UDI 2012-011 Schengen-standardised residence cards

1. Introduction

Third-country nationals who have been granted a residence permit in Norway shall be issued a residence card as proof of their permit, see Sections 64a and 100a of the Immigration Act. A third-country national is a person who is not a national of an EEA/EFTA country.

The residence card is issued as a Schengen-standardised residence card (standardised residence card) with electronically stored biometrics.

On application, a residence card in the same format is also issued as proof of right of residence to third-country nationals who have right of residence under the EEA regulations. This applies to the following groups:

• Third-country nationals who are family members of an EEA national who is exercising his or her right of free movement in Norway, and who intends to reside in Norway for more than three months.

• Third-country nationals who have acquired permanent right of residence in Norway. In such cases, the card is called a permanent residence card.

• Third-country nationals who are service providers or business starters for an enterprise in an EEA country and who are intending to reside in Norway for more than three months.

The residence card is documentation that the third-country national has a residence permit or right of residence in Norway, and contains biometric data in the form of a photo and fingerprints. The card must also be signed by the holder.

In principle, the card is not proof of identity, but a card conferring rights: It confirms that the person holds a residence permit or has right of residence in Norway. The personal data on the card is the information the Norwegian immigration authorities have based their decision on when granting the person a residence permit.

In many cases, this identity will be documented by a passport from the person's country of origin. In other cases, when the person has not been able to sufficiently document their identity, the identity will only be deemed to be substantiated.

It will not be stated on the residence card which identity assessments were made by the immigration authorities when granting a permit and issuing a residence card.

This guideline describes the procedures for issuing residence cards, how to deal with lost cards, and which cases are subject to a fee for issuing a new residence card.

2. Ordering a residence card

In many cases the police or the UDI can issue a residence card without the foreigner reporting in person to submit biometrics, see point 5.1 of UDI 2021-006 Opptak av biometri og saksopprettelse i utlendingssaker (only available in Norwegian).

In other cases a foreign national who has been granted a residence permit or right of residence must report to the police to submit biometrics so that the police can order a residence card. Most police districts require such appointments to be booked via the online application portal of the Directorate of Immigration.

The police order the card through the work process ‘Politiet underretter om vedtak’ (The police notify of a decision) in DUF. For a description of the specific steps in this process, see ‘Brukerdokumentasjon for oppholdskort’ (User documentation for residence cards) prepared by the Directorate of Immigration (UDI).

If the foreign national requires a new card after the decision for the permit has been implemented, he or she must register an order for a residence card via the online application portal. See point 5.2 of UDI 2021-006 Opptak av biometri og saksopprettelse i utlendingssaker for cases when the biometrics can be reused. In such cases, the residence card is ordered through the work process ‘Politiet mottar anmodning om oppholdskort’ (The police receive a request for a residence card).

Previous residence cards which are still valid must be registered as invalid in the DUF system when a new residence card is issued.

2.1. Fingerprints

Ten flat fingerprints must be taken.

Fingerprints must be taken of everyone over six years of age unless this is not physically possible. In such case, it must be noted in the comments field ‘unable to give fingerprints’, see section 2.8 below concerning comments.

2.2. Photo

The photo for the card is taken in the biometrics booth. The person ordering the card must ensure that the photo meets the ICAO standard, in the same way as for passport photos. Photos that do not meet the required ICAO standard can be rejected by the card producer after the order has been submitted.

In exceptional cases, taking a photo that meets the ICAO standard in the biometrics booth can be problematic. In such cases, when it is not possible to use the biometric boots, the police shall use the handheld camera.

The following requirements apply to the photo:

• The photo must show the whole head (the face must take up 70-80 per cent of the photo) and the top of the shoulders.

• Eyes must be open and clearly visible with no hair covering the eyes.

• Wearing glasses is permitted. The glasses must not have tinted lenses, the frame must not cover parts of your eyes, and there must be no reflection in the lenses.

• Religious headgear is permitted on the condition that all details of the face are clearly visible. Chin, forehead and both cheeks must be clearly visible. The headgear must not cast a shadow on the face.

In addition, the photo must be:

• in sharp focus, clear and with good contrast

• taken from the front, against a light background

• in colour

2.3. Signature

All foreigners over ten years of age must sign. If the foreigner is not able to sign, this is noted on the screen by entering ‘no’ under the field ‘Able to sign’.

2.4. Change of name

The name stated on the residence card shall, as a rule, be identical to the name stated on the foreign national’s travel document, even if this is different from the name registered in the National Registry. This is because it can cause problems crossing borders if there are discrepancies between the residence card and travel document.

A condition for changing the name to correspond to what is stated in the foreign national’s travel document is that the name discrepancy does not give rise to doubt regarding the foreign national’s identity. If the foreigner’s identity in accordance with the decision and registrations in DUF has not been substantiated, the residence card must be issued with the identity registered in the National Registry.

