Spouse or registered partner — sponsor: eligible permit holder subject to four-year rule

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

Explore pathways in Norway Read the five questions ↓

Which family relationships qualify?

The marriage or registered partnership must have been validly entered into and, if entered into abroad, be capable of recognition in Norway; the couple must plan to live together in Norway, it must not be a forced marriage or a circumvention marriage, and both must be at least 24 years old.

See recorded sources

Limits of the record

The official source does not state the complete answer to this question for this route.

https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/family-immigration/family-immigration-with-a-citizen-of-a-country-outside-the-eueea/spouses-and-registered-partners21/
Your marriage/partnership must have been validly entered into.
https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/family-immigration/family-immigration-with-a-citizen-of-a-country-outside-the-eueea/spouses-and-registered-partners21/
It must be possible to have your marriage recognised in Norway if you entered into marriage while abroad.
https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/family-immigration/family-immigration-with-a-citizen-of-a-country-outside-the-eueea/spouses-and-registered-partners21/
You must have plans to live together in Norway.
https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/family-immigration/family-immigration-with-a-citizen-of-a-country-outside-the-eueea/spouses-and-registered-partners21/
You must not have been forced to marry (forced marriage).
https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/family-immigration/family-immigration-with-a-citizen-of-a-country-outside-the-eueea/spouses-and-registered-partners21/
Your marriage must not be circumvention marriage.
https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/family-immigration/family-immigration-with-a-citizen-of-a-country-outside-the-eueea/spouses-and-registered-partners21/
You must be at least 24 years old.
https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/family-immigration/family-immigration-with-a-citizen-of-a-country-outside-the-eueea/spouses-and-registered-partners21/
You must document your identity. A valid passport is usually valid proof of identity.

Who may sponsor or bring the family member, and what immigration/citizenship status must that person hold?

A sponsor who holds asylum, a resettlement-refugee permit, collective protection, a permit on strong humanitarian grounds or special connection, a family-member permit, or permanent residence based on these, must have worked or studied in Norway for four years. This does not apply if the marriage was entered into (or a child conceived) before the sponsor entered Norway, or while both held residence permits in Norway; exceptions possible for special reasons such as family unity. Work or study must together amount to full-time activity (full-time higher education = at least 60 credits per year), and the requirement does not apply once the sponsor has turned 67.

See recorded sources

https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2008-05-15-35/KAPITTEL_6
Det er et vilkår for oppholdstillatelse etter § 40 at referansepersonen har arbeidet eller tatt utdanning i Norge i fire år, når referansepersonen har a. asyl, jf. § 28 , b. oppholdstillatelse etter innreisetillatelse som overføringsflyktning, jf. § 35 tredje ledd, c. kollektiv beskyttelse i en massefluktsituasjon, jf. § 34 , d. oppholdstillatelse på grunn av sterke menneskelige hensyn eller særlig tilknytning til riket, jf. § 38 , e. oppholdstillatelse som familiemedlem, jf. §§ 40 til 53 , eller f. permanent oppholdstillatelse på grunnlag av tillatelsene nevnt i bokstav a til e, jf. § 62 . Vilkåret i første ledd gjelder ikke når a. ekteskapet var inngått eller partene har unnfanget barn før tidspunktet for referansepersonens innreise i riket, eller b. partene har inngått ekteskap eller unnfanget barn mens begge har hatt oppholdstillatelse i Norge. Det kan gjøres unntak fra vilkåret dersom særlige grunner, herunder hensynet til familiens enhet, taler for det.
https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2009-10-15-1286/KAPITTEL_9
For at fireårskravet etter lovens § 40a skal anses oppfylt, må arbeidet eller utdanningen sammenlagt utgjøre heltids aktivitet. Heltids høyere utdanning tilsvarer minst 60 studiepoeng per år.
https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2009-10-15-1286/KAPITTEL_9
Det gjøres unntak fra fireårskravet når referansepersonen har fylt 67 år.

What is important for proving marriage, partnership, parentage, custody, dependency or another qualifying relationship?

The marriage/partnership must have been validly entered into and, if entered into abroad, be capable of recognition in Norway; the couple must plan to live together in Norway; it must not be a forced marriage or a circumvention marriage; both must be at least 24 years old; the applicant must document identity (a valid passport is usually valid proof). The official source does not state the documents needed to prove the marriage or partnership.

