Norway student visa guide

If you will study in Norway for more than three months you need a study permit before you travel. You must be admitted full time to an accredited institution, show enough money for the academic year (and tuition if it applies), and have somewhere to live. You fill in the application on the UDI portal, pay the fee, then hand in your documents in person.

Use the guide below as a planning reference, then check the official source before you pay anything or submit an application.

Tips from experience

• Deposit the funds early, because Norwegian accounts and institution deposit accounts take time to set up.
• Submit by 1 July or 1 December so the processing aim applies.
• Check the UDI amount for your academic year, not last year's.
• Apply for family permits separately, and note UDI has said it cannot process them at the same time as yours.
• Do not rely on old guides that name Accra as the processing embassy.

Documents most applicants need are marked required. Others depend on your case or on what the office asks for. Build a printable checklist.

• Valid passport Required

• Offer of admission Required

  Full time at a NOKUT approved institution.

• Proof of funds Required

  Norwegian bank account or institution deposit account statement.

• Proof of housing Required

  Tenancy agreement or confirmation from the institution.

• Application fee receipt Required

• Passport photo Required

  Check UDI's photo rules.

• Tuition payment or exemption confirmation If asked

  If tuition fees apply.

Indicative government fees only. School fees, translations, tests, courier and service charges are extra.

Living funds

NOK 15,488 a month for 11 months (NOK 170,368)

Basis

UDI states that you need at least NOK 15,488 per month, or NOK 170,368 per year for the whole academic year. For one semester only, the amounts are NOK 77,440 (autumn) and NOK 92,928 (spring).

Tuition included

No, add your first year tuition

These figures come from the UDI page as archived in June 2026, and UDI changes them each year (the University of Bergen still listed NOK 166,859 for 2025/26), so check the current amount. The money can be in a Norwegian bank account or the deposit account of your institution, and can include loans, grants or a confirmed part-time job offer. If you pay tuition, you must also cover it or show it is already paid. Annual figure counts 11 months of living costs.

Typical decision time

UDI does not give a fixed time here. The University of Bergen says processing may take several weeks and that applications submitted by 1 July (autumn) or 1 December (spring) will be processed in time for the semester start. Check UDI's processing times page.

How early you can apply

Apply once you have your offer of admission and housing. Your institution may set its own deadline for documents.

Latest sensible time to apply

Submit by 1 July for the autumn semester or 1 December for the spring semester to benefit from the processing aim, and book your document appointment early.

1. 1

   Get admitted full time

   Apply to a university or university college on the NOKUT list of accredited institutions and receive an offer of admission. Part-time study does not qualify.

2. 2

   Arrange housing

   You must have somewhere to live. Keep a tenancy agreement or a confirmation from the institution.

3. 3

   Prepare funds

   Move the required amount into a Norwegian bank account or your institution's deposit account, and pay tuition or show you can pay it.

4. 4

   Apply on the UDI portal

   Select Nigeria as your citizenship, complete the application, print the checklist and pay the fee.

5. 5

   Book and attend the document appointment

   Hand in your original documents and give biometrics at VFS Global in Abuja or Lagos. The Embassy of Norway in Nairobi handles applications from Nigeria since 6 November 2024.

6. 6

   Wait for the decision

   Follow your case with the reference number. Do not travel to Norway until the permit is granted.

Work and post study rules change often. Confirm them on the official source before you plan around them.

• Funds were below the UDI annual amount or not in an accepted Norwegian account.
• Tuition was not paid or covered.
• No proof of housing.
• The programme was part time or the institution was not accredited.
• UDI doubted that you will return home after your studies.
• Missing or unclear documents.

Refused before? Read what to do after a visa refusal.