It is the foreign national’s responsibility to ensure that the name in the travel document and that registered in the National Registry correspond. The immigration authorities cannot refuse to issue a residence card in cases when there are discrepancies between the name registered in the travel documents and that registered in the National Registry.

In such case, the immigration authorities shall encourage the foreign national to

• have a new travel document issued that corresponds to the name registered in the National Registry, or

• change the name registered in the National Registry so that it corresponds to the name stated in the travel document.

In some cases, the name in the foreign national’s travel document may deviate slightly from the name registered in the National Registry. This may be due to different transcription standards being used. In such cases, the immigration authorities can change the name details so that the name on the residence card corresponds to the name in the foreign national’s travel document.

A foreign national who only has a first name will occasionally be registered in the National Registry with X as his or her first name and the first name as the last name. In such cases, the police must change the name details so that the first name is given as both first name and last name.

If the immigration authorities change the foreign national’s name in the ordering process, this must be noted in the comments field, see section 2.8 below concerning comments.

If the foreign national changes his or her name in the National Registry and/or travel document after being issued a residence card, he or she must order a new residence card stating the correct name. New residence cards are ordered online in the application portal and are subject to a fee.

2.5. Changes to date of birth

The date of birth stated on the residence card must be the same as in the foreign national’s travel document.

Some foreign nationals have been assigned a date of birth by the Norwegian Tax Administration because there are no available personal ID numbers for his or her actual date of birth. This typically applies to foreign nationals born on 1 January and 1 July. Such discrepancies in dates of birth do not mean that there is doubt about the foreign national’s identity.

In such cases, the immigration authorities must change the date of birth so that the date of birth on the residence card corresponds to that in the foreign national’s travel document.

If the immigration authorities change the foreign national’s date of birth in the ordering process, this must be noted in the comments field, see section 2.8 below concerning comments.

If the foreign national has changed their date of birth in the National Registry after being issued a residence card, he or she must order a new residence card stating the correct date of birth. New residence cards are ordered online in the application portal and are subject to a fee.

2.6. Validity

For temporary residence permits, the residence card is valid for the same period as the permit.

For third-country nationals who hold permanent residence permits, the residence card is valid for two years. This is because the UDI can decide that a permanent residence permit shall lapse if a foreign national has spent more than two years outside Norway, cf. Section 11-8 first paragraph of the Immigration Regulations. A residence card as proof of a permanent residence permit must be renewed when the card is about to expire.

However, residence cards to British citizens and other third country nationals who has or will be granted a permanent residence permit in accordance with section 19-35 of the Immigration Regulations shall be valid for five years, see point 2.4 of UDI 2021-001 Opphold i Norge for britiske borgere og deres familiemedlemmer etter Storbritannias uttreden fra EU (only available in Norwegian).

For third-country nationals with right of residence pursuant to Section 114 of the Immigration Act (family members of an EEA national), the residence card is valid for five years, or less if the EEA national's right of residence is valid for a shorter period.

For third-country nationals who have permanent right of residence pursuant to Section 116 of the Immigration Act, the residence card is valid for ten years. A residence card as proof of permanent right of residence must be renewed when the card is about to expire.

For third-country nationals with right of residence pursuant to Section 114 second paragraph of the Immigration Act (service providers or business starters in an EEA country), the residence card is valid for a period corresponding to the service provision or business start-up, but no longer than one year, cf. Section 19-24 of the Immigration Regulations.

The card will be valid from the date of issue.

2.7. Delivery address

The card shall be sent to the address the foreigner has registered in the National Registry, i.e. the applicable Norwegian address. Foreigners who do not yet have an address registered in the National Registry must provide an address for the card to be sent to.

If the foreigner reports in person to the police for the issuing of a residence card the police must inform the foreigner of which address is registered and that it is essential that their full name is written on their letterbox.

In exceptional cases, such as if a foreigner does not have a postal address, the card can be sent to the police district that has ordered it, and the foreigner can collect it there.

2.8. Comments

In this field, the orderer must state any limitations to the permit, and add a comment if the name or date of birth has been changed, see sections 2.4 and 2.5 above.

Any limitations to the permit will be stated in the residence permit decision.

Possible limitations include that the foreigner does not have a right to work or travel in the Schengen area, or that the foreigner can only work for one or more specified employers.

Suggestions for how to formulate comments in the comments field:

‘Permit as an au pair for...’

‘The permit only entitles the holder to work as/for: …’

‘The permit only entitles the holder to study at: …’

‘The permit does not confer a right to leave Norway.’

‘The permit does not confer a right to travel in the Schengen area.’

'Name and/or date of birth is entered in accordance with that stated in the passport.’

The list is not exhaustive.

All residence cards issued pursuant to sections 19-33 to 19-35 of the Immigration Regulations shall have the following remark: «SEPARASJONSAVTALEN EØS/EFTA-UK»

3. Residence cards for third-country nationals with permanent residence permits and permanent right of residence when previous residence cards expire

When a residence card documenting a permanent residence permit or permanent right of residence expires, the foreign national must obtain a new residence card. When a sticker for a permanent residence permit expires, this must also be replaced by a residence card.