See recorded sources

Limits of the record

Specific documents for proving the marriage/partnership (checklist) not captured.

https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/family-immigration/family-immigration-with-a-citizen-of-a-country-outside-the-eueea/spouses-and-registered-partners21/
Your marriage/partnership must have been validly entered into.
https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/family-immigration/family-immigration-with-a-citizen-of-a-country-outside-the-eueea/spouses-and-registered-partners21/
It must be possible to have your marriage recognised in Norway if you entered into marriage while abroad.
https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/family-immigration/family-immigration-with-a-citizen-of-a-country-outside-the-eueea/spouses-and-registered-partners21/
You must have plans to live together in Norway.
https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/family-immigration/family-immigration-with-a-citizen-of-a-country-outside-the-eueea/spouses-and-registered-partners21/
You must not have been forced to marry (forced marriage).
https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/family-immigration/family-immigration-with-a-citizen-of-a-country-outside-the-eueea/spouses-and-registered-partners21/
Your marriage must not be circumvention marriage.
https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/family-immigration/family-immigration-with-a-citizen-of-a-country-outside-the-eueea/spouses-and-registered-partners21/
You must be at least 24 years old.
https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/family-immigration/family-immigration-with-a-citizen-of-a-country-outside-the-eueea/spouses-and-registered-partners21/
You must document your identity. A valid passport is usually valid proof of identity.

What important financial, accommodation, insurance or maintenance responsibilities apply?

The reference person must have a current income of at least NOK 436 957 per year pre-tax, and last year's income must have been at about the same level; exemptions may apply, and where the reference person has been granted protection (asylum) the family member may be exempt from the income requirement if applying within the deadlines. The official source does not state accommodation or insurance requirements.

See recorded sources

Limits of the record

Counted income types, exemption rules and the protection-related deadlines are not captured; accommodation/insurance rules not stated.

https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/family-immigration/family-immigration-with-a-citizen-of-a-country-outside-the-eueea/spouses-and-registered-partners21/
You must have an income of at least NOK 436 957 per year pre-tax now. In addition, your income last year must have been at about the same level. Check what kind of income counts toward this requirement and whether you can get an exemption.
https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/family-immigration/family-immigration-with-a-citizen-of-a-country-outside-the-eueea/spouses-and-registered-partners21/
If you have been granted protection (asylum), check if your family member can apply within the deadlines to be exempt from the income requirement.

How does the application work at a high level, what rights does the family member receive, how long does the status last, and how can it become independent or longer-term where officially stated?

A person who held a fiancé(e) permit and is now married must apply for renewal of the family immigration permit with the spouse. Under the Immigration Act (§ 60), a first-time permit is a temporary permit for up to five years, a family-immigration permit may not run beyond the expiry of the reference person's permit, and it carries the same limitations as the reference person's permit. UDI lists most types of family immigration permits as permits that form the basis for a permanent residence permit.

See recorded sources

Limits of the record

Captured UDI page does not describe rights, duration or permanent residence for this route; duration rule taken from the Immigration Act (general rule, subject to regulations).

https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/family-immigration/family-immigration-with-a-citizen-of-a-country-outside-the-eueea/spouses-and-registered-partners21/
If you were granted a residence permit for the purpose of marriage (a "fiancé(e) permit"), and you are now married, you are required to apply for renewal of your family immigration permit with your spouse.
https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2008-05-15-35/KAPITTEL_7
§ 60. Oppholdstillatelsens varighet og innhold
https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2008-05-15-35/KAPITTEL_7
Førstegangs oppholdstillatelse gis som midlertidig oppholdstillatelse for inntil fem år.
https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2008-05-15-35/KAPITTEL_7
Varigheten av en tillatelse gitt etter bestemmelsene i kapittel 6 skal ikke overstige utløpet av tillatelsen til referansepersonen, jf. § 39
https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2008-05-15-35/KAPITTEL_7
Tillatelse gitt til et familiemedlem i medhold av bestemmelsene i kapittel 6 gjelder med de samme begrensningene som er fastsatt for tillatelsen til referansepersonen, jf. § 39
https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/family-immigration/family-immigration-with-a-citizen-of-a-country-outside-the-eueea/spouses-and-registered-partners21/
a valid residence permit that forms the basis for a permanent residence permit, for example a residence permit for protection, most types of family immigration permits, or a residence permit for self-employed persons with a company in Norway.

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

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Spouse or registered partner — sponsor: eligible permit holder subject to four-year rule

Which family relationships qualify?

Who may sponsor or bring the family member, and what immigration/citizenship status must that person hold?

What is important for proving marriage, partnership, parentage, custody, dependency or another qualifying relationship?

What important financial, accommodation, insurance or maintenance responsibilities apply?

How does the application work at a high level, what rights does the family member receive, how long does the status last, and how can it become independent or longer-term where officially stated?

Your story.Your next step.

Your story.
Your next step.