Foreign nationals

To qualify for support from Lånekassen, you must usually be a Norwegian citizen. Foreign citizens can receive support to study in Norway if certain conditions are met.

Permanent residence permit

From the 2022/2023 academic year, anyone with a permanent recidence permit in Norway may be entitled to support from Lånekassen. It does not matter what the basis for your residence was previously.
Documentation requirements: You are not required to submit documentation. We will collect the information we need from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI).
If you do not have a permanent residence permit, you may still be entitled to support if you meet any of the following criteria:

Compelling humanitarian reasons or links to the kingdom

You have a right of residence in Norway for compelling humanitarian reasons or special links to the kingdom.

You are not eligible for loans or grants if you live in a reception centre for asylum seekers. If you are taking ordinary upper secondary education and still live at a reception centre for asylum seekers after being granted a residence permit you may still be eligible for a grant for course materials. You may be eligible for other loans and grants when you have moved out of the reception centre for asylum seekers.

Documentation requirements: You are not required to submit documentation. We will collect the information we need from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI).

Married to a Norwegian citizen

You are married to, or cohabiting with, and have joint children with a Norwegian citizen. Both you and your spouse/cohabiting partner live in Norway.

Documentation requirements: You are not required to submit documentation. We will collect information about any residence permits from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). Lånekassen checks information regarding marriage and/or children against the Norwegian National Register.

Family member of an EEA citizen living in Norway

You have a right of residence as a family member of an EEA citizen. The EEA citizen must have grounds for residence in Norway other than studying.

You must submit

  • A copy of a valid residence permit for yourself
  • A copy of the decision from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) or the police showing that you have been reunited with a family member who has a residence permit in Norway. 
  • a copy of a valid residence permit or certificate of registration for the family member you have reunited with

If you are a Nordic citizen, you are also eligible for support under this item. You must submit details of your family in Norway. ‘Family’ is defined as father, mother, spouse or a cohabitant you have joint children with. You must provide details of his/her name, personal identification number, address in Norway and how long he/she has been resident in Norway for. You must also submit documentation showing what he/she does in Norway (e.g. confirmation from an employer or place of study).

Permanent right of residence as a family member of EEA citizen

You have permanent right of residence as a family member of an EEA citizen with permanent right of residence in Norway. Permanent right of residence is a separate right you can obtain after at least five years of residence in Norway. Read more about permanent right of residence on UDI's website.

Documentation requirements

If you have a permanent residence card, you must submit a copy of this.  

If you do not have a permanent residence card, you must submit documentation showing that

  • the EEA citizen you are related to has been resident in Norway for a continuous period of at least five years. This means documentation showing that the EEA citizen has been employed, self-employed, a student or has had sufficient means while living here.
  • you have had legal residence during the same period as the EEA citizen, and you have lived with the EEA citizen during this period.

We check the (Norwegian) National Registry to see if you are registered as a resident in Norway.

Citizens of the United Kingdom

During a transitional period that lasted until 2020, the United Kingdom was to be treated as if it were still a member of the EU and the EEA. If you are a citizen of the United Kingdom, you are eligible for loans and grants from the Lånekassen if you were entitled to reside in Norway in accordance with the EEA agreement before the end of the transition period (31.12.2020). You must also have stayed in Norway.

If you came to Norway on 1 January 2021 or later, you have to meet the same conditions as citizens from countries outside the EU/EEA if you want to apply for loans and grants. The same rules apply to your family members.

Family immigration

You have a residence permit because of family immigration. The person you have been reunited with must either be a Norwegian citizen or a foreign national with a reason for residence in Norway other than studying.

Documentation requirements: If you are a citizen of a country outside the Nordic region, you do not need to submit documentation. We will collect the information we need from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI).

If you are a Nordic citizen, you may also be eligible for grants and loans according under this item. You must submit details of your family in Norway. 'Family' is defined as father, mother, spouse or a cohabitant you have joint children with. You must also submit documentation showing what he/she does in Norway (e.g. confirmation from an employer or place of study).

Full-time work

You have lived in and have had continuous full-time employment in Norway for at least 24 months immediately prior to commencing studies. You must have had a residence permit as an employee and paid tax to Norway during this period.

There must be no breaks during the accrual period or between the accrual period and the period in which you receive support. Nevertheless, exceptions may be made for breaks of up to one year in connection with illness or childbirth.

Stays due to ordinary five-week holidays per year will be accepted as part of the accrual period of 24 months.

Maternity leave and leave for occasional care of children whilst employed may be included as part of the accrual period of 24 months.

Au-pair work is not considered full-time employment and does therefore not give eligibility for grants and loans from Lånekassen.

You must submit

  • confirmation(s) from employer(s) showing that you have had continuous full-time employment in Norway for at least 24 months immediately prior to commencing the study programme (start and finish dates). The confirmation(s) must show the role percentage and start and finish dates of the employment. It/they must be signed by the employer and written on official headed paper or have the employer’s stamp. An employment contract is not considered sufficient documentation.
  • Documentation showing that you have paid tax in Norway for the last 24 months immediately prior to commencing studies. This could include copies of savings statements, income tax, payroll and deduction statements or payslips.

Studies

During an accrual period of at least three years, you have been undertaking continuous study in Norway and you have completed studies corresponding to at least three years of full-time studies (equivalent to 180 credits).

There should be no break between the studies you have completed in Norway and the loan and grant period. Nevertheless, exceptions may be made for breaks of up to one year in connection with illness or childbirth.

During that period, you cannot have received loans or grants for education from Lånekassen, public support schemes in other countries (e.g. Centrala studiestödsnämnden and Uddannelsesstyrelsen), or from Norwegian public support schemes for development, e.g. Norad, the Norwegian Programme for Development, Research and Education (NUFU), the Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development (NORHED).

Documentation requirements: You must submit a transcript of grades or degree certificate for the studies you have completed in Norway. The transcript must bear a stamp and signature from the place of study.

Protection (asylum)

You have been given protection (asylum) in Norway.

You are not eligible for loans or grants if you live in a reception centre for asylum seekers. However, you may still be eligible for a grant for course materials if you are taking regular upper secondary education. You may be eligible for other loans and grants when you have moved out of the reception centre for asylum seekers.

You may be eligible for a refugee grant for primary, secondary and upper secondary education.

Read more about refugee grants.

You must submit

  • a copy of the decision showing the period for which you are receiving introduction benefit, if you are receiving it

If you have completed an introduction programme, you must submit

  • Confirmation from the local authority or the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) showing the date on which you completed the programme

Loans and grants for studying abroad

To qualify for support abroad, you must usually be a Norwegian citizen. Subject to certain conditions, Lånekassen may make exceptions for citizens from EEA or EFTA countries and their family members.

Studying abroad - foreign nationals

Information in various languages

You can download information for foreign nationals and refugees in various languages, including Ukrainian, Arabic, Somali, Farsi, Tigrinja and English.