You can be granted a residence permit in Norway if you are going on a working holiday for young adults, if you are a working guest in agriculture, an employee of a humanitarian/non-profit/religious organisation, or an artist, musician or performer.
The applicant is the person who wishes to visit or live in Norway.
What will you be in Norway?
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Employee of a humanitarian, non-profit or religious organisation
You who are going to work in Norway for a maximum of 14 days and are employed in an organisation who carries out international humanitarian work
Some employees of organisations who carry out international humanitarian work do not need a residence permit for short work stays in Norway. Check whether you need a residence permit.
Requirements of the employee
- You must pay an application fee.
Requirements relating to the employment relationship
- You must have received a concrete offer of full-time employment from an established organisation.
- The purpose of the organisation must be to carry out non-profit, humanitarian or religious work. This means that the organisation's main object must be to help people or to carry out other non-profit work. The organisation can make a profit, but its main object cannot be to make money.
- You have to carry out non-profit, humanitarian or religious work for the organisation.
- You must come to Norway as part of an international exchange programme, or because the organisation needs foreign labour.
- You cannot work as a religious leader/teacher: in such case, you must apply for a residence permit for religious leaders/teachers.
- The pay and working conditions must not be inferior to what is normal for your occupation in the place you are to work in Norway. UDI can accept low pay or no pay if this is normal for your occupation in the place you are to work.
- The pay you receive must be enough to live on in Norway, and you must have a place to live. If you receive low pay or no pay, the organisation you are to work for must cover free board and lodging, as well as cover your return ticket.
Rights and obligations
- If you are to change jobs or employers, you must apply for a new permit.
- You can be granted a permit for one year at a time, for a total of maximum four years.
- The period you have this permit does not count if you later wish to apply for a permanent residence permit.
- Your spouse or cohabitant and children can usually apply to come and live with you in Norway. If your family members apply at the same time as you, you will receive the answer to your applications at the same time.
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Artist, musician or performer
If you are to work in Norway for a maximum of 14 days
Performers, artists, musicians and their support staff do not need a residence permit if they are to have concerts or performances in Norway for a total of maximum 14 days during a calendar year. You or your client must notify the police in writing before you enter Norway. Please check whether you need a visitor visa.
British citizen, do not have an employer in Norway and will work in Norway for up to 90 days
British musicians, artists and their support staff who do not have an employer in Norway do not need a residence permit if they are going to perform, participate in competitions or hold rehearsals in Norway for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.
You or your employer must notify the police in writing before you enter Norway.
If you are to work in Norway for more than 14 days
Requirements of the employee
- You must pay an application fee.
Requirements relating to the employment relationship
- You must have received a concrete offer of employment as a performer, musician or artist, or as a member of their necessary accompanying support staff.
- The object of the work must be to present culture, for example through music, dance, theatre or circus performances.
- The main rule is that you must have received an offer of full-time employment. Normally, this constitutes 37.5 hours per week. For musicians or dance bands, 21 hours per week is sufficient.
- The job offer must be for a specific, continuous period of time. You can have one or more employers or clients. If there are periods in which you do not work or have assignments, they cannot amount to more than 20 per cent of the time you spend in Norway.
- The pay and working conditions must not be poorer than is normal in Norway. This means that you must receive pay in accordance with the collective agreement for the industry in question. If no collective agreement applies to the industry, your pay cannot be poorer than is normal for someone in your occupation in the place you are to work. For example, musicians, circus performers and their necessary accompanying support staff must have a salary of at least
NOK 325 400 per year pre-tax
. People hired by Kulturtanken, formerly known as Rikskonsertene (Concerts Norway) have a separate framework agreement (external website) (page in Norwegian). - If you are between the ages of 15 and 18, you need the consent of your parents or another person who has parental responsibility for you. Children under the age of 15 cannot be granted a residence permit pursuant to these rules, but they can apply for residence permits pursuant to the rules for family immigration.
Rights and obligations
- If you are to change jobs, assignments or employers, you must apply for a new permit.
- You can be granted a permit for a maximum of one year at a time. You must have stayed outside of Norway for three months before you can be granted a new permit.
- The period you have this permit does not count if you later wish to apply for a permanent residence permit.
- Your spouse or cohabitant and children can usually apply to come and live with you in Norway. If your family members apply at the same time as you, you will receive the answer to your applications at the same time.
How to apply
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Norwegian Agency for Exchange Cooperation (Norec) participant
Requirements of the employee
- You must pay an application fee.
Requirements relating to the employment relationship
- You must be a participant hired by a Norwegian partner of the Norwegian Agency for Exchange Cooperation (Norec) (external website).
