The work permit for staff which are deemed necessary to develop Norwegian trade is particularly applicable in cases where Norwegian firms are establishing themselves, or significantly expanding their business, abroad. In certain cases, the type of work which comes under this provision also falls within the rules on work permits for skilled workers/specialists.
NB: Separate rules apply for citizens of EU/EEA countries.
- You must be employed by a Norwegian company which, to a considerable extent, focuses its operations abroad.
- You must have relevant expertise for the work you will be carrying out. Your work must be related to/necessary for the Norwegian company’s business abroad.
- You must have a concrete offer of employment or employment contract.
- Your wages and working conditions must not be worse than the applicable tariff agreement or normal standard for the location and profession.
- As a rule, you must be offered full-time work with a single employer.
To apply for a work permit, you must complete an application form. The application must be submitted from your country of origin or another country where you have been legally resident for at least six months. You may not enter the country and start working before your permit has been granted. The application must be submitted to your nearest Norwegian foreign service mission (embassy, consulate general). You will also be informed of the decision regarding your application via the Norwegian foreign service mission.
Your employer may apply for you
Your employer may also apply for a work permit for you, if you give your employer written power of attorney. In this case, the application must be submitted to the police in the district in which the employer’s business is based.
Temporary permit
You may not start working until you have received a work permit.
The police may, on request, issue a
temporary permit, if they believe it is likely that your application will be granted. In this case, you must meet the conditions for submitting an application from within Norway.
In addition to a completed application form, you must include:
- A completed “offer of employment” form, or an employment contract containing the same information, which has been signed by you and your employer/client. The offer of employment or contract must detail the rights and obligations of both parties, including working hours, workplace and wage (stated in NOK), plus any supplements in the form of free board and lodging, for example.
- Documentation of your training (certificates)
- Documentation of housing in Norway
- Your birth certificate
- Copy of passport (all completed pages)
- Passport photo/other photo which meets the set requirements
- You must also pay a fee
As a main rule, it is sufficient that copies of the documents are sent with the application. However, you have to produce the original documents when you hand in your application.
All documents attached to the application have to be translated into English or Norwegian.
NB: The requirement for documentation varies from country to country, and may change over time. You should therefore check what requirements currently apply by contacting the Norwegian embassy in the country from which you are applying.
In order to avoid unnecessary case processing delays, it is important to take care when completing the application form and to include all the requested documentation.
- The permit is generally granted for one year at a time.
- The permit is linked to a particular job and a particular workplace. Therefore, you may not take any other work without first applying for a new work permit.
- The permit does not constitute grounds for a settlement permit.
- Family members may come to Norway under the rules for family immigration. If the family’s application is submitted at the same time as the application for the principal person, these will be processed together.
The permit may be granted for a total of up to four years. The permit cannot be renewed beyond that. An application for renewal of the work permit must be submitted at least one month before the current permit expires. The application must be submitted to the police where you live.
You must also pay a fee when applying for renewal.If your application for a work permit is rejected, you may appeal against this decision. If you appeal, your application will be re-examined by the UDI. The UDI may overturn the decision and grant the requested permit. If the UDI upholds the decision, the case is sent on to the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) for new consideration.
Any questions?
If you are still unsure about anything relating to how you apply for this type of work permit, you can contact your local Norwegian embassy or consulate, or
the Information Service (OTS).
