As a general rule, the residence permit should be applied for and granted before the student arrives. Students are advised to start this process as early as possible. A visa is required for entry into Norway for citizens from a number of countries. Please note that it is not possible to apply for a student residence permit while staying in Norway on a tourist visa. When the application has been processed, you will be notified by the foreign service mission at which you filed your application.
Applications generally take about six weeks to process.
A student residence permit is issued for a maximum period of one year at a time. Students are required, however, to pay a registration fee of ca. NOK 550 each semester. In spite of low inflation during the recent years, foreigners still find Norway an expensive country, especially in terms of food prices. But foreign students will soon find their way to the supermarkets offering the best buys.