Corporate Immigration 2024 Comparisons

The Norwegian immigration policy differentiates between citizens from the EU, EEA and Switzerland, the Nordic countries, and citizens from nations outside of this area, known as third-country nationals.

As a result of being a part of the European Economic Area (EEA) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), Norway is bound by the principles of promoting labour market mobility, following the right of EU/EEA citizens to live and work in any member state. The Nordic agreement goes even further by simplifying bureaucratic processes when moving across borders.

For third-country nationals, Norway maintains the sovereignty to shape its immigration policies. This enables Norway to customise regulations to its labour market needs, balancing attracting global talent with protecting economic and social stability.

While EU and EEA individuals benefit from the right to free movement across the EU, third-country nationals must generally obtain a residence permit to legally work and reside in Norway.

The political discussion regarding skilled labour immigration from outside the EU/EEA, focusing on both the quantity and the expertise of these workers, has been minimal. Over the past 20 years, Norwegian policies have been progressively liberalised to boost and welcome skilled and seasonal labour workers.

The Norwegian immigration legislation includes various categories for third-country nationals, including residence permits for workers, both posted and locally employed employees, family reunification, seasonal workers, students, and humanitarian protection. A posted employee is someone who undertakes work in a different EU member state to the one in which they would normally work. This is for a limited time.

The Norwegian immigration policy aims to facilitate the recruitment of necessary labour, both from the EU/EEA and third countries. One way to achieve this is by ensuring that Norway appears as an attractive country for secondment and employment. At the same time, the guiding principle of labour immigration policy is that immigration should not displace labour from Norway or from other countries within the EU/EEA area.

One of the challenges for Norway, to become an attractive employment destination, is the procedural matters for individuals newly arrived in the country. Lengthy processing for residence permit applications, obtaining a Norwegian personal identification number, and other administrative barriers make Norway less attractive to relocate to.

The government has initiated multiple initiatives to gain insight into the impact and outcomes of current immigration policies, with the goal of developing these policies to meet the growing labour needs. The consistent aim is to recruit the necessary work labour and facilitate the integration of immigrants already living in Norway into the job market.

Third-Country Nationals

There are no specific categories labelled as “employment permit” or “work visa”. Instead, the authorisation to work is generally incorporated into a temporary residence permit.

For individuals looking to work in Norway through a sponsor-based employment visa/temporary residence permit, several options are available depending on the type and duration of work, the skill level, and the country of origin of the applicant. Here is an overview.

• Skilled worker – for skilled professionals with an employment contract with a Norwegian employer. The permit may be granted for up to three years upon first application. Subsequently, after this period, the applicant can request permit renewals for an additional two years at a time.
• Seconded employee – for skilled professionals sent from an employer abroad to a client in Norway, and for skilled professionals from an international company seconded to the Norwegian part of the company.

The permit may be issued for up to two years at a time and can be renewed successively up to a total of six years. Once this six-year threshold is met, a mandatory two-year period of absence from Norway is required before initiating a new six-year cycle.

The client or the Norwegian part of the company, must function as a representative on the residence permit application.

• Seasonal worker – in seasonal industries such as agriculture or tourism, individuals can apply for a residence permit for a duration of up to six months. This permit requires sponsorship from a Norwegian employer for the entire season. An educational background is not a requirement.

The employer in Norway is required to obtain confirmation from the authorities to verify that domestic labour from Norway or the EU/EEA is unavailable, except for positions in the agriculture and forestry industries.

• Athlete or trainer permit – for professional athletes or coaches who have been hired by a sports club or organisation in Norway.
• Researcher with own funds – individuals who do research in Norway with sufficient own funds, salary or scholarship. Collaboration with a Norwegian research institution is usually required.

Individuals From the EU/EEA

EU/EEA citizens and their family members can reside in Norway for up to three months without providing a specific reason. The only condition is to hold a valid ID card or passport and avoiding being a strain on the social welfare system.

Following the initial three months, they may extend their stay by fulfilling certain requirements and registering with the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration as an EU/EEA national. One may continue residing in Norway on various grounds, with the following being the most common.

• Employment – individuals employed by a Norwegian employer.
• Secondment – individuals seconded by a company within EU/EEA.

EU/EEA individuals in Norway can bring specific family members, including spouses, registered partners, cohabitants, children under 21, and dependent ascendant relatives (parents and grandparents).

Nordic citizens are exempted from the requirement to register as EU/EEA citizens in Norway.

Third-Country Nationals

The main unsponsored-based visas, temporary residence permits, are the following.

