Who is eligible for a working holiday residence permit (young people’s exchange)?
You must be a Canadian citizen, living in Canada. If you have an address abroad at the time of application, you must submit documentation that you are registered as resident in Canada. If you are a citizen of another country, you are not eligible under the working holiday agreement, even if you are permanently resident in Canada.
You must also:
- Be at least 18 years of age and no older than 35 years of age at the time of application, i.e. you must not have reached the age of 36. The age requirement is definite.
- Have sufficient funds to sustain yourself during the first three months of your stay in Norway. You must demonstrate that you have sufficient funds for this purpose, through a bank statement and/or a concrete offer of employment for the first part of the stay, providing income. The amount must be equivalent to the rates of the State Educational Loan Fund. This is currently NOK 92 500 for a period of ten months, equivalent to NOK 9 250 per month and NOK 27 750 for the first three months of stay in Norway.
- Agree to sign insurance, before entering Norway, to cover any expense that may be incurred in connection with hospitalisation or repatriation. The insurance must be valid throughout your stay in Norway.
You do not have to have received a direct job offer.
Your stay in Norway must fall into one of the following categories:
- Work placement. You have a higher education background and wish to further your skills through employment, while also learning more about the Norwegian language, society and culture.
- Studies. You are studying in Canada and wish to undertake part of your studies at a university or university college in Norway. You can only study at an educational institution that has an exchange agreement with your Canadian place of study.
- Temporary secondment. You are travelling to Norway to take up a temporary secondment in a Norwegian company as part of your studies or training. This applies to both paid and unpaid work.
- Holiday work. You are studying at a university or university college in Canada, and wish to work in Norway during your holidays.
- Tourist. You are visiting Norway as a tourist and wish to work during your stay to earn extra money.
How to apply
Check where to hand in your application:
- If you are in another country 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 6 months. In some countries you will hand in the application to the Swedish or Danish embassy instead. Check here where to hand in the application.
- If you are in Norway you can hand in your application here if you have skilled worker qualifications. You must be in Norway legally, and you cannot be waiting for a reply to your application for asylum or have had your application for asylum turned down. When you apply from Norway you hand in your application at a local police station or at the Service center for foreign workers. 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
What documents must I present with my 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 application. In addition to a completed application form, you must be able to present the following:
It is normally sufficient to attach copies of the relevant documents to your application, on condition that you present the original documents when you submit your application in person. You should attach a Norwegian or English translation of the documents to your application.
How long does it take for the application to be processed?
Please see the overview of application 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
Details of the residence permit
- The residence permit grants the holder the general right to take up employment in Norway. However, you may not work for the same employer for a period of more then six months if your intention of the stay in Norway is to be a tourist.
- Permits may be granted for a period of one year.
- The permit grants the right to repeated entrance into Norway for the duration of the permit’s validity.
- The permit does not grant the right to permanent residence.
- The permit does not grant the right to family immigration.
Can the residence permit be renewed?
The permit can be renewed; however, the total duration of a renewed permit may not exceed two years. The permit cannot be renewed beyond this. Nor can you be granted a new working holiday residence permit.
You must apply for renewal of your residence permit at least one month before the expiry of the original permit. You should submit the application to the police in your district of residence. You must pay a fee when you apply for renewal. You can apply for renewal even if you have reached the age of 36.
Appealing a rejection
You may appeal a decision to reject your application. For further information on how to appeal a decision, please see here.
Further information
You can read more about the scheme and the terms and conditions that apply for working holiday residence permits in the online portal UDIregelverk (UDI regulations). You can also contact your nearest Norwegian embassy or consulate, or consult UDI’s information service.
