If you fulfill the requirements for one of the following criteria, you may be exempt from paying tuition fees.
Citizens from EU/EEA countries and Switzerland are exempt from paying tuition fees.
Documentation requirements:
- Copy of your passport or national ID card
If you have uploaded a copy of a Norwegian, Swiss or EU/EEA passport with your application for admission, you are automatically exempt and do not need to apply for an exemption.
Anyone with a permanent residence permit in Norway is exempt from paying tuition fees.
Documentation requirements:
- Copy of your passport or national ID card
- Copy of your residence card (both sides)
- Copy of the decision letter from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) or the police
Anyone who is granted protection (asylum) in Norway is exempt from paying tuition fees.
Documentation requirements:
- Copy of your passport or national ID card
- Copy of your residence card (both sides)
- Copy of the decision letter from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) or the police
Anyone with a residence permit because of family immigration may be exempt from paying tuition fees. The person the student has been reunited with must either be a Norwegian citizen or a foreign national with a reason for residence in Norway other than studying.
Furthermore, you do not have to pay tuition fees if you have gained a continued residence permit on an independent basis due to the Norwegian immigration act § 53.
Documentation requirements:
- Copy of your passport or national ID card
- Copy of your residence card (both sides)
- Copy of the decision letter from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) or the police
- Copy of the residence card or registration certificate for your family member
Anyone who is married to or in legal partnership with a Norwegian citizen is exempt from paying tuition fees. Both you and your spouse / legal partner must live in Norway.
Documentation requirements:
- Copy of your passport or national ID card
- Copy of your spouse / legal partner's passport or national ID card
- Copy of your residence card (both sides)
- Copy of your marriage certificate from the Norwegian Tax Administration or from the foreign authority who officiated the wedding
- Copy of the residence certificate (bostedsattest) for you and your spouse / legal partner
- Copy of the decision letter from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) or the police
You do not have to pay tuition fees if you are cohabiting and have children with a Norwegian citizen. Both you and your cohabiting person must live in Norway.
Documentation requirements:
- Copy of your passport or national ID card
- Copy of your residence card (both sides)
- Copy of the residence certificate (bostedsattest) for you, your cohabitating partner and your child
- Copy of your cohabiting partner’s passport or national ID card
- Copy of the decision letter from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) or the police
Anyone who has a right of residence as a family member of an EU/EEA citizen is exempt from paying tuition fees. The EU/EEA citizen must have grounds for residence in Norway other than studying.
Documentation requirements:
- Copy of your passport or national ID card
- Copy of your residence card (both sides)
- Copy of the decision letter from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) or the police
- Copy of the registration certificate for your family member
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, who were entitled to reside in Norway in accordance with the EEA agreement before the end of the transition period (31 December 2020), you are exempt to pay tuition fees. You must also have stayed in Norway.
If you came to Norway on 1 January 2021 or later, you are not exempt from the tuition fees.
Documentation requirements:
- Copy of your passport or national ID card
- Copy of your residence card (both sides) or registration certificate
- Copy of the decision letter from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) or the police
You do not have to pay tuition fees if you during a qualifying period of at least 24 months have had continuous full-time work in Norway, have been resident in and paid tax to Norway.
You must have had a residence permit as an employee during the accrual period. There must be no gap during the accrual period. In addition, there must be no gap between the accrual period and further studies. However, exceptions can be made for stays of up to 1 year in the event of illness or childbirth.
Au pair work is not considered full-time employment.
Documentation requirements:
- Copy of your passport or national ID card
- Copy of your residence card (both sides)
- Copy of the decision letter from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) or the police
- Certificate from your employer, printout of the determination of income tax, salary and deduction statements, payslips or corresponding documentation. The documentation must show that you have paid tax in Norway for the last 24 months immediately prior to commencing studies.
Anyone who has been living and undertaking continuous studies in Norway during a period of at least three years and has completed studies corresponding to at least three years of full-time studies (equivalent to 180 credits), is exempt from paying tuition fees.
There must be no gap during the accrual period. In addition, there must be no gap between the accrual period and further studies. However, exceptions can be made for stays of up to 1 year in the event of illness or childbirth.
During the qualifying period, you cannot have received support for the education from public education support schemes or Norwegian public support schemes for development.
Documentation requirements:
- Copy of your passport or national ID card
- Copy of your residence card (both sides)
- Copy of the decision letter from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) or the police
- Copy of transcripts of records or diplomas for education completed in Norway
If you have accepted an offer of admission, you may provide the relevant documents and apply for exemption.
You must apply for an exemption within 14 days after you have received an offer of admission.