• Self-employed persons with a company in Norway or abroad – the individual must qualify as a skilled worker or specialised competence. The business must demonstrate a connection to Norway, either through a contract with a Norwegian client or by having a presence in Norway that is necessary for the operation of the business. Additionally, the individual should have pertinent business experience, a well-defined business plan, and access to the necessary capital while also showing the potential to contribute to the Norwegian economy.
• Students – full-time students enrolled in a college or university. Students are permitted to work part-time, up to 20 hours per week, during semesters and may work full-time during scheduled breaks. Upon completion of their studies, they may be eligible for a residence permit valid for up to 12 months to seek employment.
• Job seekers – skilled professionals from countries with visa exemption agreements with Norway may be granted a residence permit allowing them to seek employment in Norway for a duration of up to six months. Following this, they are required to remain outside of Norway for 12 months before they can apply for a new job-seeking residence permit.

EU/EEA Nationals

• Self-employed – those intending to establish and operate their own business in Norway. They must demonstrate a necessity for their presence in Norway for business operations. They are also required to have a solid business plan and sufficient capital. The business in must be a personal sole proprietorship and cannot be a limited liability company.
• Sufficient own funds – individuals with sufficient funds to support themselves without working or claiming social assistance can live in Norway. They must have comprehensive health insurance.
• Job seekers – for individuals looking for employment in Norway, there are limitations regarding how long they can stay without employment. Typically, job seekers are allowed an initial six-month period, which can be extended provided they can demonstrate they are continuing to look for work and have a reasonable chance of finding it.
• Students – students from EU/EEA countries can reside in Norway for the duration of their studies, provided they have been accepted into an approved educational institution and have a sufficient health insurance with a minimum duration of 12 months.

Third-Country Nationals

Several countries have entered into visa exemption agreements with Norway, allowing their citizens to travel and stay in Norway for up to 90 days without needing an entry or visiting visa. Third-country citizens holding a residence permit in an EU/EEA country also benefit from this exemption.

For third-country citizens needing an entry visa to Norway, the primary categories for applying for a visa are:

• tourism;
• visitors of family members; and
• business and work.

Permitted Activities

Some individuals can engage in certain activities without a residence permit. Their activities and duration of stay are subject to limitations.

Business travellers

• The business traveller can attend meetings, conferences, and contract negotiations, particularly involving planning, reporting, presentations, result handovers, and discussions at a broader level related to a contract or project. Activities associated with the actualisation of a contract or project work are not typically undertaken by business travellers and are excluded from this provision.
• The business traveller cannot have an employer based in Norway.
• The category of commercial and business travellers also includes individuals in managerial roles responsible for establishing a branch or other commercial presence in Norway.

Technical experts

• The technical experts’ allowed tasks include the installation, disassembly, inspection, repair, or maintenance of machines or technical equipment. Experts can also provide guidance on operating equipment, including devices, tools, and IT systems such as software. These tasks and activities cannot be a part of ongoing Norwegian operation.
• The expert cannot have an employer based in Norway.
• The duration of the project or task should not exceed 90 days, nor can a substitute be sent to continue the same project or tasks beyond a cumulative 90 days.
• Prior to entry into Norway, a written notification is required to be submitted to the police.

Offshore workers

• Place of work must be on a mobile installation on the Norwegian continental shelf. The installation cannot be in a fixed production phase or tied to a fixed platform.
• A written notification must be sent to the police before the employee enters Norway. The individual must meet at the police station before travelling offshore.

International company training

• The employee must be employed in an international company who has a Norwegian branch.
• The trainee can participate in an in-house defined training programme at the Norwegian branch of the company.

To qualify under these categories, the stay cannot not exceed 90 days within a 180-day period. Stays in other Schengen countries may impact this 90-day period.

Non-EU/EEA citizens intending to work remote while in Norway must have a valid residence permit.

Remote work includes tasks performed from various locations for instance hotels or homes, for either Norwegian or foreign employers, or for business activities both domestically and internationally.

However, individuals may engage in some remote work for their foreign employer or in connection with their own business activities abroad. This may include tasks such as checking and responding to emails, taking phone calls, and participating in virtual meetings. It is vital that remote work is not the primary purpose of their stay and that it does not generate value in or have ties to Norway.

Engaging in remote work for an employer or client in Norway, or as part of conducting business activities in Norway, is not permitted.

Norway does not impose specific language requirements for most visa categories.

Individuals applying for a permanent residence permit or Norwegian citizenship generally need to have completed mandatory training in Norwegian language and social studies and passed final exams or provide documentation of exemption granted by the municipality.

There are no medical certificate requirements or a requirement to have received certain vaccinations.

