Am I allowed to start working before I have received an answer to my application?

In some cases, the right to work depends on whether you submitted your application at least one month before the expiry of your previous residence permit. Note that the application is not considered delivered until you have met with the police to hand in your application documents.

Suppose you registered the application online and paid the fee at least one month before the expiry of your permit, and that you did not get an appointment with the police until later because of long waiting times for an appointment. In such case, you still have the right to work while we process your application. You are generally entitled to work according to the same terms as your previous permit if you register the application for renewal (or for a permit on a new basis) and pay a fee no later than seven calendar days before the permit expires.

I have applied for a residence permit in Norway for the first time

  • I have applied for a residence permit for the first time
    You cannot start work, including remote work, until you have been granted a residence permit. If you work without permission, you may be expelled.

  • Can I get a temporary work permit while I wait for my application to be processed?
    No, usually not. UDI can only grant a temporary work permit during the application process when it is probable that the application will be granted. It will often be difficult to know whether an application for family immigration can be granted before the case has been processed.

  • Can I participate in volunteer work?
    You do not need a work permit to participate in voluntary work. The rule for what we consider voluntary work is strict.

    Requirements for the work for it to be what we call voluntary work:
    • It must be work you have chosen yourself that you want to do.
    • There must be work for which you do not receive a salary or other compensation.
    • There must be work organised by a humanitarian, non-profit or religious organisation, such as a volunteer centre, a sports club or similar organisations.
    • The tasks you do must be tasks no one is usually paid to do.
    • You cannot volunteer more than 30 hours a week.

I have applied for renewal of a residence permit

  • I have applied for renewal of my residence permit at least one month before the previous permit's expiry.
    Yes, you can work.

  • I have applied for renewal of my residence permit later than one month before the previous permit's expiry.
    No, you do not automatically have the right to work, including remote work. You must contact UDI to ask for permission to work.

I already have a residence permit and have applied for another type of residence permit

  • I have applied for a permit on a new basis at least one month before the expiry of the previous permit.
    You can work if your previous residence permit was a family immigration permit.

    You can also work if your previous permit was renewable and gave you a limited right to work. In that case, you can work with the same restrictions as in your previous permit, and you cannot exceed those limits. For example, if you had a student permit, you can work up to 20 hours per week during the semester, including remote work, and full-time during the regular holidays.

    In your decision letter, you can see whether you have the right to work and which restrictions apply to you.

    You cannot continue to work if your previous permit was not renewable, such as permits for studying or working in Norway. This also applies to:
    • Recent graduates seeking work and researchers with a permit under Immigration Regulations section 6-29.
    • Working holiday permits. If you are a citizen of Australia, you cannot work if you have already had a residence permit for two years. The right to work is limited to 6 months with the same employer.
    • Residence permits as an au pair.
  • I have applied for a permit on a new basis later than one month before the expiry of the previous permit.
    No, you do not automatically have the right to work, including remote work. You must contact the UDI to ask for permission to work.