- You may obtain a work permit for up to one year if you have completed your educational studies in Norway.
- You must have a concrete offer of employment or employment contract.
- You must be able to provide documentation showing that the work is essential for you to pursue your chosen profession. This documentation may be a declaration from the educational institution, a professional body or an employer in Norway or in your country of origin.
- The work does not need to be part of the studies.
- The work must provide you with professional experience and knowledge which it is not possible for you to gain by working in your country of origin. The experience and knowledge must make you better placed to pursue your profession in your country of origin.
- As a rule, you must be offered full-time work with a single employer.
- 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 you apply for this work permit at least one month before your current permit expires, you can submit your application to your police district. However, you must have held a residence permit for at least nine months.
In other cases, the following applies:
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.
However, some people may apply for a work permit from Norway.
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.
When you are applying for a working permit, the following documents must accompany the application:
- A completed “offer of employment” form, or an employment contract containing the same information, which has been signed by the employer/client and the applicant. The offer of employment or contract must detail the rights and obligations of both parties, including working hours, workplace and wage, plus any supplements in the form of free board and lodging, for example.
- Information about housing
- Statement from the educational institution or similar
- 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: When an application is submitted to a Norwegian foreign service mission: 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.
- A permit on these grounds is granted for up to one year.
- 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 cannot be extended or renewed.
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 work permit, you can contact your local Norwegian embassy or consulate, or
the Information Service (OTS).
