🔄 Renewal of study permit for international students (non-PhD)

Registration with the police — Admission for incoming exchange students – Photo: Mostphotos

This guide explains how to renew your study permit if you plan to continue your studies at UiT. Whether you are an incoming exchange student extending your stay or a degree student continuing your programme, you will find information about deadlines, required documents, study progression requirements, and the renewal process.

📋 Quick overview: Do I need to renew my study permit?

✅ Exchange student staying for one semester only → No
✅ Exchange student extending your exchange by an additional semester → Yes
✅ Bachelor's or Master's student continuing your studies at UiT → Yes
✅ Student starting a higher-level degree programme (for example, Bachelor's to Master's) → Usually yes
✅ Student starting a second degree at the same academic level → Special UDI rules apply

If you would like to extend your exchange stay at UiT for an additional semester, the extension must be approved by both your home institution and UiT.

Before applying for a study permit renewal, please make sure that:

Your home institution has nominated you for the additional exchange semester.
You have sufficient funds to cover your living expenses during the extended stay.
If you receive an Erasmus+ grant, your home institution confirms that the grant will continue during the extension period.
If you receive funding through a project or scholarship programme, the coordinators at both institutions confirm that the funding will continue during the extended exchange period.

Nomination deadlines

📅 15 April for an extension into the autumn semester
📅 15 October for an extension into the spring semester

💡 If you are considering extending your exchange stay, please contact the Incoming Student Exchange Team as early as possible: mobility@uit.no

This section applies to Bachelor's and Master's students who need to renew their study permit in order to continue their studies at UiT.

To renew your study permit, you must normally demonstrate satisfactory study progression. This usually means completing 60 ECTS credits per academic year (30 ECTS credits per semester).

📅 When should you renew your study permit?

To avoid delays and interruptions to your legal stay in Norway, start the renewal process early:

3 months before your permit expires
Register your application through UDI and book an appointment with the police. Waiting times can be long, so do not delay.
No later than 1 month before your permit expires
You must visit the police and submit your documents in person. Your application is not officially submitted until this step has been completed.

⚠️ Important: Registering your application online is not enough. You must also attend your appointment with the police before the deadline.

📄 What do I need to do?

Check UDI’s requirements for renewing a study permit: Want to renew: Study permit – UDI
Download the Progress Report form: Progress Report form
(The form is available in Norwegian only.)
Contact your Programme Coordinator.
Find your programme in the Study Catalogue and locate your Programme Coordinator under "Contact us": English study catalogue – All programs | UiT
Ask your Programme Coordinator to help you complete the Progress Report.
Obtain a Transcript of Records showing your completed courses and examination results.
Obtain documentation confirming that tuition fees have been paid or that you are exempt from tuition fees, if applicable.
Book and attend your appointment with the police.

⏳ If you are delayed in your studies

If you are behind schedule, you must apply for an extension of your study rights before your Programme Coordinator can issue the Progress Report.

UDI assesses each application individually. If your studies have been delayed, you must explain the reason for the delay and provide supporting documentation where possible.

⚠️ A delay of more than six months in a Master's programme is normally considered significant by UDI and may affect the renewal of your study permit.

📋 Information required when applying

UiT organisation number: 970 422 528

If you have been admitted to a higher-level degree programme (for example, from a Bachelor's programme to a Master's programme), UDI will normally consider this a continuation of your studies.

You will normally need to submit:

Your Letter of Admission for the new programme.
A Transcript of Records from your previous programme.

Starting a second degree at the same academic level?

If you are starting a second Bachelor's degree or a second Master's degree, UDI will not normally consider this a continuation of your studies.

In exceptional cases, UDI may approve a new programme if it clearly builds upon your previous qualifications and strengthens your future academic or research opportunities.

You may be asked to provide:

Letter of Admission.
Transcript of Records.
A written statement explaining how the new programme relates to your previous studies and future academic or career plans.

Study permit applications are assessed by UDI in accordance with Norwegian immigration regulations.

If your application is rejected, information about the appeals process is available on the UDI website:

Appealing a decision – UDI

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Last changed: 06.08.2026 12.00