# Ukrainians: proposed work-based residence for families in 2026

The work-based residence proposal also covers partners and children under 20. Read about family income requirements, proposed fees and unresolved questions.

Canonical: https://samfunnprep.no/en/nyheter/ukrainere-arbeidsopphold-familie-2026
Language: en
Publisher: SamfunnPrep
Author: Hlib Suslov
Published: 2026-09-22T08:29:23.162+00:00
Modified: 2026-10-07T04:05:16.146358+00:00
AI use policy: https://samfunnprep.no/ai-policy.txt

## Key takeaways

- Children under 20 could be covered The proposal covers partners and children with their own collective protection, while half the fee is proposed only for children under 18.
- One person must meet their own income requirement The partner's income can contribute only to the portion of the family requirement above the main applicant's proposed threshold of 2.8 G or 3 G.
- 3.2 G now, potentially a higher level later The family requirement would follow the applicable maintenance requirement, while Stortinget's request for 4 G still needs follow-up.

Work-based residence for families could become possible under the government's proposal for Ukrainians with collective protection. Partners and children under 20 could be covered. As of 22 September 2026, this is a consultation proposal, not a scheme you can apply under.

Arbeids- og inkluderingsdepartementet sent the proposal for consultation on 17 September 2026. The deadline for comments is 30 October. Families must meet separate conditions even if one person has a job. SamfunnPrep provides background information about [permanent residence permits](https://samfunnprep.no/en/tema/permanent-oppholdstillatelse).

## Work-based residence for families: who could be covered?

The proposal allows for permits for spouses or cohabiting partners and children under 20. Those children's own children could also be covered. This is called a **derivative permit**: residence is based on the relationship with the main applicant who qualifies through work.

The proposed conditions for family members include the following:

- They must themselves have temporary collective protection.
- They must normally live with the main applicant. A shared registered address in Folkeregisteret is used as documentation.
- Pupils who live away from home while attending school may be exempt from the requirement to live together.
- They must meet the proposal's conduct requirements, meaning requirements relating to penalties and criminal offences.

Parents, grandparents and siblings would not receive this type of family permit under the proposal. They would have to qualify independently, if applicable. Family members abroad must follow the ordinary family immigration rules.

## Can we add our incomes together?

Yes, partly. The main applicant must first meet their own income requirement. The partner's income can cover only the portion above that threshold.

The government is considering an individual requirement of **2.8 G or 3 G**, respectively 382 337 or 409 647 kroner. G means the National Insurance basic amount. The figures use 1 G from 1 May 2026. Income is assessed over the last twelve months.

The family requirement would be linked to the level in ordinary family immigration cases. As of 22 September 2026, this is **3.2 G, or 436 957 kroner**. See also the [maintenance requirement for family immigration](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/familieinnvandring-underholdskrav).

The examples show only the income part, using employment income before tax for the same twelve-month period:

| Main applicant | Partner | What does the example show? |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 420 000 kr | 30 000 kr | Both proposed individual thresholds and the current family level are reached. |
| 250 000 kr | 250 000 kr | Neither reaches the individual requirement, even though the total is 500 000 kr. |

Income alone provides no guarantee of a permit. The other conditions must also be met.

## Why is 4 G also mentioned?

Stortinget has asked the government to increase the maintenance requirement for family immigration to 4 G. Using the basic amount from 1 May 2026, this equals **546 196 kroner**.

This follows from parliamentary request resolution 706. Such a resolution instructs the government to follow up. It does not mean that 4 G already applies to the proposed special scheme.

The proposal links the family's income requirement to the level applicable to family immigration at any given time. The amount could therefore rise before the scheme starts. The family with 450 000 kroner in the example would not reach 4 G.

## Children under 20, but half the fee only for under-18s

An 18- or 19-year-old could be covered as a child but would pay the full application fee under the proposal. The consultation paper proposes 6 300 kroner per person and 3 150 kroner for children under 18.

Two adults and two children under 18 would therefore pay **18 900 kroner** for their first applications. These are proposed rates, not a demand for payment today.

The age limit of 20 applies when entering the scheme. Under the proposal, children who later turn 20 could receive renewals if the other conditions are still met.

## What happens when the permit needs renewal?

Permits would be granted for one year at a time, with renewal without a new application or fee. Utlendingsdirektoratet (UDI) would check the conditions again.

The partner could become the new main applicant at renewal if the conditions are met. This could matter if the original main applicant loses income.

On transition, collective protection would end for those granted the new permit. Permanent residence must be assessed later under separate conditions. SamfunnPrep explains the distinction between residence types in its guide to [qualifying residence periods for permanent residence](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/botid-permanent-oppholdstillatelse-norge).

## FAQ

### Can the family apply under the new scheme now?

No. As of 22 September 2026, the scheme is a consultation proposal. The consultation deadline is 30 October 2026. The family must wait for adopted rules and the opening of applications.

### Can two part-time incomes meet the family income requirement?

Only if one person first meets the proposed individual requirement of 2.8 G or 3 G. The partner's income can cover the portion above that threshold. Two incomes of 250 000 kroner each would therefore not be enough under the proposal.

### Can children aged 18 or 19 be covered?

Yes. The proposal covers children under 20 at the first permit if the other conditions are met. Half the application fee is proposed only for children under 18. Children who later turn 20 can receive renewals if the other conditions remain fulfilled.

### Does the proposal also cover my spouse who lives in Ukraine?

No, not through this derivative permit. Family members must themselves have collective protection and normally live with the main applicant in Norway. A spouse abroad must follow the ordinary family immigration rules.

## Sources

- [Høring: særordning om overgang til annen oppholdsstatus på grunnlag av arbeid for fordrevne fra Ukraina](https://www.regjeringen.no/no/dokumenter/horing-forslag-til-en-sarordning-om-overgang-til-annen-oppholdsstatus-pa-grunnlag-av-arbeid-for-fordrevne-fra-ukraina-med-midlertidig-kollektiv-beskyttelse/id3172986/)
- [Høringsnotat: særordning på grunnlag av arbeid, særlig punkt 6.3.2–6.3.6 og lovforslaget §§ 6–8](https://www.regjeringen.no/contentassets/2a6832177cab474aac0b86f74d6fec0b/horingsnotat-om-en-sarordning-pa-grunnlag-av-arbeid.pdf)
- [Regjeringen foreslår at ukrainere som jobber i Norge kan få oppholdstillatelse](https://www.regjeringen.no/no/aktuelt/regjeringen-foreslar-at-ukrainere-som-jobber-i-norge-kan-fa-oppholdstillatelse/id3172993/)
- [Anmodningsvedtak 706 om økt underholdskrav ved familieinnvandring](https://www.stortinget.no/no/Saker-og-publikasjoner/Vedtak/Vedtak/Sak/?p=200067)

Citation: Hlib Suslov, "Ukrainians: proposed work-based residence for families in 2026", SamfunnPrep, 2026-09-22T08:29:23.162+00:00, https://samfunnprep.no/en/nyheter/ukrainere-arbeidsopphold-familie-2026