To bring your spouse or children to Norway, you living here must normally document that you can support the family — this is called the support requirement (underholdskravet). Per June 2026 the requirement for future income is NOK 436,957 gross per year, and past income NOK 409,972. EEA nationals are fully exempt. This guide shows the legal basis, which incomes count, exemptions, application process and appeal rights — updated for 2026.

Legal basis: Immigration Act

Family immigration regulated by Immigration Act Chapter 6 (§§ 40–53) and Immigration Regulation Chapter 9. Key provisions:

  • § 40 — family reunification with spouse
  • § 41 — family reunification with cohabitant
  • § 42 — family reunification for children
  • § 43 — reunification for parents
  • § 45a — support requirement
  • § 51 — exemptions
  • § 41a — 24-year rule against forced marriage

Government's twofold aim: integration (families not becoming dependent on public support) and protection (against forced marriage, sham relationships, abuse).

What is family immigration?

Family immigration is the permit that lets close family members move to a person already living lawfully in Norway — the reference person. Main categories:

Core family

  • Spouse (Imm. § 40) — both must be 24+ (24-year rule)
  • Registered partner (§ 40)
  • Cohabitant (§ 41) — normally minimum 2 years cohabitation or joint children
  • Own children under 18 (§ 42)

Extended family (stricter)

  • Parents of minor child in Norway
  • Single parents over 60 dependent on child
  • Other family members in exceptional cases

Support requirement details 2026

Three elements:

1. Future income: NOK 436,957/year

Reference person must show future annual income of at least NOK 436,957 gross. Corresponds to 2.7 times the basic amount G. G adjusted 1 May yearly.

2. Past income: NOK 409,972

Reference person also must have had NOK 409,972 (2.5 G) in the last tax year. Documented via tax settlement from Skatteetaten — see PAYE tax.

3. No social assistance last 12 months

Reference person must not have received financial social assistance under Social Services Act § 18 for 12 months before application. See NAV social assistance.

Incomes that count

Income typeCounts?
Employment✅
Self-employment✅ (see freelancer)
Sick pay✅
Unemployment benefit✅
Parental benefit✅
Old-age pension✅
Disability pension✅
Child benefit✅
AAP✅ (some cases)
Introduction allowance❌
Financial social assistance❌
Student loans/grants❌

EEA nationals: no support requirement

The most important difference between Europeans and third-country nationals.

Basis: EEA Agreement

EEA nationals have right to free movement under EEA Agreement Art. 28 (workers) and Directive 2004/38/EC. Their family has derivative rights — following the EEA national's status.

What applies to EEA family?

  • No support requirement — family exempt from NOK 436,957
  • No age requirement — 24-year rule does not apply
  • Simpler process — registration or residence card
  • Residence basis required — EEA national must be worker, self-employed, student, pensioner or self-sufficient

Which family members?

  • Spouse/registered partner
  • Cohabitant (registered)
  • Children under 21
  • Children over 21 economically dependent
  • Parents economically dependent

See permanent residence for EEA nationals and registration certificate.

24-year rule: against forced marriage

Content

Under Immigration Act § 41a both spouses must be at least 24 years old for spouse reunification. Rule from 2016, aim to counteract:

  • Forced marriage
  • Child marriage
  • Sham marriage

Exemptions

Exemptions when clear the marriage was not forced. UDI evaluates:

  • How spouses met
  • Age at marriage
  • Cultural/family background
  • Independence from family

4-year requirement: work or education in Norway

Special rule (Imm. § 40 fourth paragraph, introduced 2017): if reference person got protection or humanitarian residence (refugee § 28 or humanitarian § 38), must have 4 years of work or education in Norway before spouse/cohabitant can be reunified.

