What
type of work permit should I apply for?
There are many types of work permit. Below is an alphabetical presentation
of all the permits, so that you can find the right permit for your work.
Artist/musician
This form of work permit may be granted to persons who will be working
as a musician, artist or necessary accompanying assistant.
Au pair
The au pair system allows young people to increase their language ability
and gain greater knowledge of Norway and Norwegian culture by living
with a Norwegian family. In return, they carry out tasks such as housework
and childminding for their host family.
Charity and humanitarian organisations
This form of work permit may be granted to persons who will be working
for a charity or humanitarian organisation.
Ethnic cooks
Persons offered work as ethnic cooks may be granted a work permit under
the rules on work permits for skilled workers/specialists, with certain
additional conditions.
This group covers chefs intending to work at restaurants offering ethnic/national
cuisine and to prepare food which represents the culinary traditions
of their home country. It should be noted that “ordinary”
chefs do not fall into the category “ethnic cooks ”. This
group is referred to the information under the heading Skilled worker/specialist.
Development of Norwegian trade
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.
Diplomat
Diplomats do not require a work or residence permit. However, you must
be registered with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or another
applicable Norwegian authority. This also applies to foreign nationals
who are support staff at a diplomatic or consular mission or who are
in the private employ of a diplomat.
Foreign state companies and multinational companies
This type of work permit may be granted to employees of a foreign state
company or multinational company wishing to carry out work at the company's
office in Norway.
Group permit
A group permit grants permission to employ a set number of foreign workers
for a temporary job, project, etc. Consequently, a group work permit
is not in fact a type of work permit, but a permit to recruit a group
of workers. Once they have entered Norway, foreign nationals covered
by such a permit will be given an individual permit to work in the group.
The employee cannot start work until he or she has received this individual
permit from the police.
Guest worker
A work permit for a guest worker may be granted to foreign nationals
who wish to acquire knowledge of Norwegian agriculture and Norwegian
culture. It is required that you take part in general farm work or work
in a market garden, and act as part of the family on the farm. You are
not permitted to carry out major maintenance work, construction of new
buildings or similar work. In cases where the farm runs “combination
farming”, e.g. a farm combined with a campsite, you will not be
allowed to carry out work relating to the non-farming part of the business.
Journalists/media staff
This form of work permit may be granted to persons who are journalists
or other staff of foreign newspapers, radio stations or TV stations.
Market trader
A work permit of this type may be granted to Russian citizens in the
Barents region who wish to sell Russian products at markets and municipal
cultural events.
Missionary
This form of work permit may be granted to persons who will be working
as missionaries or carrying out preaching work.
Necessary co-worker for the performance of a contract
This type of work permit may be granted to a co-worker who is considered
necessary for the performance of a contract between a company in Norway
and a company abroad.
Peace Corps participant
This permit requires you to be a participant in the Norwegian volunteer
service Fredskorpset, taken on by a Norwegian partner of this organisation.
Researcher/scholarship holder/lecturer
This permit is granted to researchers, scholarship holders and lecturers
at research institutes or educational establishments.
Seamen
There are only certain circumstances in which seamen require a work
permit in Norway.
Seasonal worker
This type of work permit may be granted for work of a seasonal nature
or as an ordinary holiday replacement.
Short term specialist
A person may be granted a work permit for up to three months as a short
term specialist if they can document that they have specialist training
or have special qualifications, and that their skills are considered
necessary for the post which they have been offered.
Skilled worker/specialist
Skilled workers/specialists are persons who have specialist training
in a particular field or have special qualifications needed in Norway.
Specialist training means vocational training equivalent to at least
three years of further education, or a university degree. Special qualifications
are skills acquired through practical work experience, possibly in combination
with a certain amount of training.
Sole trading
A work permit for sole trading may be granted to foreign nationals who
wish to start up their own business in Norway. The application must
relate to a business which is not already established. The applicant
must bear all personal responsibility for the liabilities of the business
(sole trading).
Sportsperson/trainer
This type of work permit may be granted to persons who will be participating
in sport at a high level, or who will be a sports trainer at a high
level.
Student (part-time work)
As a student in Norway, you may be granted a work permit to work part-time
alongside your studies and during the holidays.
Temporary permit
A temporary permit may be granted to persons who are entitled to apply
for a work and residence permit from Norway, when it is likely that
the permit applied for will be granted.
Trainee (vocational training)
A trainee is a person who wishes to come to Norway to train in a particular
profession. The work permit may be granted if the work is considered
essential for the person’s qualifications and a natural part of
his or her vocational training.
Work experience after completing studies
This form of work permit may be granted to persons who have completed
their studies in Norway.
Work on the continental shelf
This type of work permit may be granted to persons who will be working
on the Norwegian section of the continental shelf.
Worker in the fish processing industry
Russian nationals from the Barents region may be granted a permit to
work in the fish processing industry in Nordland, Troms and Finnmark.
A permit will not be granted if domestic labour or workers from other
EEA or EFTA countries are available.
Working holiday
This form of work permit may be granted to persons from Australia or
New Zealand who wish to take a long holiday in Norway and supplement
their spending money with odd jobs/temporary work.