The self-support requirement means that you yourself must have earned enough money in the last twelve months before you apply for a permanent residence permit. As of 2026, you must have had a total income of at least 341 373 kroner before tax during the last twelve months before you submit your application to the police. The amount corresponds to 2,5 times the National Insurance basic amount (folketrygdens grunnbeløp, G), and the requirement applies to you if you are between 18 and 67 years. It is UDI (the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration) that processes the application and assesses whether the requirement is met. This article is only about the self-support requirement. You will find the other conditions for permanent residence in the guide to requirements for a permanent residence permit.

What is the income limit as of 2026?

The income limit is 341 373 kroner before tax for the last twelve months as of 2026. The requirement is set out in the Immigration Regulations (utlendingsforskriften) § 11-11 and is considered met if, during the last twelve months, you have been assured funds corresponding to at least 2,5 times the National Insurance basic amount.

The basic amount, abbreviated G, is an amount that NAV (the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration) sets every year, and from which many social-security and benefit rates are calculated. From 1 May 2026 the amount G is 136 549 kroner. 2,5 times G is then 341 373 kroner.

Because the basic amount is adjusted every year on 1 May, the amount in kroner also changes. The figure 341 373 kroner applies from 1 May 2026. Older guides showing 325 400 kroner are based on an earlier basic amount and are not correct for 2026. Always check the current amount on UDI's website when you prepare your application, since it is your income in the last twelve months before you apply that will be measured against the limit.

The requirement applies to you if you are between 18 and 67 years. The age limit of 18 years is counted from the time you apply, and the limit of 67 years is counted from the time UDI makes a decision in your case.

Which types of income count?

It is income that you yourself have had that counts. You cannot use money that your spouse or others in the family have earned to meet the requirement.

The following types of income count when UDI calculates whether you reach the limit:

  • work income (wages) and income from your own business
  • pension and other fixed, periodic benefits, for example rental income
  • sykepenger (sickness benefit), foreldrepenger (parental benefit) and alderspensjon (old-age pension)
  • dagpenger (unemployment benefit) and arbeidsavklaringspenger (work assessment allowance)
  • support for a single mother or father
  • loans and grants from Lånekassen (the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund)
  • introduksjonsstønad (introduction benefit)

Note that several benefits from NAV, such as sykepenger, foreldrepenger and dagpenger, actually count as income here. What matters is that the money is your own income, not who pays it out. If you want to compare your income with what is a normal wage in Norway, you can look at minimum wage in Norway and average wage in Norway.

Which income and benefits do not count?

Some financial benefits and sources of money do not count, even if you have received them. In that case they do not help you reach the income limit.

The following do not count:

  • kvalifiseringsstønad (qualification benefit) and tiltakspenger (labour-market scheme allowance)
  • gjenlevendepensjon (survivor's pension)
  • bostøtte (housing benefit) and barnetrygd (child benefit)
  • engangsstønad ved fødsel (lump-sum grant at birth)
  • money that a spouse or family have earned
  • gifts and other money you have received
  • savings in your account

Be aware of an important distinction: introduksjonsstønad counts as income, while kvalifiseringsstønad and tiltakspenger do not. The names are similar, but the rules are different, so it is wise to check exactly which benefit you have been paid.

How do sosialhjelp and other NAV benefits affect the application?

Today you can meet the self-support requirement even if you have received økonomisk sosialhjelp (financial social assistance), but the social assistance does not count as income. As of 18 April 2024, the requirement that you could not have received financial assistance (sosialhjelp) under the Social Services Act was repealed. So having received sosialhjelp no longer automatically disqualifies you.

But the income requirement itself still stands. You must in any case have had your own income of at least 341 373 kroner before tax in the last twelve months as of 2026. Sosialhjelp is not counted in this amount, so you cannot use sosialhjelp to reach the limit. If you have lived partly on sosialhjelp, your other income must still be high enough on its own.

This distinction is worth understanding: a NAV benefit can either count as income (like sykepenger and dagpenger), count as neither plus nor minus (like bostøtte and barnetrygd), or previously have been an obstacle that has now been removed (sosialhjelp). None of the benefits that do not count ruin the application in themselves, but they do not help you meet the requirement either.

Are there exceptions to the requirement?

Yes, some groups are exempt from the self-support requirement. Then you do not need to have had income above the limit to get a permanent residence permit.

Among those who may be exempt are:

  • people under 25 years who are in primary/lower-secondary or upper-secondary education
  • full-time students in higher education
  • people who receive uføretrygd (disability benefit)
  • people who have been granted an independent residence permit because of abuse by a spouse or cohabitant
  • people who have been out of work for at least twelve months because of illness

This is not a complete list of all exceptions. The rules on exceptions follow from the Immigration Regulations (utlendingsforskriften) § 11-11. If you are unsure whether your situation gives a right to an exception, you should check UDI's website or contact UDI before you apply, so that you know what applies to you specifically.

How to document that you meet the requirement

You must be able to show that you have had enough income in the last twelve months before you apply. UDI obtains information about your income, among other things from Skatteetaten (the Norwegian Tax Administration), but you should keep track of pay slips, tax returns and benefit decisions from this period yourself.

If you are in doubt about whether you reach the limit, it may be wise to wait to apply until you have twelve months of sufficient income of your own behind you, since it is this period that counts. If you are refused because the requirement is not met, you normally have the right to appeal the decision. The appeal deadline and how to appeal are stated in the decision you receive from UDI.

The self-support requirement is only one of several conditions. You can read more about the whole scheme in the overview of permanent residence in Norway. For the other conditions, such as period of residence and the requirement for Norwegian and social studies, see the guide to requirements for a permanent residence permit.