The aim of the provisions on family reunification is to protect already established family ties.
Primarily applies to closest family members
Primarily closest family members such as spouses, co-habitants who have lived together for at least two years and children under 18 years of age are granted a residence permit to be reunited with their family. A registered partner is considered along the same lines as a spouse. Parents and siblings of a single minor who has been granted asylum will also be counted as close family members, and also in some cases parents of children who for other reasons are resident in Norway.
More distant family members and other persons may also be granted family reunification if they have special ties to Norway, or if there are other strong human considerations. In addition to co-habints who have not lived together for at least two years and thus are not considered on equal terms as spouses, those who may be granted a residence permit will primarily be elderly parents without any of their closest relatives in the country of origin, children older than 18 years of age with special care needs or without care persons in their country of origin.