In order to reside and work in Norway, one must get a Norway work visa also called a Norwaign residence permit. A skilled worker visa is the basic kind of Norwaign visa. This is granted to a person hired by an employer in Norway.
Types of Norway work visa
There are different types of Norway work visas depending upon the field of the applicant.
- Norway seasonal work visa
If you are selected for a temporary job or the job that will need you for a specific duration of the year. Then you can apply for this visa. Before applying, there must be a job offer for you. This job must be verified by the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV).
- Norway job-seeker visa
This visa is for skilled workers. These workers must have completed their studies in Norway. The authorities give them permission to live and search for a job in Norway even without a job offer.
- Vocational training and research visa
This visa is for students who will participate in training as part of their higher education courses or for self-funded researchers who are not hired by a Norwegian enterprise.
- Work visa for artists
This is a short-term visa for musicians, performers, and artists who will be performing in Norway. A maximum stay of 14 days is permitted.
- Norway working holiday visa
This kind of visa is granted to youngsters who are under 31 years. These adults must be from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand. This visa permits them to do jobs and live in Norway for a year.
Criteria to get Norwaign work visa
There have been set proper criteria for the applicants who are eligible to get the Norwaign work visa. The different requirements are as follows:
- Qualification
The applicant must have:
- Higher education degree,
- Vocational education degree,
- If he/she does not hold the higher education, they must have a specific degree, which can compensate for this requirement.
- Employment (job offer)
The requirements regarding the employment of the applicant are:
- The employer in Noway hires the applicant for a particular post,
- The job should be full time,
- The salary criteria set for you must be that much, that employer will pay to any Norway residents.
- Other requirements
Following requirements are also essential:
- You must not be a culprit,
- The age must be above 18.
Documentation
To apply for a Norway work permit, you will have to submit the documents given below:
- Copy of the passport. You can also deliver the used pages of your passport too,
- Application form. On the UDI website, you get the application form. This will be in pdf form. After filling it, make sure to attach it along with your documents,
- Two professional images, which must be clicked recently. Moreover, the background must be white,
- Verification about your residence in Norway. For this purpose, you will have to give a written agreement regarding your plans for your residency in Norway. For example, how and where you will manage your residency,
- Contract form with your employer. This will be filled up by your employer. You can find it on the UDI website,
- Your monthly salary must meet the requirements set by the authorities. The contract form uploaded by your employer will also explain the salary,
- Documents verifying your degrees and qualifications,
- Work experience history; if you have worked previously, then your ex-employer will give you a letter showing the duration of the job and your performance,
- Resume or CV,
- Checklist of the documents which you can get from the UDI website,
- The power of attorney form in case, you are submitting the application form via your employer.
Documents required if you reside not in your country of origin
The documents needed according to the situation from where you are applying for a permit are given below:
- In case, you are residing in a state other than your own then you will give the verification that your residation there is lawful. Additionally, you will verify that you are holding a residence permit for at least previous 6 months,
- If you are applying for a permit while living in Norway, then you will have to prove that you are living according to laws.
Other documents
There will be some extra documents required according to your position, for example:
- If the offer of the job is not permanent,
- If you are working for more than one employer at a time.
Essential consideration regarding the documents
Keep these things in your mind before the submission of documents:
- The submitted documents will be original, also with their copies,
- In case your employer is applying from your side, then just copies will be required,
- Yout must have your documents translated in English as well as in Norwayegian,
Application procedure
After the confirmation of your job, you will have to submit the application online. The detailed procedure is:
- Norwegian Directorate of Immigration ( NDI) is a website, from where you will get an application form. You will have to fill all the requirements of the form,
- Attach all necessary and required documents with your application form,
- Submit the application form with documents to Embassy or any other visa application center,
- If you are applying for it while living in Norway, then submit the application form and the documents in Norway,
- If your employer is submitting the application from your side, then send the documents to him/her.
Possibilities to apply for the work permit
There are three possibilities for it:
- You are applying yourself for the work permit from your home country,
- You are applying yourself for the work permit from Norway,
- Your employer is applying from your side.
Now we will discuss the procedure of application for these conditions.
You are applying yourself for the work permit from your home country
The procedure in this situation will be as follow:
- Fill the application form available on the UDI website,
- Attach all the documents with your application form,
- Submit it to any embassy near your location,
- UDI in Norway will receive your application via the embassy.
If you need a visa to land in Norway
In this situation, there is no requirement to apply for an entry visa. This visa will be given to the embassy by UDI in Norway. This visa will be enough to allow your entrance into Norway.
