# The self-support requirement for permanent residence

What the self-support requirement for a permanent residence permit is: the income limit of 341 373 kroner as of 2026, which types of income count, and how NAV benefits affect the application.

Canonical: https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/selvforsorgelseskravet-permanent-opphold
Language: en
Publisher: SamfunnPrep
Author: Hlib Suslov
Published: 2026-07-17T17:52:16.732+00:00
Modified: 2026-11-02T22:22:32.823348+00:00
AI use policy: https://samfunnprep.no/ai-policy.txt

## Key takeaways

- Income limit: 341 373 kr UDI currently publishes an income figure of 341 373 kroner before tax, corresponding to 2,5 times the basic amount from 1 May 2026. UDI counts backwards twelve months from submission to the police, or from when you first meet the income requirement between submission and the decision. The earlier figure of 325 400 kroner reflects the basic amount that applied before 1 May 2026; it is not wrong for every part of 2026. UDI's caseworker guidance requires the rates applicable to each of the relevant twelve months to be considered. The current published figure is not an individual calculation for every assessment period.
- Your own income counts Wages, sykepenger, foreldrepenger, dagpenger and introduksjonsstønad count. Sosialhjelp, bostøtte, barnetrygd and money others have earned do not.
- There are exceptions Exemptions have specific conditions and documentation requirements under § 11-12. The illness exemption requires documented inability to do paid work beyond 50% during the last twelve months. Check UDI for your situation; this is not a complete list.

UDI currently publishes an income figure of 341 373 kroner before tax, corresponding to 2,5 times the basic amount from 1 May 2026. UDI counts backwards twelve months from submission to the police, or from when you first meet the income requirement between submission and the decision. 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. The immigration authorities, UDI or the police, assess 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](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/permanent-oppholdstillatelse-krav).

## What is the income limit as of 2026?

UDI currently publishes an income figure of 341 373 kroner before tax, corresponding to 2,5 times the basic amount from 1 May 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.

The earlier figure of 325 400 kroner reflects the basic amount that applied before 1 May 2026; it is not wrong for every part of 2026. UDI's caseworker guidance requires the rates applicable to each of the relevant twelve months to be considered. The current published figure is not an individual calculation for every assessment period. [UDI 2017-006, 2.5.2.1](https://www.udiregelverk.no/rettskilder/udi-retningslinjer/udi-2017-006/) Check the current amount on UDI's website when preparing your application. The relevant twelve-month period is explained below.

The requirement applies to you if you are between 18 and 67 years. Both age limits are assessed when the police or UDI decides your case.

## Which twelve months does UDI assess?

If you met the income requirement when you submitted the application to the police, a later change in income does not undo that qualification. If you first meet it after submission but before the decision, UDI counts backwards twelve months from when you first had enough qualifying income. The other requirements must still be met at the time of the decision. UDI recommends waiting to apply until you meet the requirements; applying earlier can lead to rejection. [UDI: assessment period and changes after submission](https://www.udi.no/en/word-definitions/requirement-to-financially-support-yourself-in-order-to-get-a-permanent-residence-permit/)

## 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](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/minstelonn-norge) and [average wage in Norway](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/gjennomsnittslonn-norge).

## 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.

The income requirement still applies even if you received sosialhjelp. Sosialhjelp itself does not count towards qualifying income; your other qualifying income must be sufficient for the relevant assessment period.

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 can document that illness, injury or impairment prevented them from doing paid work beyond 50% during the last twelve months

This is not a complete list of all exceptions. The rules on exceptions follow from the Immigration Regulations (utlendingsforskriften) § 11-12. 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. [Immigration Regulations: § 11-12](https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2009-10-15-1286/KAPITTEL_11)

## How to document that you meet the requirement

Document sufficient qualifying income for the relevant twelve-month period described above. 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 do not meet the requirement and have no exemption, UDI recommends waiting to apply and checking whether you can renew your current permit in the meantime. 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](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/permanent-oppholdstillatelse-krav). 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](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/permanent-oppholdstillatelse-krav).

## FAQ

### How much must I have earned to meet the self-support requirement?

UDI currently publishes an income figure of 341 373 kroner before tax, corresponding to 2,5 times the basic amount from 1 May 2026. UDI counts backwards twelve months from submission to the police, or from when you first meet the income requirement between submission and the decision. The earlier figure of 325 400 kroner reflects the basic amount that applied before 1 May 2026; it is not wrong for every part of 2026. UDI's caseworker guidance requires the rates applicable to each of the relevant twelve months to be considered. The current published figure is not an individual calculation for every assessment period.

### Do sykepenger and foreldrepenger count as income?

Yes. Sykepenger, foreldrepenger, alderspensjon, dagpenger, arbeidsavklaringspenger, introduksjonsstønad and loans or grants from Lånekassen count, as long as it is your own income.

### Can I get permanent residence if I have received sosialhjelp?

Yes. Since 18. april 2024 the requirement that you could not have received sosialhjelp has been repealed. But sosialhjelp does not count as income, so you must still have had your own income above the limit.

### Which NAV benefits do not count towards the income requirement?

Among others, kvalifiseringsstønad, tiltakspenger, gjenlevendepensjon, bostøtte, barnetrygd and engangsstønad ved fødsel do not count. Introduksjonsstønad, on the other hand, does count.

### Are there exceptions to the self-support requirement?

Exemptions have specific conditions and documentation requirements under § 11-12. The illness exemption requires documented inability to do paid work beyond 50% during the last twelve months. Check UDI for your situation; this is not a complete list.

### Can I use my spouse's income to meet the requirement?

No. Only your own income counts. Money that a spouse or family have earned, gifts you have received, and savings in your account do not count.

## Sources

- [Krav om å forsørge deg selv for å få permanent oppholdstillatelse](https://www.udi.no/ord-og-begreper/krav-til-a-forsorge-seg-selv-for-a-fa-permanent-oppholdstillatelse/)
- [Utlendingsforskriften § 11-11 – krav om selvforsørgelse](https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2009-10-15-1286/KAPITTEL_11)
- [Endring i kravet til selvforsørgelse for permanent oppholdstillatelse (fra 18. april 2024)](https://www.udi.no/viktige-meldinger/endring-i-kravet-til-selvforsorgelse-for-permanent-oppholdstillatelse/)
- [Grunnbeløpet i folketrygden (G per 1. mai 2026 = 136 549 kroner)](https://www.nav.no/grunnbelopet)
- [Requirement to financially support yourself: changes after submitting your application](https://www.udi.no/en/word-definitions/requirement-to-financially-support-yourself-in-order-to-get-a-permanent-residence-permit/)
- [UDI 2017-006: permanent oppholdstillatelse](https://www.udiregelverk.no/rettskilder/udi-retningslinjer/udi-2017-006/)

Citation: Hlib Suslov, "The self-support requirement for permanent residence", SamfunnPrep, 2026-07-17T17:52:16.732+00:00, https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/selvforsorgelseskravet-permanent-opphold