Yes, the spouse, cohabitant and children of a labour immigrant can apply for family immigration to Norway. This applies when the person living in Norway (called the reference person) has a residence permit for work that can form the basis for a permanent residence permit, for example a permit as a skilled worker (faglært). The most important requirement is income: the reference person must usually make it probable that they will have a future income of at least 436 957 kroner a year before tax. The applications are processed by UDI (Utlendingsdirektoratet, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration), the state agency for immigration cases. The family can apply at the same time as the worker, and then you receive your answers at the same time.
Who in the family can apply?
A spouse, cohabitant and children under 18 years can apply for family immigration to a labour immigrant. The reference person is the family member who already lives in Norway, that is, the labour immigrant. Because a work permit (for example as a skilled worker) can form the basis for a permanent residence permit, it can be used as a basis for family immigration.
For spouses, both must be at least 18 years. In some cases about family establishment, a 24-year requirement also applies (utlendingsloven § 41a in the Immigration Act). This requirement does not apply where you were married or living together before the reference person came to Norway, and an exception can be made when it is clear that the marriage was entered into voluntarily. The rules are strict, so read more in the four-year requirement for family establishment.
For cohabitants, the requirement is that you have lived in a fixed and established cohabitation for at least two years, or that you have or are expecting a child together. You will find a general overview of the whole set of rules in requirements for family reunification.
The maintenance requirement: how much must the reference person earn?
The reference person must usually make it probable that they will have a future combined income of at least 436 957 kroner a year before tax. This amount corresponds to 3,2 times the National Insurance basic amount (G) and applies to applications that are registered and paid from 1 February 2025. Before this, the requirement was lower (2,7 times the basic amount). The amount is normally adjusted every year, so check the exact sum with UDI when you apply.
In addition, there is usually a requirement about previous income: the reference person must have had a combined income of at least 409 972 kroner a year before tax (income last year).
But here there is an important exception for many labour immigrants. Skilled workers and some other employees are exempt from the requirement for previous income during the first year. So if you have just arrived as a skilled worker, you do not need to have had income in Norway last year. The requirement for a future income of 436 957 kroner still applies. The exception covers, among others, skilled workers, researchers with their own funds and some further groups, so check whether your permit is on UDI's list.
Can the family apply at the same time as the worker?
Yes. If the family members apply for family immigration at the same time as the worker applies for a residence permit for work, you receive answers to the applications at the same time. So the family does not need to wait until the worker has received their permit first. If you want to understand the work permit itself better, you can read about the residence permit for a skilled worker.
How you apply
- Check that the reference person has (or is applying for) a work permit that can form the basis for a permanent residence permit.
- Confirm that the income is high enough: at least 436 957 kroner in future income, and possibly previous income if you are not covered by the exception.
- Each family member fills in an application in UDI's application portal at udi.no and pays the fee.
- Gather documentation: passport, marriage certificate or documentation of cohabitation, birth certificate for children and documentation of income (employment contract and payslips).
- Attend an appointment at the police or at a foreign service mission (embassy) to hand in documents and give biometrics (fingerprints and photo).
- Wait for an answer from UDI. If you apply at the same time as the worker, the answers come at the same time.
Fee and processing time
The application fee for first-time family immigration is 11 900 kroner for adults and 5 950 kroner for children under 18 years (as of 2026). Each family member pays their own fee, and the fee must normally be paid before the application is processed. The fees change from time to time, so confirm the sum with UDI.
The processing time varies from case to case. UDI states the expected processing time on its website, and it depends, among other things, on how complete the application is. So send in all documentation at once.
Common pitfall: the income
The most common reason for rejection is that the income requirement is not met or not documented. Make sure the reference person can show a future income of at least 436 957 kroner, for example with a permanent employment contract. Note also that, as a main rule, the reference person cannot have received certain benefits from NAV (Arbeids- og velferdsetaten, the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration) during the last year. If you are unsure whether a housing requirement applies in your case, ask UDI directly, since the requirements can vary.
Where do you get help?
You will find official and updated information from UDI at udi.no. There you will find the exact amounts, the list of who is exempt from the income requirement, and the application portal itself. If you have a specific question about your case, you can contact UDI through their contact form. Remember also to keep track of when the permit must be renewed; read more about the deadlines for renewing a residence permit.
If you also want to prepare for life in Norway and the social-studies test, you can practise with SamfunnPrep.
