Who are you?

• Diplomat

  To work as a diplomat in Norway you do not need a residence permit.

  To be deemed a diplomat you must be registered with and accepted by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  In order to be accepted, you must:

  • be sent out to represent your country at an embassy or consulate in Norway
  • have a paid position

  You cannot take other employment in Norway. 

• NATO personnel

  If you are to work or carry out an assignment for NATO, you do not need a residence permit.

  You must be registered and accepted by the Norwegian Ministry of Defence. 

  You cannot take other employment in Norway. 

• Military personnel

  If you are military personnel belonging to a member state of NATO, or if you are military or civilian personnel in the US forces, you do not need a residence permit.

  You must have received confirmation of your status from the Norwegian Ministry of Defence.

  You cannot take other employment in Norway. 

• Employee of diplomats or NATO personnel

  You do not need a residence permit if you are to work:

  • in the private service of diplomats or NATO personnel, or
  • as a seconded member of the support staff at an embassy or consulate

  You must be registered and accepted by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Norwegian Ministry of Defence.

  You cannot take other employment in Norway. 

• Family member of diplomats or NATO personnel

  If you are a spouse, cohabitant or child of a diplomat or NATO personnel, and you are not going to work in Norway, you do not need to apply for a residence permit. 

  If you are going to work or run a business in Norway, you must apply for a residence permit as a family member of a diplomat or NATO personnel.

  Requirements for a residence permit for work

  • You must be a spouse, cohabitant or dependent child of a diplomat or NATO personnel.
  • You must be registered with and accepted by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Norwegian Ministry of Defence. 

  How to apply

• Family member of military personnel

  If you are a spouse, cohabitant or child of military personnel, and you are not going to work in Norway, you do not need to apply for a residence permit.

  If you are going to work or run a business in Norway, you must apply for a residence permit as a family member of military personnel.

  Requirements for obtaining a residence permit

  • You must be the spouse, partner or child of
    • military personnel belonging to a member state of NATO, or
    • military or civilian personnel in the US forces.
  • You must have received confirmation of your status from the Norwegian Ministry of Defence.

  How to apply