Russian citizens from the Barents Region who plan to work as unskilled labour in the counties of Nordland, Troms or Finnmark can be granted residence permits for up to two years. This is only possible as long as labour is not available in Norway or from the EEA or EFTA area.
Разрешение на пребывание в стране на срок до двух лет может быть дано российским гражданам из Баренц-региона, не имеющим профессионального образования и намеревающимся работать в округах Нурланн, Тромс и Финнмарк. Разрешение не будет дано при наличии мест
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Who can be granted a residence permit for unskilled workers?
To apply for a permit pursuant to this provision, you must be a Russian national living in the Barents Region. The region consists of Murmansk Oblast, the Republic of Karelia, Arkhangelsk Oblast and Nenets Autonomous Okrug. You need to have lived in the Barents Region for at least one year
It is a requirement that the job cannot be filled by Norwegian labour or labour from the EEA or EFTA area. Your employer must obtain a statement from the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) about this, and we can process your application sooner if you enclose this with your application.
If you are an unskilled worker and the work you are going to do requires skilled worker qualifications, you cannot be granted a permit pursuant to the unskilled labour provision, but you can apply for a permit pursuant to the provisions concerning skilled workers.
What requirements apply to the employment relationship?
To apply for a residence permit as an unskilled worker, you must have received a concrete offer of employment in Nordland, Troms or Finnmark. The offer of employment is concrete if it contains a description of the job you are to do, the number of hours a week you will be working and your hourly pay.
As a rule, you must have received an offer of full-time employment from one employer.
The pay and working conditions must not be poorer than those stipulated in the applicable collective agreement or pay scale. If such a collective agreement or pay scale does not exist, the pay and working conditions must not be poorer than is normal for the place and occupation.
How to apply
Check where to hand in your application
- If you are outside Norway you hand in your application at a Norwegian embassy or consulate in your home country or the country where you have held a residence permit for the last six months. In some countries you will hand in the application at the Swedish or Danish embassy instead. Check here where to hand in the application.
- If you are in Norway, you can apply from here if you have held another type of permit for the past nine months. You can also apply from Norway if you have skilled worker qualifications. Read about entry visa for skilled workers. You must be in Norway legally, and you cannot be an asylum seeker.
Learn more about who can apply from Norway
Find out if you should apply online
You should register your application online if you apply from Norway or through a Norwegian embassy You cannot register your application online if you hand in the application at a Swedish or Danish embassy.
If you hand in the application at a Swedish or Danish embassy you must fill in a form on paper and hand it in at the embassy. You can find the form here. The form is also used for renewing a permit
Your employer can apply on your behalf
Your employer can also apply for a residence permit on your behalf if you authorise him/her in writing. You can do this by filling in the authorisation section in the application form, by completing the Directorate of Immigration’s (UDI) authorisation form, or by providing some other form of written authorisation. Your employer submits the application to the police where your employer has his/her registered business address.
What must be enclosed with the application?
When you have visited the embassy or police station and handed in your passport and other necessary documentation we will start to process your applicationYou must enclose the following with your application form:
As a rule, it is sufficient that you enclose a copy of the documents with your application, but it is a precondition that you present the original documents when you hand in your application. You must also enclose translations of the documents into Norwegian or English.
How long will it take to process the application?
See the list of the UDI’s expected case processing times here
Residence card to document your permit
If your application is granted, you must get yourself a residence card. This is a proof that you have the right to live in Norway. You will receive a letter which informs you that you must visit the police to have your fingerprints and photo taken. About ten days later the card will be sent to you by post.
Read more about residence cards
The content of the permit
The permit can be granted for two years, but never for longer than the duration of the employment relationship. It entitles you to travel into and out of Norway for the duration of the permit.
The permit does not form the basis for a permanent residence permit or for family immigration.
The residence permit applies to a specific job and a specific employer.
Therefore, you cannot work in another position or for another employer than stated in the permit.
Is the permit renewable?
The permit can be renewed, but it can never be granted for a continuous period of more than two years. When you have held such a permit for a total of two years, you cannot be granted a new permit as an unskilled Russian worker until you have stayed outside Norway for one year.
The application for renewal of a residence permit must be submitted no later than one month prior to the expiry date of the previous permit. The application must be submitted to the police in the place where you live. A fee must be paid for renewal applications.
You can appeal a rejection
More information
