Norway is a Northern country in Europe that maintains its high standard of living. A Norway work visa, also known as a Residence permit for work purposes, is required from non-EU citizens who want to work in Norway for longer than 90 days. To live and work in Norway for more than three months, you need to obtain a Work Visa for Norway. In this post, I will tell you about the Norway Work Visa Process, the Norway work visa requirements 2024, and the types of Norwegian work visas.
Advertisements
Norway offers many types of work visas such as Skilled workers, seasonal workers, Job seeker visas, and Vocational training. The type of residence permit you are applying for depends on your residency, the type of work, and your employment contract. The most important thing is to understand the Norway work visa process and how you can apply for one. Details on how to apply for a Norway skilled worker visa, the Norway visa application process, and Norway immigration requirements are given below.
About Norway Work Visa Process
First let us tell you the types of work visas, their requirements, and then how you can apply. Application process in general varies from country to country.
Types of Norway Work Visa
Advertisements
If you wish to work in Norway you need a residence permit for work. There are different types of residence permits for work are available:
- Skilled workers
- Seasonal workers
- Job seekers
- Exchange programs, culture, and organizational work
- Vocational training and research.
A “Work” Visa for Norway is generally called a Residence permit for work.
Below I have described each residence permit:
Advertisements
1. Norway Skilled Worker Residence Permit
The Skilled worker is the most common and popular type of work visa for Norway. After three years, you can apply for a permanent residence permit in Norway.
To Apply for the Skilled worker permit, one needs to qualify for the following requirements:
- Job offer for a Norwegian employer.
- University Degree or Vocational Training.
The demand for skilled workers in Norway is high, particularly in the following sectors: oil and gas, healthcare, IT, and engineering.
To get more information on skilled worker permits kindly visit this website: https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/work-immigration/skilled-workers/
Select your country where you are from. It will pop up the details.
2. Residence Permit for Seasonal workers
The seasonal residence permit can be granted only in forestry, agriculture, fish processing industry, tourism industry, and restaurant industry at a special time of the year. You must have a job before you apply for a residence permit.
The work must be full-time for the whole period you will be staying here. You do not need vocational training.Carpentry, painting, and other trades are not considered seasonal work.
Read more about Norway’s Seasonal Residence permit: https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/work-immigration/seasonal-workers/
3. Job Seeker Residence Permit
You are coming to Norway to look for work? Check whether you are eligible for the Norway Job seeker visa or not. You must have enough money to support yourself. NOK 24 713 per month.
Check Norway’s Job Seeker Visa requirements: https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/work-immigration/job-seekers/
4. Residence Permit for Exchange Programs, Culture, and Organizational work
If you are an artist, performer, musician, an employee of a humanitarian/non-profit/religious organization, you can be granted a residence permit in Norway.
5) Residence Permit for Vocational training and Research
This type of residence permit is for those who want to carry out some research or do training in Norway. Trainee:
- For students who are to be trainees in Norway.
Researchers with own funds:
- For researchers who are to carry out research in Norway, but who do not have a Norwegian employer.
Read more about this permit: https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/work-immigration/vocational-training-and-research/.
Eligibility Criteria for the Norway Work Visa
- You must be 18 years old
- You have one of these qualifications:You have completed higher education
- You have completed a vocational education
- You have “special qualifications” that make you eligible for the job.
- You have found a job with an employer in Norway.
- The job is full-time.
- The job does not pay less than it would pay a Norwegian citizen.
- You do not have a criminal background.
Documents Checklist for Norway Work Visa
When you apply, you must always hand in several supporting documents to the police or embassy. UDI has made checklists explaining which documents you need to hand in.
- Visit this website: https://www.udi.no/en/word-definitions/checklists-which-explain-which-documents-you-must-hand-in-with-your-application/
- Check the list of documents required for the one you are applying for.
- Select your country of residence.
How to Apply for the Norway Work Visa Online?
The application form for a Norway visa must be completed online. To launch an online application, please follow the steps below:
- You must have a Job offer from a Norwegian employer.
- Identify the type of residence permit for work you want to apply.
- Select your country of citizenship first. You can do that from https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/work-immigration/
- Then it will list out the type of work visas that are available depending on your nationality.
- Select the residence permit type depending on your situation such as skilled worker, seasonal, or job seeker.
- You must pay an application fee, submit all documents, and apply online from the above link by following steps.
Note: Your Employer can also apply for your work visa on your behalf.
- If your employer applies for the Norway Work Visa on your behalf, You gather the required documents for a Norway Work Visa.
- You Complete the online application on the UDI website.
- You send copies of the required documents to your employer along with written authorization for them to apply on your behalf.
- Your employer hands in the completed application to the Residence Permit and Protection Services of the Norwegian police or a Service Centre for Foreign Workers (SUA), depending on which Norwegian district they are in.
- The police or SUA will forward the application to the UDI.
- After applying online, you have to submit your completed online application form and documents to the nearest Norwegian Embassy or Visa Application Center.The Embassy/VAC will forward your application to the UDI in Norway.
- If you typically need a visa to enter Norway, then the UDI will send the entry visa to the Embassy or VAC where you submitted your application.
Norway Work Visa Fees
- Most applicants will have to pay an application fee. The updated prices of the Norway work Visa can be found at: https://www.udi.no/en/word-definitions/fees/
Duration of the Norway Work Visa
A Norway Work Visa (i.e. Residence Permit for Work) is valid for two years. After living continuously for three years in Norway you are eligible to apply for Permanent residency.
Apply Online for a Norway Work Visa through the UDI Website
Once you decide to apply for a Norwegian Work Visa, your first step should be to visit the UDI website, where you have to complete the online application, and select your nationality, type of residence permit, etc.
Norwegian Embassies List
You can also ask the Norway embassy that is present in your country about the process to obtain a Norway work visa. To do this please visit this website and select your country. https://www.norway.no/en/.
Advertisements
