Get to know your study permit! Siri Rudå
Who am I? Representing Jussbuss, a legal clinic run by students here in Oslo We offer free legal assistance in the following areas of law: Immigration law Workers rights law Social welfare law Debt law Tenants rights Prisoners rights Environmental law
Immigration law When it comes to immigration law, we assist with the following: Study and work permits Visitor visas Family immigration Expulsion ID-documents... Basically everything except asylum
Who can get help from us? Clients from all over Norway and from all over the world Norwegian citizenship not necessary Referral if entitled to free legal aid Primarily rejections, will usually not answer general questions If you re unsure, just call us! Phone: 22 84 29 00
Study permits! Only relevant to third country nationals
What is a study permit? You are not entitled to a study permit The UDI can still reject your application, even if you fulfil every requirement BUT: the principle of equal treatment Four requirements apply for first time permits The same apply for renewals, as well as two additional ones
What re your rights? Usually, you will be able to: Work for 20 hours a week Work full-time during the holidays Travel Does not give grounds for permanent residence You can apply for family reunification, but you are not entitled to it Once you graduate, you can apply for a job searcher s visa or a worker s visa
The requirements!
Admission Admission to an approved institution of higher learning If you have been accepted to a university, specialised university institution, or university college, you re good to go When in doubt, ask NOKUT or the UDI
Purpose of stay The purpose of your stay must be full-time studies The purpose of your stay here must be studies, not work! Full time studies means that you must take subjects or courses that qualify you for full financial support from Lånekassen
Financially self-supported You must be able to support yourself financially You must have funds corresponding to the full support grant from Lånekassen This changes every year!
Financially self-supported Approved sources of income: Wages Pension or other social welfare benefits, as long as it s not called financial assistance Savings, in a Norwegian bank account in your name Student loans or scholarships If you finance your studies only through work, the requirement will be 20 000 NOK higher. If only partially, the requirement will be increased proportionately.
Probability of return It must be probable that you will return to your home country after your stay The UDI will look at general conditions and individual conditions Countries are grouped using a colour code
Country groups - Stateless individuals are treated as citizens of red group countries - Visa exempted countries are treated as green group countries
Formal requirements You must apply for and be granted a permit before entering Norway! If you are a skilled worker and are in Norway legally, you can apply from here You must satisfactorily prove your identity
Renewal If you still meet the requirements for a study permit, you are in principle entitled to renewal But: No new assessment of probability of return You still have to meet the subsistence requirement You can apply from Norway, but remember to apply one month before your old one expires! There are some additional requirements...
Progression The progression requirement Your university have to issue a statement regarding your progress If you are behind you MUST EXPLAIN WHY! Try to document the reason for your delay A delay of more than a year, that is not due to sickness certified by a a doctor s certificate or maternity leave, will usually be rejected!
Revised study plan You are only very rarely permitted to change your studies!! It seems like the UDI sort of forgot about this requirement for a few years... But now they have started to use it again! Your new study programme has to be a continuation of your old one
Revised study plan Generally only permitted if your new study programme is a CONTINUATION of the one you already started A new bachelor s degree programme will never be a continuation A new study programme of a higher level will always be a continuation As for same level studies above bachelor level.
Continuation same level Same level studies only accepted if: You have completed and were not delayed in your previous studies, AND The new programme is an in-depth study, AND It will clearly increase your chances of being accepted into a DOCTORAL PROGRAMME or finding employment AS A RESEARCHER Documentation from your new and/or old educational institution
It has become very, very difficult to change your programme of study AND be granted a renewal! Even though changing your programme is fine with your university, the UDI might disagree!
Thanks for your time and attention! Questions? You can visit us at Skippergata 23 Our case acceptance hours are Mondays between 5 p.m and 8 p.m and Tuesdays between 10 a.m and 3 p.m Our phone number is 22 84 29 00