Stricter subsistence rules for family immigration
Press release | No: 3 – 2025 | Date: 13/01/2025 | Ministry of Justice and Public Security
The Norwegian Government is increasing the subsistence requirement for family immigration by approximately NOK 65,000. From 1 February 2025, the general rule will be that one must have an annual income of approx. NOK 400,000 in order to be able to bring family members to Norway.
The Ministry of Justice and Public Security is now increasing the subsistence requirement for family immigration by 0.5 times the National Insurance basic amount (G), from approx. NOK 335,000 to approx. NOK 400,000 (NOK 396,890). This means that a person in Norway who wishes to bring family members to this country must, as a general rule, have an annual income of at least this amount in order to meet the subsistence requirement.
The aim of introducing stricter rules is to ensure a controlled and sustainable level of immigration to Norway which is not disproportionately high compared with peer countries. An important purpose is also to ensure to a greater extent that families who are going to live in Norway are self-supporting and do not need to rely on state benefits. This will in turn ensure that those who come have a better basis for integration into Norwegian society.
‘To ensure a sustainable level of arrivals, the Government announced in autumn last year that family immigration regulations would be tightened. Raising the subsistence requirement is part of this. I will also consider further tightening of the subsistence requirement,' says Minister of Justice and Public Security Emilie Enger Mehl.
The change will take effect on 1 February 2025.