Foreign nationals granted residence permits must have a good understanding of the Norwegian language. The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI), responsible for processing applications from foreign nationals who wish to visit or live in Norway, is updating the guide on requirements for training in the Norwegian language for a permanent residence permit.
Currently, the UDI guide is not updated on requirements for training in the Norwegian language for those who have received a residence permit after January 1, 2021.
Such requirements for training in the Norwegian language will vary depending on when the residence permit has been granted to the foreign national. It is the residence permit you received when you came to Norway, and whether you were over the age of 18 at the time, which determines which requirements for training and tests in the Norwegian language and social studies apply to you.
If you have a residence permit as a skilled worker or self-employed person or have come to Norway on family immigration with someone who is a skilled worker or self-employed person, the following applies to you:
If you received your first residence permit in the period between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2021, you are required to have completed 250 hours of tuition or achieved a minimum level in the Norwegian language and 50 hours of tuition in social studies.
If you received your first residence permit after 1 January 2022, you are required to have completed 225 hours of tuition or achieved a minimum level in the Norwegian language and 75 hours of tuition in social studies.
If you received another type of residence permit, the following applies to you:
If you received your first residence permit in the period between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2021, you are required to have achieved a minimum level of the Norwegian language and completed 50 hours of tuition in social studies.
If you received your first residence permit after 1 January 2022, you are required to have achieved a minimum level of the Norwegian language and completed 75 hours of tuition in social studies.
There is no change in the requirement for tests in the Norwegian language and social studies.
If you have passed all four parts of the Norwegian test of at least level A2, or have been exempted by the municipality because you have sufficiently good knowledge of the Norwegian language or the Sami language, you do not need to have completed training in the Norwegian language to receive a permanent residence permit.
Source: Financial Express