Individuals arriving from countries with a high incidence of tuberculosis are mandated to undergo testing if they intend to stay in Norway for more than three months.

If subject to this requirement, they must promptly reach out to the local municipal health services in their area of residence, as these authorities are responsible for conducting the tuberculosis screening.

The BCG vaccine is recommended for all children born to one or both parents from a country with a high incidence of tuberculosis.

Salary Levels

Norway does not have a statutory minimum wage that universally applies across all sectors and professions. However, minimum wage rates have been implemented in particular sectors through the formal extension of collective bargaining agreements, ensuring sector-specific wage floors for employees in these sectors.

• Construction.
• Cleaning workers.
• Hotel, restaurant and catering.
• Maritime construction industry.
• Agriculture and horticulture.
• Fish processing enterprises.
• Electricians.
• Freight transport by road.
• Passenger transport by tour bus.

When applying for a residence permit in Norway as a local employed or seconded employee, an important consideration is the presence of collective bargaining agreements or industry-specific regulations. If no collective bargaining agreement or regulations exist for that sector, offered compensation and working conditions must align with what is typically expected for their specific profession and geographic location.

Where standard wage levels are unclear or unavailable, there is a statutory requirement for employers to meet certain minimum salary conditions effective as of 1 May 2023.

• NOK448,900 per year, for roles requiring a bachelor’s degree.
• NOK480,900 per year, for roles requiring a master’s degree.

These salary tiers are adjusted annually to reflect changes in the economic climate. It is also important to be aware that only cash salary components are considered in line with the thresholds.

Qualifications

To be eligible for a residence permit in Norway as a skilled worker, an applicant must have vocational training, a craft certificate, a university degree or be qualified as having special qualifications.

• Vocational education – applicants with a vocational education of at least three years at the upper secondary level. The education must be equivalent to Norwegian vocational standards. Examples of such vocations are joiners, plumbers, and healthcare workers. General studies do not qualify.
• Craft certificate – foreign craft certificate holders must prove their education matches the Norwegian craft certificate level to be acknowledged as equally qualified.
• Tertiary vocational education – up to two-year post-secondary programme based on prior education or work experience, governed by the Vocational Education Act. Programmes shorter than one and a half years do not qualify one as a skilled worker but may be evaluated with additional education or work experience as special qualifications. Foreign technical college credentials undergo a stricter assessment.
• University-level education necessitates a completed degree including a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
• Special qualifications – an applicant may be recognised as a skilled worker through special qualifications, acquired over several years through training and work, rather than, or alongside, formal education. These qualifications must be documented and are individually assessed.

Certain professions, like doctors, nurses, and electricians, require specific approval or authorisation, which is issued by the relevant directorates or regulatory bodies responsible for overseeing these fields.

Relevance between qualifications and work tasks.

Applicants must have qualifications relevant to the job or assignment in Norway. The evaluation is made based on the job description, the employer’s explanation of the required qualifications for the position and the reasons why the applicant’s qualifications are necessary, along with the level of salary offered.

If the salary offered is low, it might imply that the position does not require the expertise typically associated with a skilled worker.

Accommodation

Applicants must also provide proof of suitable housing for their stay and work in Norway. Adequate housing is defined as access to a house, apartment, studio, or similar accommodation that meets minimum standards. If the applicant intends to rent, a copy of a written lease agreement must be included with the application.

Conduct

A residence permit application may be rejected if there are reasons justifying the refusal of entry or residence to the foreign national under other legal provisions, despite meeting all the conditions and requirements.

For skilled workers seeking employment in Norway, the general rule is full-time employment with a single employer.

However, following a specific assessment, exceptions to the full-time employment requirement for just one employer may be made. For instance, positions down to 80% full-time equivalent can be approved. On-call shifts, casual work, and similar arrangements cannot be included when calculating the percentage of employment.

Exceptions to the requirement of having employment with a single employer can also be made. It must be the applicant’s unique expertise or circumstances related to the profession that justify the exception.

The processing time for applications can vary based on the type of application, the location of submission, the current workload of the authorities, and other changes in the global landscape.

Applications for temporary residence permits based on local employment or for secondment are currently (as of June 2024) processed within eight weeks.

For family reunification cases, the processing time can extend up to 11 months. However, if family members submit their applications simultaneously with the working family member, their applications will be synchronised with the expedited eight-week processing timeline for the principal working applicant. This ensures that families are not subject to undue delays and can plan for their relocation in a timely and efficient manner.

Third-country nationals from visa-exempt countries who apply from outside Norway are permitted to enter while their applications are being processed. Those who apply from within Norway may remain but must avoid travelling within the EU/EEA if they have exceeded the allowed days in the Schengen area.