- You must have received a concrete offer of full-time employment from one specific employer in Norway.
- You must have a place to live.
- You must receive pay in accordance with the statutes of the Norwegian Agency for Exchange Cooperation (Norec).
- The pay you receive must be enough to live on in Norway, and you must have a place to live. If you receive low pay, the Norwegian Agency for Exchange Cooperation (Norec) must cover your board and lodging, as well as your return ticket.
Rights and obligations
- If you are to change jobs or employers, you must apply for a new permit.
- You can be granted a permit for one year at a time, for a total of maximum four years.
- The period you have this permit does not count if you later wish to apply for a permanent residence permit.
- Your spouse or cohabitant and children can usually apply to come and live with you in Norway. If your family members apply at the same time as you, you will receive the answer to your applications at the same time.
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Working holiday for young adults from Canada
Canadian citizens under the age of 36 can be granted a residence permit to take longer holidays and work in Norway.
Requirements of the applicant
- You must pay an application fee.
- You must be citizen of Canada. It is not sufficient to be a permanent resident of Canada.
- You must reside in Canada.
- You must be over the age of 18 and not have turned 36 when you apply.
- You must sign a declaration that you will take out medical insurance and full hospital insurance before entering Norway.
- Your activities in Norway must fall under one of the following categories:
- Work experience: You have completed higher education and want more training through employment and to increase your knowledge of the Norwegian language and Norwegian society and culture.
- Studies: You are studying in Canada and want to complete part of the study programme at a university or university college in Norway. The university or university college must have an exchange agreement with your place of study in Canada.
- Temporary secondment: You are going to be seconded to a Norwegian company as part of your studies or training. This can be 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 holiday.
- Tourist: You are going on holiday in Norway, but you also wish to work during your stay.
- You must have enough money to live on for the three first months of your stay in Norway. This can be money in the bank and/or a concrete offer of paid work. You must have
NOK 15 169 per month
, i.e.NOK 45 507 for the first three months
.
Rights and obligations
- You can work while visiting Norway. If you have been granted a permit as a tourist, you can only work for six months for the same employer.
- You can apply for a permit with a duration of up to one year.
- Only permits with a duration of less than one year can be renewed.
- You can apply for a new residence permit for working holidays, even if you have had such a permit before. If you are applying for a second time, your activities in Norway must fall under a different category than what you did the last time you were in Norway on a working holiday. The categories are listed above, under "Requirements of the applicant".
- You can get residence permits for working holidays for a maximum of two years in total. Even though you can only renew permits with a duration of less than one year, you can apply for a new permit at a later date, even if you have previously held such a permit.
- The period you have this permit does not count if you later wish to apply for a permanent residence permit.
- Your family members cannot apply for a family immigration permit to come and live with you in Norway.
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Working holiday for young adults from New Zealand
Citizens of New Zealand under the age of 31 can be granted a residence permit to take longer holidays and work in Norway.
Requirements of the applicant
- You must pay an application fee.
- You must be a citizen of New Zealand. It is not sufficient to be a permanent resident of New Zealand.
- You must be over the age of 18 and not have turned 31 when you apply.
- You must have enough money to live on for the three first months of your stay in Norway. This can be money in the bank and/or a concrete offer of paid work. You must have
NOK 15 169 per month
, i.e.NOK 45 507 for the first three months
. - You cannot work for the same employer for more than six months while you are in Norway.
- You must sign a declaration that you will take out medical insurance and full hospital insurance before entering Norway.
- You cannot be granted this type of permit if you plan to study for more than three months. In such case, you have to apply for a residence permit for study purposes.
Rights and obligations
- You can work while you are in Norway, but not for more than six months for the same employer.
- You can be granted a permit for one year in total.
- The period you have this permit does not count if you later wish to apply for a permanent residence permit.
- Your family members cannot apply for a family immigration permit to come and live with you in Norway.
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Working holiday for young adults from Australia
Australian citizens under the age of 31 can be granted a residence permit to take longer holidays and work in Norway.
Requirements of the applicant
- You must pay an application fee.
- You must be citizen of Australia. It is not sufficient to be a permanent resident of Australia.
- You must be over the age of 18 and not have turned 31 when you apply.
- You must have enough money to live on for the three first months of your stay in Norway. This can be money in the bank and/or a concrete offer of paid work. You must have
NOK 15 169 per month
, i.e.NOK 45 507 for the first three months
. - You cannot work for the same employer for more than six months while you are in Norway.
- You must be in good health. This means that it must not be likely that you will need to be hospitalised while you are in Norway.