Exemptions from 4-year requirement

  • Marriage/cohabitation established before reference person came to Norway
  • Marriage established after arrival but before asylum decision
  • Children under 18 (does not apply to children)
  • Special humanitarian considerations

Exemptions from support requirement (§ 51)

Completely exempt:

  1. Children under 15
  2. Reference person is Norwegian citizen in some cases
  3. Spouse of Norwegian citizen in special cases
  4. Strong humanitarian considerations (§ 49)
  5. Reference person is refugee § 28, relationship established before flight from home country

Housing and other practical conditions

Housing

Formal housing requirement abolished 2010, but UDI still assesses housing situation:

  • Adequate size for family
  • Not overcrowded
  • Sound standard

See municipal housing.

Health insurance and folketrygd membership

Family members with permit get membership in National Insurance from settlement date — right to health insurance via HELFO.

Recognition of foreign marriage

Foreign marriage must be valid under Norwegian law. Child marriage (under 18) and polygamous marriage not recognised. Documentation:

  • Marriage certificate translated to Norwegian/English by authorised translator
  • Apostille or legalisation from home country
  • Divorce certificate from previous marriage if relevant

Application process: step by step

Step 1: Preparation and documentation

Gather:

  • Marriage/cohabitation documentation
  • Birth certificates for children
  • Reference person's income documentation — payslips last 3 mo + tax settlement last year + employment contract
  • Housing documentation
  • Police certificate from home country
  • Medical certificate in certain cases

Step 2: Registration at udi.no

  1. Reference person (or applicant) logs in with BankID
  2. Creates application on udi.no — «Family immigration»
  3. Pays application fee — NOK 12,100 for spouse (2026), NOK 8,300 for child
  4. Books appointment at Norwegian embassy in applicant's country

Step 3: Embassy

Applicant appears with documentation and gives:

  • Biometric data (fingerprints, photo)
  • Signature
  • Original documents

Step 4: UDI processing

Expected processing time:

  • Spouse of worker: 6–9 months
  • Spouse of student/permanent: 9–14 months
  • Children under 18: 4–8 months
  • EEA family (registration): 3–6 months

Step 5: Decision

Decision arrives at Digipost or eBoks:

  • Approved: family gets D-number and can travel to Norway
  • Rejected: 3-week appeal deadline to UNE (Immigration Appeals Board)

Appeal: UNE

UNE is independent appeals body for immigration cases. Procedure:

  1. Written appeal to UDI within 3 weeks
  2. UDI first considers if decision can be overturned
  3. If not: case goes to UNE
  4. UNE tribunal with 3 members
  5. Processing time: 6–18 months

Case costs and legal aid

Further appeal to court

UNE rejection can be brought to district court (Oslo District Court for immigration cases). Assessed:

  • Legal application
  • Fact assessment
  • Human rights (ECHR art. 8 — family life)

Special for Ukrainian families

Ukrainians with collective protection (Immigration Act § 34) have separate rules. See Norway and Ukraine. Family can follow under same collective protection.

Common pitfalls

  1. Too low income
  2. Introduction allowance wrongly counted
  3. Social assistance last 12 months
  4. Missing translation/apostille
  5. Wrong cohabitation documentation
  6. Late embassy booking

Checklist before applying

  • Income over NOK 436,957/year (future)
  • Income over NOK 409,972 (last tax year)
  • No social assistance last 12 months
  • All documents translated and apostilled
  • Housing with room for whole family
  • Police certificate from applicant's country
  • Application fee paid
  • Embassy appointment booked

Summary

Support requirement for family immigration to Norway per June 2026 is approx. NOK 436,957 (future) and NOK 409,972 (past income), regulated by Immigration Act §§ 40–53 and Regulation ch. 9. Introduction allowance, social assistance and student loans don't count. EEA nationals exempt via EEA Agreement Art. 28 and Directive 2004/38/EC — simpler registration process. 24-year rule (§ 41a) counteracts forced marriage; 4-year requirement for refugees who must work or study 4 years before spouse reunification. Application via udi.no + Norwegian embassy; processing 6–14 months; decision to Digipost/eBoks with 3-week appeal deadline to UNE. Free legal aid available. Ukrainians with collective protection have separate fast-track. Check updated rates at udi.no — amounts adjusted 1 May yearly with basic amount G.