Individuals requiring an entry visa and applying from outside Norway can apply for the entry visa separately or await the outcome of their residence permit application before planning travel to Norway. Once the residence permit is approved, an entry visa is typically issued and sent to a Norwegian Embassy abroad.

There is no universal fast-track system for expediting temporary residence permit applications. While a few circumstances may qualify for priority processing, such instances are uncommon and subject to stringent eligibility criteria.

Early Employment Start

Certain local police stations in Norway can grant an early employment start, enabling an individual to commence work while their residence permit application is pending. For early employment approval, the applicant must either be:

• employed by a Norwegian employer, with a requirement of at least a three-year post-secondary degree; or
• a skilled worker employed by an international firm, seconded to work at the company’s Norwegian branch.

During this period, the employee cannot change employer or client. If the application for a temporary residence permit is denied, work authorisation under this provision immediately ceases as of the decision date.

Permit to Work During the Application Processing

This is similar to the early employment start and can be granted by both the police and the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). The permit also allows the applicant to work while their residence permit is being processed.

Upon first arrival in Norway, individuals intending to work must undertake the following steps.

• Residence permit collection – individuals must activate their residence permit within seven days of arrival. This permit validates their legal status in Norway and grants them the right to work. Collection is typically done at a local police station or at a designated service centre for foreign workers.
• Identification check – an obligatory ID check must be performed to validate an individual’s identity. They should schedule an appointment with the Norwegian Tax Administration for this process, bringing their passport and other relevant documents. At the same appointment, one may apply for a tax card.
• Tax deduction card – foreign workers must apply for a tax deduction card to ensure correct tax withholdings from their salary. When issuing a tax card, one will also receive a Norwegian ID number, temporary or permanent depending on the duration of the stay and National Population Register status. The Norwegian personal number is essential for opening bank accounts and accessing government services.
• National Population Register Registration – individuals intending to stay in Norway for over six months are required to register with the National Population Register. This registration confirms their residential status and provides them with a permanent personal identification number.

Application fees for Norwegian residence permits and visas are as follows.

• Residence permits for skilled workers – NOK6,300.
• Renewals – NOK6,300.
• Family immigration for adults – NOK11,900.
• Seasonal workers visa – NOK6,300.
• Entry/visitor’s visa for adults – EUR80.

Additional service fees apply when using a Visa Application Centre.

EU/EEA nationals can register without a fee. Residence card applications for non-EU/EEA nationals, if eligible under EU/EEA rules, are also free of charge.

The application fee for a temporary residence permit can be paid by either the applicant, the Norwegian employer, or by the Norway-based client. The fee must be paid when submitting the online application.

Authorities may enforce action against individuals or sponsors for immigration violations, for instance:

• overstaying a visa;
• providing false information or documents;
• failing to notify changes in circumstances; and
• employing individuals without work authorisation.

Consequences may include fines, expulsion orders, entry bans for a specific period, or other legal penalties.

Employers hiring foreign workers have obligations which include ensuring that employees have the necessary work permits and complying with Norwegian labour laws concerning wages and working conditions.

Penalties for non-compliance range from fines to revocation of the right to sponsor workers. In severe cases, criminal charges could be applied.

Norway has not implemented a formal Right to Work check (RTW) similarly to some other countries. Despite this, employers are legally responsible for verifying that their employees have the required permissions to work legally in the country.

Additionally, certain sectors require workers to possess a Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) card. This card is mandatory in industries like construction and is part of the measures to improve the working environment and ensure safety on work sites. Employers are responsible for applying for and providing HSE cards to their employees.

All assignments carried out by foreign contractors, and all employees working on these assignments, must be registered in the Assignment and Employee Register (OAR). This registration helps maintain oversight of foreign entities operating in Norway and ensures compliance with national labour and tax laws.

For obtaining a dependent residence permit in Norway, the recognised family relationships include:

• spouses or registered partners – individuals legally married or in a registered partnership with the primary permit holder;
• cohabitants – partners who either have shared children or have lived together continuously for a minimum of two years;
• fiancé – an individual engaged to the primary permit holder, intending to marry within six months in Norway;
• children – minors under the age of 18, or children over 18 who are still financially dependent on their parents;
• siblings – minors under the age of 18 without parents or other caretakers in their home country; and
• parents – individuals aged 60 or over who do not have immediate family in their home country.

Eligible family members may apply to join or accompany the main residence permit holder, provided they meet all relevant requirements.

A dependent visa, granted for family reunification, authorises the recipient to work in Norway without needing an additional work permit.