Student Loans and Repayment for Norway and International Students

Student loans in Norway are issued by Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (Lanekassen). No interest is paid until graduation. The primary prerequisite for support from Lanekassen is that you are a Norwegian citizen. Nevertheless, foreign citizens are also qualified for financial support.

Eligibility Conditions

If you are a foreign citizen with legal residence in Norway and you are a student here, you may be entitled to financial support if you satisfy one of the following conditions: 

You have been granted protection, i.e. Asylum in Norway: In this case, you may only receive a grant for learning materials to attend upper secondary education. 

Submit the following documents:
  • copy of the letter of decision from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) stating when you were granted asylum
  • copy of a valid residence permit
  • copy of the decision that proves the time for which you receive introductory support
Special humanitarian considerations or particular attachment to the country: If you have residence in Norway due to special humanitarian considerations or particular attachment to the country, you may receive a grant for learning materials to attend upper secondary education. You must submit the following documents:
  • copy of the decision from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) stating the reasons on which the residence in Norway has been granted
  • copy of a valid residence permit
Married to a Norwegian citizen: If you are married or cohabitant with common children or partner to a Norwegian citizen, in that case, you’re entitled to obtain financial funding. Submit any of the following documents:
  • copy of a valid residence permit (does not apply to Nordic citizens)
  • copy of documentation that proves marriage or registered partnership with Norwegian citizen 
  • copy of birth certificate for common children with Norwegian cohabitant
Right of residency as family member of EEA citizen: In this case, you must submit the following documents (does not apply to Nordic citizens):
  • copy of a valid residence permit 
  • copy of decision from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) or the police stating your reunion with a family member with a residence permit in Norway 
  • copy of a valid residence permit or proof of registration for the person you are reunited with 
Residence permit in connection with a family reunion with a Norwegian or foreign citizen: The individual you are reunited with must have a different basis for residence in Norway than education, and then you shall get financial support. Submit the following documents (does not apply to Nordic citizens)
  • copy of a valid residence permit 
  • copy of decision from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) or the police stating your reunion with a family member with a residence permit in Norway 
  • copy of a valid residence permit or validation of registration for the person you are reunited with 
Full-time employment: You have been a resident of and held continuous full-time employment in Norway for at least 24 months just prior to starting the education or you must have had a residence permit as an employee and paid tax to Norway during this period. If you meet either of the two conditions, you are entitled for financial backing. Submit the following documents to avail the support:
  • copy of a valid work permit (does not apply to Nordic citizens) for the entire period
  • Signed Documentation from the employer that establishes that you have had continuous full-time employment in Norway for at least 24 months just prior to starting the education. 
  • confirmation from employer or printout of tax return form that shows that you have paid tax in Norway during the same period
Education: If you have completed education in Norway for at least three years just prior to the academic year and you have passed education that corresponds to at least three years of full-time education and during this period you have not received support for the education from Lanekassen and public educational support schemes in other countries, then you’re entitled to have the financial backing. 
Submit the documents:
  • copy of a valid residence permit (does not apply to Nordic citizens)
  • grade transcript or diploma for education you have completed in Norway

National of EEA or EFTA Country

Employees from EEA or EFTA countries and their family members are entitled to financial support if they satisfy one of the following conditions: 

EEA or EFTA citizen with employee status: If you are an EEA or EFTA citizen with employee status in Norway or there is a professional connection between your work in Norway and the education you are applying for, then you shall receive the financial support. Submit the following documents as a proof: 
  • copy of a valid work permit or proof of registration (does not apply to Nordic citizens)
  • Confirmation from your employer of work in Norway that proves the time period you have worked in Norway, your work description and responsibilities at work
Child of an EEA or EFTA citizen with employee status in Norway: If you have a child of an EEA or EFTS citizen with employee status in Norway, you’ll receive the financial support. Submit the necessary documents such as:
If one or both of your parents are Nordic citizens, you must submit:
  • Verification that shows that one of your parents is employed in Norway
  • If your parents are from a country outside the Nordic area, you must submit:
  • a copy of a valid residence permit or proof of registration for one of your parents
  • confirmation from Norwegian employer about your work
If you, yourself are from a country outside the Nordic area, you must, in accession to the documentation for your parents, submit
  • a copy of valid residence permit, proof of registration or residence card for yourself
If you are married or cohabitant with common children / partner of EEA or EFTA citizen with employee status in Norway, then you can get financial support. Submit these documents:
  • confirmation from the employer that demonstrates that he/she is employed in Norway
  • copy of a valid residence permit or proof of registration for him/her
  • confirmation from the employer of his/her work in Norway
Permanent residence in Norway: If you are an EEA citizen, or a family member of an EEA citizen, and you hold permanent residence in Norway, in that instance, you shall get the financial backing. Documents needed are:
  • copy of permanent residence permit / residence card (does not apply to Nordic citizens)
  • If you are a Nordic citizen, you must submit: confirmation that shows that you have been a resident of Norway for a continuous period of at least five years prior to the education for which you are applying for funding. 

 Quota Students

If you have been accepted to a university college or university on the basis of a quota program for nationals of developing countries, the Western Balkan countries, countries in Eastern Europe or Central Asia, then you can obtain the financial support. You need to submit the following documents:
  • copy of the decision from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI)
  • documentation of entry to Norway, like airline ticket, boarding card or itinerary

 Repayment of Loans

After graduation, you will receive a repayment program specifying how much you have to pay and the time duration of your repayment. Interest is computed from the first day of the month following your graduation. The first payment is made about seven months after graduation and there are four installments per year. 
For the “Quota program”:  If you have received support from Lanekassen under a quota program, your entire study debt is scratched when you return to your home country. If you remain in Norway or in a country other than your home country, you must pay back the loan.
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