Family reunification in Norway requires a qualifying family relationship and that the conditions for the relevant residence permit are met. This article addresses ordinary family immigration under Chapter 6 of the Immigration Act (utlendingsloven) as of the review date. Family members of EEA nationals are covered by separate rules in Chapter 13 of the Act and require a different assessment.
Reference person requirements and application checklist
The “reference person” is the person the applicant wishes to be reunited with or establish family life with (Section 39 of the Immigration Act). For spouses, Section 40 first paragraph covers Norwegian or Nordic citizens who reside or will reside in Norway, permanent residents, holders of permits that form a basis for permanent residence, and holders of collective protection while that scheme continues.
A review of the requirements should establish:
the application category and the reference person’s qualifying status;
the family relationship, ages and relevant relationship dates;
whether the future and previous income requirements apply;
whether the housing requirement or the four-year work or education requirement applies; and
whether identity, family documents and any claimed exception are adequately supported.
Cohabitants are subject to separate rules in Section 41, including established cohabitation of at least two years and couples with a child together. Where cohabitants have a child together, the four-year requirement in Section 40 a applies, unless the child was conceived before the reference person entered Norway or while both held residence permits. Where the cohabitants are expecting a child together, a permit may be granted, but there is no right to it.
When the 24-year age rule applies
Section 41 a of the Immigration Act requires both parties to have reached 24 in applications under Sections 40 and 41. The requirement does not apply where the marriage or established cohabitation existed before the reference person entered Norway, or where the parties married or lived in an established cohabitation in Norway while both held residence permits or Norwegian or Nordic citizenship. An exception may also be made where it is obvious that the marriage is voluntary. Where the 24-year requirement does not apply, both parties must still be at least 18 (Sections 40 and 41).
Maintenance, income and housing
Future and previous income
Section 58 of the Immigration Act provides the statutory basis for the maintenance requirement. The details are set out in the Immigration Regulations: Section 10-8 governs future income and Section 10-9 governs previous income, as shown in the reference person’s most recent tax assessment.
The required income levels are expressed as a multiple of the National Insurance basic amount (G) and change when G is adjusted. The requirement was amended with effect from 2025, and transitional rules apply to some earlier applications. No fixed amount is reproduced here – check the current figures and transitional rules on udi.no before applying.
Certain applicants are exempt from the maintenance requirement, including family members of reference persons with refugee status or collective protection. For spouses and cohabitants, the relationship must have existed before the reference person entered Norway. The application must normally be submitted within six months after the reference person was granted the permit (Section 10-8 fourth and fifth paragraphs).
Special rules apply where the reference person receives a retirement or disability pension. The previous-income requirement does not apply in certain situations, including where the reference person holds a skilled worker permit under Section 6-1 first paragraph or a self-employed permit under Section 6-18, is in full-time higher education, or receives a pension (Section 10-9 third paragraph). Financial social assistance does not count towards the requirement. For spouses and cohabitants, the requirement cannot be met through a guarantee from a third party.
Housing is category-specific
Under Section 10-12 fourth paragraph of the Regulations, the secured-housing requirement in family immigration cases applies only to applications under Sections 46 to 49 of the Act. It does not apply to ordinary spouse, cohabitant or child applications under Sections 40 to 42.
The four-year work or education requirement
Section 40 a of the Immigration Act applies to reference persons with permits on the basis of asylum, resettlement, collective protection, strong humanitarian considerations or family immigration, including permanent residence based on these. The requirement does not apply where the marriage or the conception of a child took place before the reference person entered Norway, or while both parties held residence permits in Norway. Special reasons, including family unity, may justify an exception.
Under Section 9-1 of the Regulations, the qualifying activity must together amount to full-time activity. It includes paid work, education and specified integration and qualification programmes. Periods with sick pay, disability pension or retirement pension, and certain periods of childcare after birth or adoption, may also count.
Since 1 September 2026, a calendar year counts as full-time work where the reference person’s total employment income for that year corresponds to the previous-income requirement for family immigration; the same applies to each month in which one twelfth of that income was earned. Reference persons aged 67 or over are exempt.
Grounds for refusal
Marriage of convenience and forced marriage
Under Section 40 fourth paragraph, a permit may be refused where it is most likely that the main purpose of the marriage was to establish a basis for the applicant’s residence in Norway. Forced marriage is a separate ground. Under Section 51 second paragraph, a permit may be refused where the reference person does not consent to the permit after being asked, or where it is likely that the marriage was entered into against the will of either party.
Other statutory refusal grounds may also be relevant. Under Section 40 fifth paragraph, a permit may be refused where the parties have no children together and have not lived in an established cohabitation, if it is most likely that the applicant or the applicant’s children from a previous relationship would be abused or grossly exploited. Under Section 51, a permit may also be refused where it would be contrary to the basis of the reference person’s own permit, or, for reference persons with refugee status, resettlement or collective protection, where family life can be exercised in a safe third country to which the family as a whole has a stronger connection.
Maintenance and documentation
An application may be refused where the applicable income requirement is not met and no exception applies. Identity and relationship evidence also matter: the documents must support the facts required by the relevant category.
Under Section 83, the police and UDI may order the person concerned to attend in person and provide information. Foreign nationals also have a duty to help clarify their identity, but cooperation cannot be required in a way that conflicts with a need for protection.
Exceptions and humanitarian considerations
Exceptions are requirement-specific. Section 49 of the Immigration Act allows a permit to be granted to other family members, and exceptions to be made from conditions relating to the reference person’s status, where strong humanitarian considerations apply. Immigration control considerations may be taken into account, and in cases concerning children, the best interests of the child must be a fundamental consideration. Where special reasons apply, it may be decided that a permit under Section 49 does not form a basis for permanent residence or does not include the right to work.
For the maintenance requirement, Section 10-11 of the Regulations uses the stricter threshold of particularly strong humanitarian considerations. It also provides for exceptions where it is obvious that the parties can be supported, and where the reference person is a student or a researcher with own funds. For spouses relying on the obvious-support exception, it must be obvious that the marriage is voluntary.
After refusal: appeal or new application
A refusal can be appealed. Under Section 29 of the Public Administration Act (forvaltningsloven), the deadline is normally three weeks from the date the decision was received. The decision letter states the deadline. Decisions made by UDI at first instance may be appealed to the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) (Section 76 of the Immigration Act).
The appeal is submitted to the body that made the decision and must identify the decision and the change requested (Section 32 of the Public Administration Act). That body reviews the appeal and may reverse or amend the decision. If it does not, the case is sent to the appeals body (Section 33). The appeals body may examine all aspects of the case, including new circumstances (Section 34).
A new application may be relevant where circumstances have changed. It should address the reasons for the refusal and document the current situation. A new application does not suspend or replace the deadline for appealing the original decision. See also our guides on how to appeal a UDI decision and on family immigration in Norway.
How we can help
We advise on family reunification applications, the income requirement, refusals and appeals to UNE. Contact us if you would like Advokatfirmaet Sterk AS to look at your situation.
This article provides general information as of 29 October 2026 and is not legal advice for your specific situation.
