Your passport and your application for permanent residence are two different matters. If your passport expires while you are waiting, you must clarify how to renew your travel document and give UDI updated information when relevant. At the same time, check the validity of your residence permit and residence card.
Your passport is expiring: which document is it?
Check three dates, not just one. A passport confirms identity and is used for travel. A residence permit gives you the right to stay under the conditions in the decision. A residence card is proof of the permit. The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) explains that an application for permanent residence is not an application for a new travel document.
| Document | What the expiry date means | First step |
|---|---|---|
| Passport from your home country | The travel document is no longer valid | Check how to renew it with the authorities that issue passports. |
| Norwegian immigrant's passport or travel document | The travel document is no longer valid | Check UDI’s separate renewal application. |
| Temporary residence permit | The right under the decision is approaching its end date | Check whether it must be renewed while you wait. |
| Residence card | Proof of the permit has an expiry date | Clarify how to get a new card from the police if you need one. |
Read the difference between a permit and a residence card if the dates appear in different places. SamfunnPrep also has an overview of the permanent residence requirements. The information below was checked on 2 October 2026.
Your passport expires before your appointment with the police
Start with the checklist for your application. UDI says that your personal checklist is available under “My applications” after you register. It shows which documents to bring. If your passport will expire before your appointment, contact the police about what you must show and whether you need to present a new document. Do not assume that a receipt for an ordered passport always replaces valid identification.
If you have a passport from your home country, check renewal with that country’s passport authority or embassy. Ask how long it takes and what documents are required. If you have been granted protection, clarify the situation with UDI before contacting the authorities in your home country if such contact could affect the basis for your protection. If you have a Norwegian immigrant’s passport or refugee travel document, UDI refers to a separate application for renewal. The guide to Norwegian travel documents explains the difference.
Keep your old passport when you receive a new one. It may show previous identity details and travel that are relevant to your case. Bring both if the police ask you to. Check whether your name, date of birth or citizenship is written differently in the new document. If it is, clarify the difference before sending an unexplained copy.
You receive a new passport after submitting your application
Send updated information through UDI’s channel for your case. UDI allows you to submit additional documents and new information for an application that has already been submitted. Log in to “My applications,” find the case and select “Upload documents.” If your case is not shown, UDI explains an alternative digital submission method. Keep the receipt sent by email.
A useful message could say: “I have applied for permanent residence. The passport registered with my application expired on [date]. I received a new passport issued on [date]. The information in the attached copy is now current. Please let me know if you need to see the original.” Include your case number in the secure solution. Upload only relevant documents, and follow any separate format requirements in your application.
UDI says that documents are usually added to a case quickly, but that it may take up to 30 days if information is incomplete. The receipt confirms that the documents have been received. It is not a decision, and sending new information does not in itself speed up processing.
What if your residence permit also expires?
Check the permit separately. UDI says the police may grant permanent residence. If the police send the case to UDI, the police must renew the temporary permit if you still meet its requirements. If the waiting time is long, you may need another renewal of the temporary permit. Check your own decision and contact the police or UDI if in doubt. Do not let an expiry date pass just because you are waiting for permanent residence.
Example: Lina applies for permanent residence in April. Her foreign passport expires in July, while her work permit expires in November. She checks how to get a new passport from the passport authority, checks the document list before her appointment with the police, and sends UDI information about the new passport. She also keeps track of the work permit’s expiry date. A new passport does not extend the work permit, and an application for permanent residence does not renew the passport.
Can you travel while your passport is expired?
Do not plan a trip without a valid travel document and a valid residence card. UDI warns that problems may arise when leaving Norway, entering another country and returning to Norway if one of the documents is missing. A confirmation that you are waiting for a decision does not automatically replace travel documents at the border. Also check the entry rules for the country you plan to visit.
If you need to travel to obtain a passport, check possible special arrangements with UDI before booking. UDI describes an immigrant’s passport for a single journey in some situations, but this requires a separate application and is not an automatic right for everyone. Read what your decision says about your permit before considering these options.
Checklist before you do anything else
- Write down the expiry dates for your passport, residence card and temporary permit.
- Open the personal checklist under UDI’s “My applications.”
- Clarify which authority can issue a new passport or travel document for you.
- Ask the police what to do if your passport expires before your scheduled appointment.
- Submit a relevant new document to UDI and keep the receipt.
- Check separately whether your temporary residence permit must be renewed.
SamfunnPrep can help you keep track of your residence period and dates. Ask UDI or the police about the document requirements in your specific case. You can try SamfunnPrep for free if you also want to practise for the tests.
