Norway combines a high standard of living, an unusual landscape and a broad range of professional opportunities, which makes it a common destination for skilled workers from abroad. Working in Norway offers international experience as well as life in a country with strong welfare provision and economic stability.
To work legally in Norway you need the correct residence permit, and the type depends on your job and your qualifications. This guide explains the Norway work visa application step by step.
Why work in Norway?
Norway has become one of the more sought-after places to work, for reasons that include:
- No single statutory minimum wage; pay is set by collective agreement, with legally binding minimum rates in several sectors
- A working week capped at 40 hours by law, and 37.5 hours under many collective agreements
- Statutory paid holiday of 21 weekdays a year, counted as 25 working days under the Holiday Act
- Sick pay at 100 per cent of salary, paid by the employer for the first 16 calendar days
The tax system is also part of the appeal:
- Ordinary income is taxed at a flat rate of 22 per cent, with an additional bracket tax that rises with income.
- Lower earners therefore pay proportionately less.
- Inheritance and gift tax were abolished in 2014.
- Municipal property tax is set by each municipality. Where it is levied, the rate on residential and holiday property is between 1 and 4 per mille, that is 0.1 to 0.4 per cent of the assessed value.
From Aval Visa: if you are planning to study in Norway instead, read our full guide to the Norway student visa.
Types of Norway work visa
Norway follows a pattern familiar from the EU and EEA: any stay for work longer than 90 days requires a permit. Most employees will need one of the following:
- Residence permit for work (formerly the work permit): for people who intend to live and work in Norway for more than 90 days. It is issued by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI).
- Skilled worker permit: for applicants with a recognised qualification or specialist skills and a concrete job offer in Norway.
- Seasonal worker permit: for temporary roles in sectors such as agriculture and tourism, or to cover for permanent staff during peak periods.
- Self-employed person permit: for people who intend to set up and run their own business in Norway.
- Job seeker permit: allows graduates of Norwegian institutions, and skilled workers in some cases, to stay in Norway and look for qualifying work.
Norway work visa requirements
For most work permits you will need:
- A concrete job offer from a Norwegian employer
- Qualifications and skills relevant to the role
- Pay and conditions at Norwegian standard levels for that job
- Sufficient means to support yourself
- Documented accommodation in Norway
Documents needed for a Norwegian work permit
A Norway work visa application requires a substantial document set. If you will work for more than one employer, in non-continuous employment, or in work that requires separate authorisation, include documentation for each.
- Passport
- The long-stay residence permit application form, completed and signed in the UDI application portal
- A recent passport photograph with a white background
- Proof of accommodation
- The UDI offer of employment form
- The employment contract, or the business contract for self-employment
- Evidence of pay, through the contract
- Educational certificates
- Evidence of work experience, plus a CV
- Employer documents, such as the power of attorney form from the UDI website
- Proof of residence in a third country, for example Turkiye or the United Arab Emirates, if applicable
- The completed and signed checklist from the UDI website
How to apply for a Norway work visa
To work in Norway, you apply for a residence permit for work. The process runs as follows.
Apply online: go to the official website of the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) and complete the online residence permit application.
Step 2, submit documents: after completing the online application, print the cover sheet and prepare it with your supporting documents. These are handed in at the Norwegian embassy or the relevant visa application centre.
Step 3, employer submission where relevant: an employer may apply on the employee’s behalf. To do so, the employer must:
- collect the required documents
- complete the UDI online form
- hold written authorisation from the employee to act on their behalf
Step 4, employer hands in the application: the employer submits the documents and completed form to the Norwegian police (residence and asylum section) or to a Service Centre for Foreign Workers (SUA) in the same city. The file is then forwarded to UDI.
Step 5, wait for the decision: the assessment can take up to eight weeks. The employee may not start work in Norway until the decision has been issued.
What to do once your Norway work visa is approved
Once the permit is granted, you receive a residence card that allows you to live and work in Norway. You must report to the local police within seven days of arrival, and if you will stay longer than six months you need a Norwegian national identity number (fodselsnummer). If you want to extend your stay, you apply to renew the permit, and after several continuous years of living and working in Norway you can apply for permanent residence.
Norway work visa processing time
Assessment of a Norwegian work permit application can take up to eight weeks from the date it is submitted. Do not start work until you have the formal decision.
Norwegian embassies and consulates handle a large volume of applications, and files that involve verifying educational qualifications can take longer. If documents are missing, the embassy will contact the applicant.
Norway work visa and work permit fees
| Application type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Work residence permit (including renewal) | NOK 6,300 |
| Group permit for an employer (per employee) | NOK 6,300 |
| Au pair permit (including renewal) | NOK 9,300 |
| Permit for self-funded researchers | NOK 5,400 |
Renewing a Norway work visa
The Norway work visa is formally a residence permit for work. A skilled worker permit is usually granted for up to three years, or for the length of the job offer if that is shorter. You apply to renew before the permit expires, and if the renewal is granted the permit continues on the same basis. After three years of continuous residence in Norway on a work permit you can apply for permanent residence, which is issued without an expiry date and allows you to stay in Norway indefinitely.
The best job boards for finding work in Norway
If you intend to work in Norway, established job boards are the most efficient way to find a suitable role. They let you search vacancies, submit a CV and learn what Norwegian employers expect.
- Work in Norway is the official site for migrants and job seekers, covering how to find work, obtain a residence permit and understand Norwegian employment rules.
- NAV (Arbeidsplassen) is the Norwegian labour and welfare administration’s own job portal.
- Jobbnorge and Finn.no are among the most used portals for vacancies across Norwegian sectors, and both accept online applications.
- EURES, the EU job mobility portal, lists Norwegian and other European vacancies and is useful for applicants based abroad.
- Other options include Jobbsafari, KarriereStart.no, LinkedIn and international agencies such as Adecco and Manpower, which offer placement and career advice.
Prepare your CV in English or Norwegian and register on these sites. Norwegian language skills materially improve your chances in most sectors.
Applying for a Norway work visa with Aval Visa
A Norway work visa application can be complex and slow, but working with Aval Visa makes the route clearer. Our advisers help you choose the right permit type, assemble the required documents and complete the application forms. We work with both employers and applicants so that files are submitted correctly the first time.
Aval Visa can help you assess and apply for the full range of Norwegian work permits, including skilled worker, seasonal, self-employed and job seeker routes. We also provide current information on pay levels, residence conditions and the legal requirements for working in Norway. Contact our team to start your application.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I bring my family? Yes. A spouse and children under 18 can join you through family immigration permits, which they apply for separately.
- Can I change jobs? To change employer, or to continue working after your permit expires, you must apply for a new or renewed permit.
- How often are Norwegian work permits refused? Published figures put the refusal rate for Norwegian work permits at roughly 8.7 per cent, so most applications are granted. No outcome can be guaranteed, but a complete and accurate file is the single biggest factor in your favour.
- Does Norway have a digital nomad visa? Norway has no dedicated digital nomad visa. There is a self-employed person permit for independent contractors, but it requires Norwegian clients and has its own income conditions.
- Do I need IELTS for a Norway work visa? No. A long-stay permit application does not require IELTS or any other English test. That said, documented English or Norwegian can help you find work in the first place.
