In general, EU and EEA citizens can move to Norway and start their life here before having to do anything regarding immigration for a couple of months. However, due to practical issues (id.number for tax, opening a bank account, registration as employee at the university etc.) SIM recommends that you do the registration as soon as possible. See below for more information regarding EU/EEA registration.

The main rule for people from not an EU/EEA country is that they should apply for residence permit from their home country. However, there is exception to this rule and especially for skilled workers (people with a university degree are considered a skilled worker). A skilled worker can apply for residence permit after entering Norway if they have a Schengen visa or don´t need a Schengen visa. (Norway is part of the Schengen area and follows the same policy for visa).  However, the processing of a residence permit usually takes a few weeks, so it makes a lot of sense to apply and receive it before you arrive. SIM recommends that you start the application process for a residence permit as soon as possible.

Read more about how to apply for residence permits below.