Transitional scheme
Norway has introduced transitional rules for employees from eight of the ten new EU states – Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and Slovenia – who apply independently for an EU/EEA permit. These applicants must, for example, have a concrete offer of employment for a full-time job that complies with pay and working-condition requirements. They must also submit a fully completed confirmation of employment form, or a contract of employment with item 5 of the confirmation of employment form filled in and signed by both the employer and employee. Employees from Cyprus and Malta do not come under this transitional scheme.
For self-employed persons, service providers and service recipients, persons receiving fixed regular benefits or who have private means of a certain amount, and students, the same rules apply as for other EU/EEA nationals. Nor do employees who have had legal residence and employment in Norway for the last year come under the transitional scheme.
Simpler procedure for EU nationals
All EU nationals may apply free of charge for a residence permit in Norway pursuant to the EU/EEA regulations. This permit may be applied both from the country of origin and from Norway. The procedure for processing EU/EEA permits is simpler than the procedure for processing other types of residence or work permits. The rules allow either the employee or the employer to apply for a residence permit. The EU/EEA permit confers an entitlement to reside and work in Norway, but does not constitute grounds for a settlement permit.
Longer stay in Norway
One of the most important changes for job seekers from the new EU states is that they may stay in Norway for up to three months, or six months if they register with NAV (the national employment service) as job seekers. After this period of time they must leave Norway, but they may return to seek employment whenever they want to. During the time they stay in Norway they may not commence work until they have been granted a residence or work permit. They must also register with the Population Register in the district where they settle in Norway.
The transitional rules for nationals of the new EU states shall initially apply for two years. They will be evaluated on an ongoing basis.
Fact sheet on residence permits that confer entitlement to take employment for nationals of the new EU states, and the transitional rules
