Many non-EU nationals living in Norway are familiar with the mix of relief and panic that follows the receipt of the UDI ‘Søknad mottatt’ email (Application received). But the waiting times of 10, 18, or even 24 months aren’t just numbers; they can be years of your life put on “pause”.
“The waiting times at UDI are simply torture,” said 33-year-old, Fernanda from Mexico, who has been living in Oslo since 2021 and now works in a barnehage (kindergarten).
“It already takes a lot of guts to emigrate from your country, and then the worst part begins,” said Fernanda, who moved to Norway to be with her Norwegian partner.
For most new arrivals the biggest stress during this limbo period is around work and whether you can actually do any. We consulted with a legal expert to clarify the distinctions between illegal work, remote work, and volunteering.
This guide applies to first-time non-EU/EFTA family reunification applicants (familiegjenforening) currently in Norway.
The Golden Rule: The One Thing You Must NEVER Do
The UDI is clear on this point: never work illegally. This includes “black” work paid in cash, “helping” a friend at their café for money, or any paid work not explicitly covered by a valid permit.
Maria Reiten Hindahl, legal advisor at Caritas Norge, says: “The UDI applies a strict test to determine what counts as work. Any activity that creates value and would normally be done by paid staff is usually considered work, and first-time applicants cannot work in Norway without a permit (UDI 2011032). Doing so could result in expulsion.”
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This also applies to unpaid internships (praksis).
“Unpaid professional internships that create value are generally considered work under UDI rules,” Hindahl says. “First-time applicants cannot legally start internships without a permit granting work rights.”
So does that men someone cannot contribute financially at all?
Legally, no. You cannot earn an income while your permit application is pending, but you will be able to prepare yourself for when you can finally dive headfirst into the job hunt.
Yes, this is hard—especially if you’ve always had financial independence. The challenging part of the “limbo” isn’t just the money; it can also be the sense of a loss of identity, the limitations to your life, and the dependency on others.
READ ALSO: Why some Norwegian residence applications take so long to process
Feeling productive, even without a salary, can be the key to surviving.
“For me, it was a moment of madness” says Fernanda. “Coming from Mexico, where you have to be productive all the time, work 8 to 10 hours, and suddenly everything you had and everything you were is put on hold. It was simply a nightmare.”
The feeling is universal. Cinthia, a 36-year-old Argentine national who lives in Fredrikstad, had a similar experience.