The foreign national must order a new residence card in the application portal. The police carry out the residence card order through the work process ‘Politiet mottar anmodning om oppholdskort’ (the police receive a request for a residence card).

In principle, the foreign national must order a new residence card before the previous residence card or residence sticker in their passport expires.

If the foreigner orders a new residence card after the previous card or sticker has expired, a fee will be charged.

4. Residence cards issued to third-country nationals with valid residence stickers or an A4 document confirming right of residence

Foreign nationals whose residence permit is confirmed by a valid residence sticker do not need Schengen-standardised residence cards. The residence sticker remains valid until its expiry date.

Foreign nationals who nonetheless wish to replace their residence sticker with a residence card can order a residence card in the application portal. A fee will be charged for such applications.

Third-country nationals who have right of residence pursuant to Section 114 of the Immigration Act (family member of an EEA national), and who have confirmation of this in the form of an A4 document, can order a residence card in the application portal and will be charged a fee for this.

5. Procedures in connection with loss of residence cards

A foreign national who loses his or her residence card must immediately notify the police of this. The notification of loss should be submitted in writing and include details about time, place and circumstances surrounding the loss. The police shall check the statement as far as possible and insofar as this is necessary.

The police must register the card as lost in DUF and in ELYS II.

Foreign nationals who lose their card abroad must immediately report it to the nearest Norwegian foreign service mission. The notification of loss should be submitted in writing and include details about time, place and circumstances surrounding the loss. The foreign service mission must notify the UDI, represented by the NORVIS help desk, to have the card registered as lost in DUF.

If the foreign national still has a valid residence permit or right of residence, he or she must order a new residence card in the application portal and will be charged a fee for this.

6. Procedures when a card is returned in the post

If a residence card is returned in the post to the police, it must be registered in DUF as incoming correspondence. The police shall, insofar as possible, attempt to contact the foreigner to inform them that their card can be collected at the police station. The card is kept by the police district for at least three months to give the foreigner fair opportunity to collect it. After this period, the card can be destroyed.

7. Fees for issue of a new residence card

7.1 Residence cards not subject to a fee

No fee is charged for a new card issued

• in connection with a foreign national being granted a temporary or permanent residence permit

• on the basis of a decision on right of residence or permanent right of residence

• when the residence card is valid for a shorter period than the residence permit (for permanent residence permits or permanent right of residence) and a new card is ordered before expiry of the previous residence card

• if the foreigner has received a residence card that contains errors or defects caused by the issuer (complaint). The error must be reported as soon as possible after issue.

In principle, these exemptions from fees only apply when the foreign national hands in his or her previous residence card. However, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security has decided in GI-01/2021 Dispensasjon frå plikt til å levere opphaldskort ved fornying that foreigners do not have to hand in their previous residence card to be exempt from the fee. The foreigner shall maculate the previous residence card him- or herself.

No fee is charged if:

• it can be determined that a residence card that has been ordered has not been produced or sent from the card issuer.

• the residence card that was ordered has been lost in the mail. The foreigner must contact the police no later than one month after the decision on the residence permit was made or the foreigner met with the police to submit biometrics. In this case the police may issue a new residence card without the foreigner ordering a new residence card online in the application portal. The police must register the previous card as lost in DUF and in ELYS II.

7.2 When a fee is charged for issue of a new residence card

When ordering a new Schengen-standardised residence card for persons who have previously been issued a residence card or a residence sticker as documentation of their permit, a fee of NOK 300 must be paid.

A fee must be paid

• when a new residence card is required because of a change of name or date of birth, cf. sections 2.4 and 2.5 above

• when the residence card is valid for a shorter period than the residence permit (for permanent residence permits or permanent right of residence) and a new card is ordered after expiry of the previous residence card, cf. section 3 above

• when a new card is issued as a replacement for a valid residence sticker or A4 document confirming right of residence, cf. section 4 above

• when a new residence card is required due to loss of a previous card, cf. section 5 above, or if a previous card has been destroyed

• when the previously issued residence card is not handed in when a temporary or permanent residence permit is implemented

The fee in these cases also applies to children and others who are not subject to a fee for submitting an application for a residence permit and for residence cards under the EEA regulations.

As a rule, the foreign national pays the fee through the payment solution in the online application portal. The police must check that the correct fee has been paid. The fee must in some cases be paid at the appointment with the police.

8. Local border traffic permits

Local border traffic permits shall also be issued as Schengen-standardised residence cards with electronically stored biometrics.

The agreement between Norway and Russia on local border traffic permits, however, contains separate rules on fees, cf. Article 10 of the agreement, and concerning in which cases a new local border traffic permit shall be issued and when a new local border traffic permit must be applied for, see also UDI 2012-013.