Musicians who are citizens of an EEA or EFTA member state may choose between applying for a permit pursuant to the EEA regulations or pursuant to the third country regulations.
The EEA regulations are a separate set of regulations for EEA citizens and their family members. In certain cases, it may be an advantage to apply pursuant to these regulations. One reason is that you will not have to pay an application fee.
When applying pursuant to the EEA regulations, the following rules apply:
- There is no application fee and the application may be submitted from within the country.
- To be regarded as a musician, it must be clear from the application that this is the type of work in question, as the applicant’s qualifications will not be verified. A residence permit may be granted on various grounds.
As an employee
In cases where there is a relationship of employment, the applicant is to be considered an employee. If the applicant is a citizen of Bulgaria or Romania, the work may not begin until the complete application has been submitted to the police or the foreign mission. For this group, it is also required that the employment be full time and that the terms of pay and work be according to the collective agreement or wage scales presently in force, or whatever is normal for the place and profession in question.
Read more about work and residence for EU/EEA/EFTA citizens
Business operations
To obtain a residence permit on these grounds, the applicant must aim to do lasting, real business in Norway. This may apply to new business as well as the operation of established business. The applicant will be permitted to enter the country and start the operations of the business for up to three months before there is a need to apply for a permit.
Read more about EU/EEA/EFTA citizens establishing a business in the realm
Service provider
If the applicant is an entrepreneur in the country of origin, or employed in another EEA or EFTA member state and will take on assignments of limited duration in Norway, the applicant may be eligible for a permit as a service provider. A permit on this basis will especially be relevant when the applicant has a limited period contract for playing music for instance at a Norwegian mountain lodge hotels etc. The applicant may enter the country and start the assignment up to three months before there is a need to apply for a permit.
Read more about service providers from EU/EEA/EFTA countries
