having sufficient funds to support themselves and the family. If the Norwegian is a student or relies on sufficient funds, the family member must have health insurance in Norway covering 12 months.

See recorded sources

What entry, registration or residence-document formalities remain?

For an eligible EEA-citizen family member staying over three months, the Immigration Act §117 requires registration within three months of entry and provides a registration certificate on presenting the required documents. UDI’s returning-Norwegian-family page says the person can move and work immediately, registration is once only and free. A non-EEA family member with a right under §114 staying over three months follows §118 instead: apply for a residence card within three months of entry; the registration certificate wording does not describe that document.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The cited UDI returning-family page describes the registration scheme for an EEA-citizen applicant. The law establishes the non-EEA card rule for holders of a §114 right; these sources do not by themselves determine whether a particular returning-Norwegian family member satisfies that right or a case-specific document checklist.
  • https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/residence-under-the-eueeu-regulations/family-member-of-norwegian-national/family-immigration-with-a-norwegian-national-that-has-lived-in-another-eueea-country/family-member-of-an-eueea-national2/
    How the registration scheme works You can move to Norway and start working right away, but you must register no later than three months after your arrival in Norway. You only need to register once, regardless of how long you will be living in Norway. You can also, for example, go from being a student to being employed without having to re-register. While you live in Norway, you must belong to one of the residence categories described on this page. You may be an employee, self-employed, family member, student, have your own funds, or be employed by a foreign company. If you are a student or are here on your own funds, you must have insurance. If you meet the requirements for registering, the police will issue you a registration certificate. Registration is free.
  • https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2008-05-15-35/KAPITTEL_15
    § 117. Registreringsbevis for utlendinger med oppholdsrett etter §§ 112 eller 113 En EØS-borger som oppholder seg i riket etter §§ 112 eller 113 i mer enn tre måneder, skal registrere seg. Fristen for registrering er tre måneder fra innreisedatoen. Når EØS-borgeren framlegger dokumentasjon som nevnt i annet og tredje ledd, utstedes straks et registreringsbevis. For registrering av en EØS-borger med oppholdsrett etter § 112 kan det i tillegg til gyldig identitetskort eller pass kreves framlagt a. bekreftelse fra arbeidsgiver på ansettelse eller bevis for at utlendingen utøver selvstendig næringsvirksomhet eller bekreftelse på avtale om tjenesteytelse, jf. § 112 første ledd bokstav a og b, b. sykeforsikring og dokumentasjon på at vedkommende har tilstrekkelige midler til å dekke underhold for seg selv og eventuelle familiemedlemmer, jf. § 112 første ledd bokstav c, c. bekreftelse på at vedkommende er opptatt ved en godkjent utdanningsinstitusjon, sykeforsikring og erklæring om at vedkommende råder over tilstrekkelige midler til å dekke underhold for seg selv og eventuelle familiemedlemmer, jf. § 112 første ledd bokstav d. For registrering av en EØS-borger som oppholder seg i riket som familiemedlem med oppholdsrett etter § 113 , kan det i tillegg til gyldig identitetskort eller pass kreves framlagt a. dokument som attesterer familieforholdet som er grunnlaget for oppholdsretten, b. registreringsbevis til EØS-borgeren som utlendingen følger eller gjenforenes med, og c. dokumentasjon på forsørgelse i tilfeller hvor status som familiemedlem er betinget av at utlendingen forsørges, jf. § 110 tredje ledd bokstav c og d. Kongen kan gi nærmere bestemmelser i forskrift, herunder om hvilken myndighet som registrerer og utsteder registreringsbevis og om å fastsette gebyr for utstedelsen. Kongen kan gi nærmere bestemmelser om arbeidssøkerens plikt til å registrere seg når EØS-borgeren finner arbeid etter utløpet av fristen i første ledd. 0 Tilføyd ved lov 9 jan 2009 nr. 1 (ikr. 1 jan 2010 iflg. res. 30 okt 2009 nr. 1324 ). 🔗 Del paragraf § 118. Oppholdskort for utlendinger med oppholdsrett etter § 114 som ikke er EØS-borgere En utlending som oppholder seg i riket etter § 114 i mer enn tre måneder, plikter å anskaffe oppholdskort. Søknadsfristen for oppholdskort er tre måneder fra innreisedatoen. Når utlendingen framlegger dokumentasjon som nevnt i annet ledd, utstedes straks et bevis for at søknad om oppholdskort er levert.

Which non-member-country family members can accompany or join, and what broad rights do they receive?

Under the EEA chapter, family member means: the spouse; a cohabitant with a lasting, documented connection; direct descendants under 21 or dependent; and dependent direct ascendants. The family member can move to Norway and start working right away.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The source text for this route does not state the specific rights these family members receive when joining a returning Norwegian.

When do permanent/long-term rights arise and what continuity, absence or retention conditions matter?

After five years in Norway, the family member can be granted a permanent right of residence. Under the Immigration Act, a non-EEA family member who has lived with the EEA-rule sponsor with five years of continuous lawful residence acquires the permanent right, which lapses after more than two consecutive years outside Norway. Absences under six months in a twelve-month period, or up to twelve months for reasons such as pregnancy, childbirth, serious illness, studies or posting, or for military or civilian national service, do not break continuity.

See recorded sources

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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