• Who can obtain a work permit for a youth exchange (working holiday)?
• How do I apply?
• What must the application include?
• How long will it take to process my application?
• Permit holder’s entitlement 
• Can the permit be renewed or extended?
• May I appeal if my application is rejected?
  

Who can obtain a work permit for a youth exchange (working holiday)?

• You must be a Canadian citizen residing in Canada. 
• You must have turned 18 and be no older than 35 years of age at the time of application.
• The aim of the stay must be one of the following categories:
  1) Work training: You have a higher education and wish to obtain further training through a work situation. Moreover, you wish to increase your knowledge of the Norwegian language, society, and culture.
  2) Studies: You are studying in Canada and wish to complete parts of your studies at a university or college in Norway based on a bilateral exchange agreement.
  3) Visiting a workplace: You are to visit a business in Norway as part of your studies or training. This applies both to paid and unpaid work.
  4) Holiday job: You are studying at a university or college in Canada, and wish to work in Norway during a holiday from your place of study.
  5) Tourist: You are going to be on holiday in Norway. During your stay, you may work in order to supplement your finances.
• You must have sufficient funds to cover your stay in Norway. This means that you must document your ability to fund your living expenses for the first three months of your stay. The amount must comply with the rates for student loans for higher education prescribed by the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund. The requirement for funding for the first part of your stay may also be met through an income from employment. If so, it must be documented that you have a specific offer of employment from the first day of your stay.
• You must document that you have a return ticket or sufficient funds that are meant to be spent on the return ticket.  
• You must have an insurance taken out in Canada which covers, among other things, expenses in connection with a possible hospitalization and repatriation. The insurance must be valid during your entire stay in Norway.

A more precise definition of the terms of permission for youth exchange (working holiday) may be found in Foreigner Regulation Section 4a, Second Subsection, Letter e.
 

How do I apply?

To apply for a work permit, you have to fill in an application form. The application is to be submitted to your closest Norwegian foreign service mission (embassy, general consulate, consulate) in Canada. You may not enter the country until the application has been granted. You will also receive a response to your application through the foreign service mission.
 
Certain people may apply for a work permit from within Norway.
 

Temporary permit

You may not start working until you have received the work permit. On request, the police have an opportunity to issue a temporary permit if they believe it is likely that your application will be granted. In that case, you must meet the conditions for submitting an application from within Norway. 
 

What must the application include?

In addition to a completed application form, you must (submit): 

• Copy of passport
• Documentation proving secured subsistence
• Documentation showing funds for home journey/return ticket
• Documentation of health insurance coverage
• Document/state the purpose of your stay
• Passport photo/other photo that meets the set requirements
• Pay a fee

As a main rule, it is sufficient that you enclose copies of the documents with the application; however, you are then required to produce the original documents when you hand in your application. A translation of the documents into Norwegian or English must also be attached to the application. 
 

How long will it take to process my application?

The case processing time varies somewhat. For an overview of average processing times for the various types of applications, please visit www.udi.no/caseprocessingtime. You may also contact the Information Service (OTS).
 
To avoid unnecessary case processing delays, it is important to be accurate when filling out the application form and to make sure that all the requested documentation is enclosed. 
 

Permit holder’s entitlement

• The work permit provides general entitlement to take on work in Norway. 
• The permit is generally granted for one year.
• The permit does not constitute grounds for a settlement permit.
• Family members may come to Norway according to the rules for family immigration. If the family’s application is submitted at the same time as the application for the principal person, the applications will be processed together.

Can the permit be renewed or extended?

The permit may be renewed, but the overall duration of the permit may not exceed two years. 
 
An application for renewal of the work permit must be submitted at least one month prior to the expiration of the previous permit. The application is to be submitted to the police in the district where you live. You have to pay a fee when applying for a renewal.
 

May I appeal if my application is rejected?

If your application for a work permit is rejected, you may appeal the decision. If you appeal, your application will be re-examined by the Directorate of Immigration (UDI). The UDI may reverse the decision and grant the application. In the opposite case, the application will be sent to the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) for new consideration.   
 

Further questions?

If you still have questions relating to how you apply for a work permit in connection with a working holiday in Norway, you may contact your local Norwegian embassy or consulate, or the Information Service (OTS).