- A seasonal activity is a type of activity which can only be carried out for a limited part of the year, for example the harvesting of vegetables, fruit and berries. This type of work may also arise in industries such as forestry, fishing, market gardens, the restaurant sector and tourism.
- Odd jobs such as carpentry, painting or other maintenance or restoration work are not considered seasonal work.
Ordinary holiday arrangements will for most businesses be required during the main holiday period of 1 June – 30 September. However, this work permit is not restricted only to this period. It is important that the applicant is actually replacing an employee on holiday, and that this is substantiated.
There are no requirements regarding formal expertise, but you must:
- Be at least 15 years old. Those aged between 15 and 18 must have consent from their parents or others exercising parental responsibility.
- Have a concrete offer of employment set out on the “offer of employment” form, or a standard employment contract signed by you and your employer.
- It is a condition of this work permit that you return to your country of origin when your permit expires.
- You must have a concrete offer of employment or employment contract.
- As a rule, the application must relate to full-time work. The permit may be split into several permits for the same or different employers.
- The wages and working conditions must not be worse than the applicable tariff agreement, wage scale or normal standard for the location and profession. If the employer pays a piece wage, you must be ensured a minimum wage.
- NAV must consent to the granting of a first-issue work permit. NAV assesses whether the position could be filled using domestic labour or workers from another EEA/EFTA country, and that the wages and working conditions are sufficient.
- You must be ensured housing for the period to which the application relates.
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.
Some people may also apply for a seasonal work permit from Norway, if you either;
- Have a residence or work permit lasting three months or more
- Have been granted a visa for three months
- Are entitled to live in Norway for three months without a permit (i.e. without a visa)
- Have been granted a visa, i.e. job seeker's visa, for a period of less than three months, or
- Qualify as a skilled worker/specialist and are able to document your qualification/education
It is also a condition that you are not living in Norway while applying for asylum or while waiting to leave the country following a failed asylum application.
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.
Specific, simplified rules apply for those seeking seasonal work in agriculture or forestry. However, these will not apply to you, if you require a visa and are located abroad. To use the simplified rules, you must fill in
the form “Offer of short term seasonal work in agriculture or forestry. Application for a work permit”. The form is both an application and an offer of employment form. It is always the employer who sets in motion the application process by contacting the local NAV employment office in order to gain advance approval. In this case, there is an exception to the general rule that the employer must have written power of attorney from you.
In addition to a completed application form, you must include:
- A completed “offer of employment” form, or an employment contract which has been signed by you and your employer. The offer of employment or contract must detail the working hours, workplace and wage (stated in NOK), plus any supplements in the form of free board and lodging, for example. The duration of the offer of employment must be clearly stated. If you have several employers, you must include an offer of employment or employment contract from each one.
- Documentation that you are ensured housing for the period to which the application relates.
- Any power of attorney given to the employer(s).
- Copy of passport (all completed pages)
- Passport photo/other photo which meets the set requirements
- You must also pay a fee
When using the simplified rules for agriculture and forestry, you must provide:
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.
Case processing times vary. For an overview of average processing times for the various types of permit, visit
www.udi.no/caseprocessingtime. You can also
contact the Information Service (OTS) by e-mail or by calling (+ 47) 23 35 16 00.
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.
- A permit for seasonal work may be granted for up to six months. Those six months may be split into several permits for the same or different employers. If you wish to change employer after the work permit has been granted, you must submit a new application.
- The permit does not constitute grounds for a settlement permit or family immigration.
The permit for seasonal work cannot be renewed.
If the permit is granted for a period of less than six months, the permit may be extended up to the total period of six months. It is only possible to extend permits which remain valid. You must therefore apply for an extension before your current permit expires.
If you have had a seasonal work permit for six months, you may only obtain a new seasonal work permit once you have lived outside Norway for six months.
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 a permit to work as a seasonal worker, you can contact your local Norwegian embassy or consulate, or
the Information Service (OTS).
