Family immigration applies primarily to the closest family members
To be granted a permit for family immigration, certain requirements must be met by the foreign family members applying for a permit and by the person in Norway they are applying to join. In addition the person who is settled in Norway must be able to ensure subsistence and housing for those applying for family immigration.
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 united 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 immigration if they have special ties to Norway, or if there are other strong human considerations. In addition to co-habitants 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.
Also see the Directorate of Immigration's (UDI) information on family reunification.