USN offers a residence permit bank account for international students
If you are a student with citizenship from outside the EU/EEA area, you must obtain a student visa before you arrive in Norway, regardless of the length of your stay.
Required amount of money in a Norwegian bank account
One of the requirements for obtaining a student visa or a student residence permit for Norway is that the applicant must document access to NOK 166 859 for the first academic year 25/26 (10 months).
This sum can be a student loan, a grant or your own money in a Norwegian bank account or in the account of the place of study, or a combination of these.
The immigration authority also accepts last year’s amount when that is the amount mentioned in your Letter of admission.
Please check UDI's website to control that the amount is correct.
Depositing funds into the residence permit account at University of South-Eastern Norway
University of South-Eastern Norway has created an account for self-funded international students from outside the EU/EEA who do not hold their own Norwegian bank account. The account is in University of South-Eastern Norway 's name and your funds are identified by your name and applicant number.
Who can use the account?
Applicants from outside the EU/EEA who have accepted their offer of admission from University of South-Eastern Norway and are applying for a study permit in Norway can use the account.
Exchange students:
Exchange students starting studies January 2026: Please transfer funds by November 15th.
Exchange students starting studies August 2026: Please transfer your funds by June 10th.
If you are going to be a student for only one semester in Norway, you must document NOK 75 845 for the autumn semester and NOK 91 014 for the spring semester. If you are going to be here for the entire year, it is the same amount as otherwise listed: NOK 166 859.
Making a deposit:
Apply for residence permit account.
- You may deposit funds as soon as you receive your Offer of Admission, prior to applying for your study permit.
- The University does not accept deposits after June 1st. Allow several days for your transfer to arrive in the account.
- Mark your deposit with your name and applicant number (found on your Letter of Admission).
- You may transfer euros or US dollar, but the final sum in NOK must correspond to no less than the minimum required amount upon deposit. However, fluctuations in exchange rates may mean that the amount we receive is not sufficient. We recommend paying a little extra in relation to the converted amount.
- University of South-Eastern Norway does not accept larger deposits in connection with applications for other types of residence permits, eg. family immigration.
Accessing funds in the residence permit account
Confirmation of deposit
Once you have completed the transfer and we have received the money, you will receive an email from the Accounting Department at University of South-Eastern Norway confirming that your funds have been received.
Interest
Your funds will not earn interest while in the holding account.
Deposit for permit
You may not use the funds deposited in the residence permit account to pay your deposit for student housing. Please contact the student welfare organization for more information about how to pay your housing deposit.
You may not use the funds deposited in the residence permit account as documentation for tuition fees.
Release of funds
Important: the University of South-Eastern Norway is unable to release funds from the holding account before you have opened your own bank account, nor will the office have any power to hasten the procedure with your application for an ID- number with the National Registry.
Once you have arrived in Norway and obtained an identification number from the National Registry at the tax office, you will be able to open a Norwegian bank account.
Non-EU/EEA students will automatically be issued a personal number after the required registration with the police. It is essential that all students have their mailboxes clearly marked with their names as this letter is sent by postal mail. This may take some weeks to process.
Exchange students are unfortunately not able to open a Norwegian account due to the shorter length of the stay, so must be prepared to use an account in their home country. After the exchange student has been to the police registration, the student can request to have their funds transferred back to their home country. Please remember that there might be variations in the exchange rate.
Frequently asked questions about the resident permit bank account for international students
Can I transfer the money in US Dollars or Euro?
Yes, you can transfer in Dollars and Euro. You need to find the amount UDI gives you in NOK to Dollar or Euro, yourself.
How do I pay the money to the bank account?
International students must have money in a Norwegian bank account to apply for a student visa in Norway. USN offers this service to international students, as it has proven difficult for international students to open a Norwegian bank account prior to receiving a D-number (which is given after the resident permit is granted).
For transferring the money, you must register in the form found on this web site (above), under "Making a deposit".
Withdrawal from studies
If, for any reason, you withdraw from your studies at the institution, your deposit will be returned to the account it was transferred from.
If your application for a study permit in Norway is rejected for any reason, your funds will be returned to the account they were transferred from.
If this happens, University of South-Eastern Norway will transfer the same sum that you transferred to the holding account. Please be aware that the final sum returned to you may vary as a result of the following:
- Changes in the exchange rates before or during transfer.
- Fees charged by foreign banks. The university's bank does not charge fees for return of funds.
Please allow around 4 weeks for return of funds.
The amount has changed since my transfer, what to do?
The immigration authorities will accept last year's amount if this is the one referred to in your Letter of Admission.
Can my family or someone else transfer the money on my behalf?
Yes, someone else can do the money transfer on your behalf.
What you as a student needs to do:
Write the correct name in the document in the section called "This person is transferring the amount on my behalf".
What the person transferring on your behalf needs to do:
Write your name (the students name) on the transfer.
Should I transfer the sum entirely, or can it be sent in different parts?
You can transfer the amount in differents parts. If you do so it's important that you let us know how many parts you are transferring when you send us the reply slip.
You will get a confirmation of received payment when the full amount of money is transferred.
Can I deposit more than the given amount?
Yes, you can transfer more than the given amount.
How do I transfer the money back to my private account?
Go to USN’s service desk at your campus. There you need to sign a form with your new account information. Please remember to bring your ID.
It will take about 10 days before the money is transferred to your private account, so remember to have money available to use these days (in addition to what you have on the card).
What do I need to prepare for when opening a bank account?
When opening an account in a Norwegian bank as a foreign customer, there are several questions to answer in a electronic form before you get an invitation to visit the bank. Contact the bank closest to your campus and ask for an appointment.
Subject to change.