The unique nature of Roving Scholar grants was confounding for many years, but in late 2023 Norwegian immigration authorities (UDI) concluded that Rovers are carrying out cultural work and therefore should apply for residence permits for “Exchange programmes, culture and organisational work.” This has since been expanded to encompass participants in the Fulbright program who “…fall outside the rules on residence permits for students and residence permits for researchers with own funds.”
Thus, Roving Scholars, English Teaching Assistants, and master-level student grantees who will be conducting research should apply for an exchange program permit.
To apply, use UDI’s online application portal and be sure to use an email address that you will continue to have access to after your grant starts.Click on “Application for Residence for Work.”
When you get to the question that asks what type of work you will be doing, select “Exchange programmes, culture, and organisational work”
For the next question select “Cultural stay in Norway” and then “Other types of cultural stay in Norway.”
If you are a student grantee, please don’t let the amount of funds you are supposed to have scare you. UDI knows that our student grants are less than what is listed there and have agreed that Fulbright grantees applying for this kind of permit will instead need to document that they will meet the same financial requirement as for student and researcher with own funds permits. Our grants exceed this amount.
If in doubt about what type of permit to apply for, please contact the Fulbright office.