This is another post in a series about getting Visas in Norway, getting Residence Permits in Norway and anything related to traveling to or moving to Norway. For more information on other aspects of moving to and traveling to Norway please check out these posts:

• Getting A Visa To Norway
• Getting A Residence Permit (Family Immigration) In Norway
• Getting A Settlement Permit In Norway
• Residence Permits For EU/EEA/EFTA Members

You can find the following information also on UDI’s website. But the information in this post comes from pamphlets that I picked up at UDI in Oslo. I found the information on the pamphlets much easier to understand than the information I found on their websites so I decided to put that information here for you to use in addition to what they have on their site about all of these various topics.

WORK PERMITS-

A work permit allows you to work in Norway. The provisions apply to applicants from countries outside the EU/EEA/EFTA countries wishing to apply for a permit not under the EU/EEA/EFTA rules.

To obtain a work permit in Norway you must have a concrete job offer.

If you wish to apply for a work permit as a national of EU/EEA/EFTA countries, see separate information on the rules for this. A work permit pursuant to EU/EEA regulations does not constitute grounds for a settlement permit.

There are seven main types of work permit:

Skilled Worker/Specialist

Skilled workers/specialists are persons who are trained in a particular field or have special qualifications needed in Norway. Their expertise must be critical for he enterprise seeing to hire them.

The skilled worker/specialist training must be documented by a certified translation into Norwegian or English. To apply for a work permit as a skilled worker/specialist, the applicant must have a concrete job offer. As a general rule, foreign nationals who apply for work permits as specialists are to apply at the nearest Norwegian foreign service mission, but may apply from Norway if they are lawfully in the country. Applicants from countries for which a visa is required must have a visa with three months’ duration or a job applicant visa.

If it is likely that the application will be granted by the UDI, the police may issue the applicant a temporary work permit pending processing at the UDI.

A skilled worker/specialist work permit is valid for a particular job and particular place of employment. As a general rule, it must be for full-time employment. The permit is normally granted for one year at a time and is renewable. Wages and terms of employment may not be less favourable than the current collective pay agreement or those that are normal within the trade or profession in Norway.

After three years, the skilled worker/specialist has the right to apply for a settlement permit. Once the skilled worker/specialist has been granted a settlement permit, her or she is no longer tied to a particular place of employment. Skilled worker/specialists may apply for other types of residence or work permit from Norway. Members of skilled worker/specialist’s family may come to Norway in accordance with the rules pertaining to family reunification. If the family’s application is submitted at the same time as the principal person’s application, they will be processed together.

Seasonal Worker

A seasonal worker is a foreign national who is to be engaged in typical seasonal work, such as harvesting or picking berries, or as an ordinary summer holiday replacement.

A work permit for a seasonal worker may be granted for up to six months, and a new permit cannot be granted until the applicant has been abroad for six months.

Prior to applying for a seasonal work permit, the applicant must have a concrete job offer of employment and job contract. Wages and terms of employment may not be less favourable than what is normal in Norway.

A person for whom a visa is required and who is lawfully in Norway on a three-month visa and wishes to apply for a seasonal work permit may apply from Norway. Persons who are legally in Norway and are not required to have a visa may also apply from Norway. A seasonal work permit does not constitute grounds for a settlement permit.

Au Pair

An au pair is a young foreign national who works for and lives with a Norwegian family in exchange for room, board and pocket money.

The purpose of the stay must be to learn the Norwegian language and culture. The au pair must be between 18 and 30 years of age. A concrete job offer must have been made to the applicant before he or she applies, and the permit must be granted prior to entry into Norway. The permit may be granted for up to two years and does not constitute grounds for a settlement permit.

Trainee

A trainee is a person wishing to be trained in a trade or profession he or she intends to pursue in the country of origin.

The work has to be essential for the person’s qualifications and be a natural part of his or her vocational training. Trainees must generally apply for the permit from their country of origin and remain there until the permit has been granted, unless the position has been arranged by special organizations.

The permit may be granted for up to two years and does not constitute grounds for a settlement permit.

Guest Worker

A guest worker is a foreign national whose aim is to acquire knowledge of Norwegian agriculture and Norwegian culture.

The guest worker takes part in the daily chores on a farm, functioning as a part of the farm family. An applicant must have a concrete job offer before applying, and the permit must be granted prior to entry into Norway. The permit may be granted for up to three months and cannot be extended or renewed.

The permit does not constitute grounds for a settlement permit.

Worker In The Fish Processing Industry

Russian nationals from the Barents region may take employment in the fish processing industry in Troms and Finnmark if there is no available domestic labour or workers from the rest of the EU/EEA area.

There must be a concrete job offer prior to applying, and the permit must be applied for and granted before entry into Norway. The permit is granted for up to one year and does not constitute grounds for a settlement permit.

Permit For Nationals Of EU/EEA/EFTA Countries

See separate information about nationals of EU/EEA countries.

You cannot apply for a work permit immediately after an application for asylum has been rejected.

When you apply for a work permit, you must submit the following documents together with your application:

Skilled Worker/Specialist:

• Application for with (passport) photograph
• Copy of passport
• A filled-in offer of employment form or contract of employment providing the same information as the offer of employment form
• Documentation of education/training/work experience translated into English or Norwegian

Seasonal Worker:

• Application for with (passport) photograph
• Copy of passport
• Offer of employment form, preferably with a recommendation form Aetat (employment office-the recommendation shortens case processing time)

Au Pair:

• Application form with (passport) photograph
• Copy of passport
• Standard contract of employment for au pairs with information on the host family’s nationality and a description of work tasks

Trainee:

• Application form with (passport) photograph
• Copy of passport
• Standard contract of employment for trainees
• Documentation of education/training

Guest Worker:

• Application for with (passport) photograph
• Copy of passport
• Standard contract of employment (from an approved agency)

Worker In The Fish Processing Industry:

• Application form with (passport) photograph
• Copy of passport
• Offer of employment form
• Copy of “labour passport” (translated into English or Norwegian)
• Copy of certificate of residence (translated into English or Norwegian)

Documentation requirements vary from country to country and are subject to change.

All of the preceding information came from pamphlets that I picked up at Oslo’s Norwegian Directorate of Immigration

For more information on visiting or moving to Norway, check out:

• Norway - Getting A Visa
• Norway - Getting A Residence Permit/Family Immigration
• Norway - Getting A Settlement Permit
• Norway - Getting A Residence Permit For EU/EEA/EFTA Nationals