If you have an exemption from visa
In this case, you can and into Norway within the given period of time. There will be nothing requirements from the authorities for you.
You are applying yourself for the work permit from Norway
In this case, follow the given steps:
- On the UDI website, fill up the application form online,
- Attach all the documents which are required,
- Submit these documents Residence to Permit and Protection Services of the Norwegian police or to a Service Centre for Foreign Workers (SUA). Well, this is totally dependent on which district of Norway you are living in,
- UDI will receive your application via police or Sua.
Important note!
You will have to apply for a temporary visa, known as a Norwegian entry visa. This visa will be required just to submit the application. You will be eligible to work after getting the Norwaign work permit.
Your employer is applying on your behalf
For this, the procedure is:
- Keep all your documents in your hand before the filling of application,
- Your employer will apply online through the UDI website,
- You will have to send all the required documents to the employer. Additionally, send a letter written and signed by you. This will verify that you are giving your employer permission to submit the application,
- Your employer will submit these documents to Residence to Permit and Protection Services of the Norwegian police or to a Service Centre for Foreign Workers (SUA). This is dependent on which district of Norway you are residing in,
- Via police or SUA, the application will be hand over to the UDI.
Important things to consider
Before applying for the work permit
If you are someone looking to apply for a Norway work permit, then your first priority must be to visit the UDI website. You will have to examine all the procedures. The procedures will vary with the situations depending upon your degrees, nationality, and the possibility to apply like through yourself or via an employer.
After landing in Norway
What will you do when you will successfully enter Norway? Your first priority must be a visit to the police station to get the residence card. Via the UDI application portal, you will arrange a meeting before the visit. You must arrange for this meeting within 7 days after your entrance to Norway.
Duration required for processing
After the submission of the application, your application will get the verification after almost 1 and half months to 2 months.
If you are applying while living in Norway, you will not be eligible to do the job until getting the work permit.
Charges for the Norway work visa
For applying for the work permit, the charges are NOK 6,300 / USD 690. This is the same amount that you pay to renew your work visa.
You can pay these charges via debit card after the submission of the application. If you are not submitting the application through an embassy or consulate, (via any visa agency or visa application center), then you will have to pay the additional charges.
Validity of the Norway work visa
The expiration date of the Norway work visa will be 2 years after its issuance. Next, if you want to live for a more time period in Norway, then you can renew your work permit for the next 2 years before its expiration. After spending successive 3 years in Norway, you can apply for permanent residency.
Procedure to renew Norway work visa
For this purpose,
- Fulfill an online application at the UDI website,
- Pay the charges for the application,
- Arrange a meeting with police services,
- Submit the application with documents.
Tip
Submit the application form 3 months before the expiration of the work visa. The reason is it will take time to arrange the meeting and processing of the application.
Documentation for the renewing of the work visa
You will have to submit:
- Passport with its used pages,
- The cover letter. This letter will be sent to you after the submission of your application on your mentioned email,
- Job letter. You can download it via the UDI website,
- Proof of your salary for the past 3 months,
- Extra documents if needed.
Medical insurance for the foreign workers in Norway
You will be eligible for the Norwegian national healthcare system once you obtain a Work Permit. This signifies you’ll be allocated a general practitioner (called in Norwegian as a fastlege), who you should contact if you have any health problems.
Norway’s healthcare system is subsidized by the government and financed with public funds. Anyone beyond the age of 16 must, however, pay up to $260 per year for doctor’s appointments and treatment. If your treatment costs more than this, you will be given an exemption card and will be able to get free therapy for the remainder of the year. This assures that if you become very ill, you will not be saddled with large medical expenditures.
You can also subscribe to an international health insurance plan if you want extra services like:
- Treatment in private hospitals,
- Insurance in case you have to be evacuated,
- Coverage if you travel back home for whatever purpose.
Bringing your family to Norway
Yes, you can apply for the Norway family visa to bring your family to Norway. The list of the family members who are allowed are:
- Your partner, husband/wife,
- The mate with which you are living for the past 2 years. Additionally, you both are going to be parents. For this, the age of both must be above 24,
- Your kids under the age of 18,
- If the children are above 18, they must be:
- In age between 18 to 21,
- Unmarried,
- Having a Norway residence permit in past,
- Not Independent, just depends upon you even in case of illness.
Important note!
If you want to bring your family to Norway, your wages must be NOK 264 264 annually pre-tax, which is approximately USD 29,000.