Who needs a work permit?
As a general rule, everyone who wishes to work in Norway must have a work permit. Work includes all types of job or commercial activity, paid or unpaid.
Separate rules apply for applicants from EU/EEA/EFTA countries, and Nordic citizens are fully exempt from the requirement to obtain a work permit.
Artists, performers, musicians and necessary accompanying assistans are exempt from the requirement to obtain a work permit, if the work does not exceed ten days in any one calendar year. This group must notify the police in writing before entering the country.
EU, EEA and EFTA Citizens
Citizens of European Union (EU), citizens covered by the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement and citizens covered by the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) convention have easier access to travel and reside in Norway. As a citizen of the EU/EEA/EFTA, you can freely travel to Norway and start working as soon as you arrive. You can live and work in Norway for up to three months without having to apply for a permit. If you are seeking employment in Norway, you may reside in Norway for six months without a permit.
Note however that, transitional rules apply to citizen to the following countries: Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania the Slovak Republic and Slovenia. There are strict requirements regarding the type of work, but you can start working immediately after you have submitted an application. This however assumes that, the application is accurately filled and all the requested documents are enclosed. You can still stay in Norway for up to three 3 months or for 6 months when you are seeking employment.
The remaining regulations that do not apply to workers are the same for all EU/EEA/EFTA citizens. Also those that otherwise are affected by the transitional rules.
In order to be granted a visa, the applicant must meet certain conditions and provide certain documents. If you already have a visa and you wish to extend the validity period of the visa, separate rules apply.
Where Do I Apply?
In order to be granted a visa, the applicant must meet certain conditions and provide certain documents. If you already have a visa and you wish to extend the validity period of the visa, separate rules apply.
A visa application must be made on the form for the purpose, and submitted in person to the nearest Norwegian foreign service mission. If there is no Norwegian foreign service mission in the country, another Schengen country may represent Norway. This country will then process the application on behalf of Norway.
Websites for some Norwegian foreign service missions.
More information and guidelines at
Norwegian Directorate of Immigration .