Your application may be forwarded to the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). If that happens, the UDI's waiting times will apply.

The table below shows how long the different police districts take to process applications. The waiting time starts when you have handed all the necessary documents to the police and ends when you can expect a reply.

How long you have to wait may change. If the police can process the application, you will know the correct waiting time when you submit your application to the police. If the application is sent to the UDI for processing, you will receive a letter telling how long you have to wait.

We update the information on this page once a month.

Waiting time the first time you apply

Police District or office How long the police take to process applications Your application may be forwarded to the UDI, usually within
Agder Police District 4 months 3 months
Finnmark Police District 2 to 3 months 1 month
Finnmark, Service Centre for Foreign Workers (SUA) Kirkenes 1 to 2 weeks 1 week
Innlandet Police District 2 to 3 months 1 week to 3 months 
Møre og Romsdal Police District 4 weeks  1 to 4 weeks 
Nordland Police District 10 to 15 days  7 to 14 days 
Oslo Police District 2 months 2 months
Oslo, Service Centre for Foreign Workers (SUA) Oslo    
Southwestern Police District  7 to 8 weeks 7 to 8 weeks 
Southwestern, Service Centre for Foreign Workers (SUA) Stavanger 1 to 2 weeks 0 to 3 days
Southeastern Police District 2 months 1 to 3 months 
Troms Police District 4 to 6 weeks 4 to 6 weeks
Trøndelag Police District 2 months 2 to 3 months
Trøndelag, Service Centre for Foreign Workers (SUA) Trondheim    
Western Police District 1 month 1 month
Western, Service Centre for Foreign Workers (SUA) Bergen 5 days 5 days
Eastern Police District 4 to 5 months 0 to 5 months

 

Waiting time to renew your residence permit

Police District or office How long the police take to process applications Your application may be forwarded to the UDI, usually within
Agder Police District 3 months 6 weeks
Finnmark Police District 2 to 3 months 1 month 
Finnmark, Service Centre for Foreign Workers (SUA) Kirkenes 1 to 2 weeks 1 week
Innlandet Police District 2 to 3 months 1 week to 3 months
Møre og Romsdal Police District 6 to 8 weeks 4 to 8 weeks
Nordland Police District 7 to 14 days  7 to 14 days 
Oslo Police District 2 months 2 months
Oslo, Service Centre for Foreign Workers (SUA) Oslo    
Southwestern Police District 7 to 8 weeks  7 to 8 weeks 
Southwestern, Service Centre for Foreign Workers (SUA) Stavanger 1 to 2 weeks 1 to 2 weeks
Southeastern Police District 2 months  1 to 3 months 
Troms Police District 4 to 6 weeks 2 weeks 
Trøndelag Police District 3 months 3 to 4 months 
Trøndelag, Service Centre for Foreign Workers (SUA) Trondheim    
Western  Police District 2 months  2 months 
Western, Service Centre for Foreign Workers (SUA) Bergen 10 days 10 days
Eastern Police District 4 to 5 months 0 to 5 months