Norway Post-Study Work Visa Cost in 2026: Fees and Financial Requirements
Norway Post-Study Work Visa Cost in 2026: Fees and Financial Requirements
The Norway post-study work visa cost includes more than just the government application fee. International graduates also need to prove that they have enough money to support themselves while looking for skilled employment.
Norway officially treats this route as a residence permit for job seekers who have recently graduated in Norway. Eligible graduates can remain in Norway for up to one year while searching for skilled employment, but they must pay an application fee and satisfy a substantial financial-support requirement.
How Much Does the Norway Post-Study Work Visa Cost in 2026?
The main government application fee for an adult work-related residence permit is currently:
NOK 6,300
This fee applies when registering the relevant residence application with UDI.
However, the larger financial requirement is the amount you must show for living expenses.
UDI currently requires recent graduate job seekers to have at least:
- NOK 28,448 per month
- NOK 341,373 for 12 months
The funds must normally belong to you and usually need to be held in a Norwegian bank account.
Norway Post-Study Visa Costs at a Glance
| Cost | 2026 Amount |
|---|---|
| Residence permit application fee | NOK 6,300 |
| Required funds per month | NOK 28,448 |
| Required funds for 12 months | NOK 341,373 |
| Maximum job-seeking period | Up to 1 year |
The NOK 341,373 is not a government fee. It is money you must demonstrate that you have available to support yourself.
This distinction is important when calculating the real cost of remaining in Norway after graduation.
Is NOK 341,373 a Visa Fee?
No.
UDI does not take the NOK 341,373 as payment.
It is a financial self-support requirement intended to show that you can pay for your living expenses while searching for employment.
UDI states that the required amount is currently NOK 28,448 for each month of the residence period.
Therefore, if you apply for a shorter permit, the required amount may depend on the length of stay granted.
For a full year, the published amount is:
NOK 341,373
Where Must the Money Be Kept?
UDI states that the money:
- Must normally be your own funds.
- Must usually be held in a Norwegian bank account.
Applicants should ensure that the bank documentation clearly shows:
- Account holder’s name
- Available balance
- Account details
- Current funds
Your personalized UDI document checklist will explain exactly what evidence is required for your case.
Can Your Salary Reduce the Amount You Need to Show?
Potentially, yes.
One useful feature of Norway’s graduate job-seeker route is that applicants can work while searching for relevant skilled employment.
UDI states that if you already have a job in Norway while looking for a suitable skilled position, income from that job can be included when calculating whether you meet the financial requirement.
This can make the financial requirement more manageable for graduates who already have part-time or full-time employment.
Can You Work During the Post-Study Permit?
Yes.
Recent graduates holding this job-seeker residence permit may generally:
- Work full-time
- Work part-time
- Take temporary employment
- Work in jobs that are not necessarily classified as skilled positions
The long-term purpose of the permit must still be to search for suitable skilled employment.
The permit does not allow you to operate as a self-employed person under this route.
Additional Costs to Budget for
The government application fee is only one part of the cost of staying in Norway after graduation.
You should also budget for everyday expenses such as:
- Housing and rent
- Electricity and utilities
- Food
- Public transportation
- Mobile phone and internet
- Insurance
- Job-search travel
- Document translations where required
- Moving expenses
Living costs vary significantly depending on the city and your accommodation.
Oslo can generally be more expensive than smaller Norwegian cities, especially for rent.
Do You Need to Pay Tuition Again?
Not for the job-seeking permit itself.
The graduate job-seeker residence permit is not a study permit, so there is no tuition fee attached directly to this immigration route.
However, if you decide to begin another educational programme instead of moving into employment, separate tuition and student-residence requirements may apply.
How Long Can You Stay After Paying the Fee?
The job-seeker residence permit can be granted for a maximum of:
1 year
The purpose of this period is to allow recent graduates to search for a job that qualifies them for a skilled-worker residence permit.
You should therefore use the year strategically rather than waiting until the final months to begin searching.
What Happens After You Find a Skilled Job?
Once you secure suitable skilled employment, you can normally apply for a Norwegian skilled-worker residence permit.
For positions without a collective agreement, UDI currently uses salary benchmarks including:
- NOK 545,400 per year for positions requiring a bachelor’s degree
- NOK 624,700 per year for positions requiring a master’s degree
A lower salary may be accepted if it can be documented as normal for the occupation and location, but UDI states that substantial evidence may be required.
A new residence application may involve another government application fee.
Does the Job-Seeking Permit Count Toward Permanent Residence?
No.
UDI states that time spent on the graduate job-seeker permit does not count toward permanent residence.
This is important when planning long-term immigration costs.
The goal for many graduates is therefore:
Student Permit → Graduate Job-Seeker Permit → Skilled Worker Permit → Permanent Residence
The skilled-worker stage may form part of a longer-term residence pathway if the relevant requirements are met.
How to Reduce Your Post-Study Costs
Graduates can manage expenses more effectively by:
- Applying for jobs before graduation.
- Keeping part-time employment where legally permitted.
- Preparing financial proof early.
- Avoiding unnecessary duplicate applications.
- Comparing housing outside expensive city centres.
- Moving to a skilled-worker permit as soon as suitable employment is secured.
- Checking UDI’s current fee before submitting the application.
Remember that immigration fees and financial-support thresholds can change.
Final Answer
The Norway post-study work visa cost in 2026 consists mainly of two separate amounts.
The government application fee is currently around:
NOK 6,300
In addition, recent graduates must normally demonstrate:
NOK 28,448 per month or NOK 341,373 for one year in financial resources.
The NOK 341,373 is not a fee paid to UDI. It remains your money and is intended to demonstrate that you can support yourself while searching for skilled employment.
For graduates already earning income in Norway, qualifying employment income may also be taken into account when meeting the financial requirement.
Official Sources
- UDI – Job Seekers and Recent Graduates
- UDI – Pay and Working Conditions in Norway
- UDI – Work Immigration
