Changes in the subsistence requirement for family immigration

– Today the deadline is one year in order to be granted an exemption from the subsistence requirement for the refugee, when he or she wishes to bring a family member to Norway. We are changing this deadline, and the application now has to be submitted within six months. We are shortening the deadline, but at the same time making it easier to comply with the deadline by applying online. The application fee must be paid within six months, says acting Minister of Immigration and Integration Mr. Per Sandberg (The Progressive Party).

An exemption from the subsistence requirement in family reunification cases is made when the applicant is the refugee’s spouse, cohabitant, or child under the age of 18 years. In order to be granted an exemption the application must be sent or registrered online and the application fee must be paid within six months after the refugee was granted a residence permit. The applicant must then book an appointment and hand in the application and supporting documents, in person, at a Norwegian Foreign Mission or Visa Application Centre within a year after the refugee was granted a residence permit. Exemptions from the deadlines may be made if the applicant has been prevented from submitting an application at an earlier time because of factors beyond the applicant’s control.

The regulation enters into force on 1 August 2017, and applies to all applications for family reunification with a refugee who was granted a residence permit after this date.