Seamen

There are only certain circumstances in which seamen require a work permit in Norway.

Who is exempt from the requirement for a work permit for seamen?
Definitions relating to the term “foreign service”

Who is exempt from the requirement for a work permit for seamen?

Foreign seamen on foreign-registered vessels transporting goods or passengers between Norwegian ports are exempt from the requirement for a work permit.
The Immigration Act does not apply to Norwegian ships in foreign service. Crew on such ships are therefore not required to obtain a work permit.

Definitions relating to the term “foreign service”:

Norwegian fishing vessels delivering catches to Norwegian ports are not considered to be in foreign service
Norwegian ships which take on board goods or passengers in a Norwegian port and deliver the goods or offload the passengers in a Norwegian port are not considered to be in foreign service. However, such ships are considered to be in foreign service if the ship is covered by the regulation on expanded trade area for cargo ships registered in the Norwegian International Ship Register (NIS) (forskrift om utvidet fartsområde for lasteskip registrert i Norsk Internasjonalt Skipsregister (NIS))

For ships which call at a Norwegian port, special rules apply regarding permission to resign from a position on a ship, permission to disembark and duty to report.

If you do not fall into any of these categories, you are required to obtain a work permit for seamen. The type of work permit you require depends on the type of work. See How do I apply for a work permit?

Any questions?

If you are still unsure about anything relating to how you apply for a work permit, you can contact your local Norwegian embassy or consulate, or the Information Service (OTS).