- You cannot be granted this type of permit if you plan to study for more than three months. In such case, you have to apply for a residence permit for study purposes.
Rights and obligations
- You can work while you are in Norway, but not for more than six months for the same employer.
- You can be granted a permit for one year at a time, for a total of maximum two years. You may be over the age of 31 if you are applying for renewal of your permit.
- The period you have this permit does not count if you later wish to apply for a permanent residence permit.
- Your family members cannot apply for a family immigration permit to come and live with you in Norway.
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Working holiday for young adults from Japan
Japanese citizens under the age of 31 can be granted a residence permit to take longer holidays and work in Norway.
Requirements of the applicant
- You must pay an application fee.
- You must be citizen of Japan. It is not sufficient to be a permanent resident of Japan.
- You must reside in Japan.
- You must be over the age of 18 and not have turned 31 when you apply.
- You must have enough money to live on for the three first months of your stay in Norway. This can be money in the bank and/or a concrete offer of paid work. You must have
NOK 15 169 per month
, i.e.NOK 45 507 for the first three months
. - You cannot work for the same employer for more than six months while you are in Norway.
- You must be in good health, i.e. it must not be likely that you will need to be hospitalised while you are in Norway. You must also have taken out a medical insurance which is valid for the entire duration of your stay in Norway.
- You cannot be granted this type of permit if you plan to study for more than three months. In such case, you have to apply for a residence permit for study purposes.
Rights and obligations
- You can work while you are in Norway, but not for more than six months for the same employer.
- You can be granted a permit for a maximum of one year in total.
- The period you have this permit does not count if you later wish to apply for a permanent residence permit.
- Your family members cannot apply for a family immigration permit to come and live with you in Norway.
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Working holiday for young adults from Argentina
Citizens of Argentina under the age of 31 can be granted a residence permit to take longer holidays and work in Norway.
Requirements of the applicant
- You must pay an application fee.
- You must apply at an embassy or application center in your home country.
- You must be a citizen of Argentina. It is not sufficient to be a permanent resident of Argentina.
- You must reside in Argentina.
- You must be over the age of 18 and not have turned 31 when you apply.
- You must have enough money to live on for the three first months of your stay in Norway. This can be money in the bank and/or a concrete offer of paid work. You must have
NOK 15 169 per month
, i.e.NOK 45 507 for the first three months
. - You cannot work for the same employer for more than six months while you are in Norway.
- You must sign a declaration that you will take out medical insurance and full hospital insurance before entering Norway.
- You cannot be granted this type of permit if you plan to study for more than three months. In such case, you have to apply for a residence permit for study purposes.
Rights and obligations
- You can work while you are in Norway, but not for more than six months for the same employer.
- You can be granted a permit for up to one year in total.
- The period you have this permit does not count if you later wish to apply for a permanent residence permit.
- Your family members cannot apply for a family immigration permit to come and live with you in Norway.
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Working holiday for young adults from Andorra
Andorran citizens under the age of 31 can be granted a residence permit to take longer holidays and work in Norway.
Requirements of the applicant
- You must pay an application fee.
- You must be citizen of Andorra. It is not sufficient to be a permanent resident of Andorra.
- Your passport must be valid for the entire period you are applying for a residence permit.
- You must be over the age of 18 and not have turned 31 when you apply.
- You must have enough money to live on for the three first months of your stay in Norway. This can be money in the bank and/or a concrete offer of paid work. You must have
NOK 15 169 per month
, i.e.NOK 45 507 for the first three months
. - You cannot work for the same employer for more than six months while you are in Norway.
- You must sign a declaration that you will take out medical insurance and full hospital insurance before entering Norway.
Rights and obligations
- You can work while you are in Norway, but not for more than six months for the same employer.
- You can be granted a permit for up to one year in total.
- The period you have this permit does not count if you later wish to apply for a permanent residence permit.
- Your family members cannot apply for a family immigration permit to come and live with you in Norway.
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Working guests in agriculture
How to applyRequirements of the applicant
- You must pay an application fee.
- You must participate in an exchange programme through Biologisk-Dynamisk Forening (the Biological-Dynamic Association, external website) or Atlantis' (external website) 'Working Guest' scheme.
- The circumstances in your home country must indicate that it is likely that you can return home at the end of your exchange stay.
Requirements relating to the employment relationship
- You must work full-time on a farm, or at a nursery, as part of the family on the farm.
- You can work for one or two employers. If you have two employers, you must first work for one of them and then for the other. You cannot move back and forth.
- You duties must be part of the day-to-day work on the farm.
- You cannot carry out other work for the employer, such as major maintenance work, running a caravan site etc.
- You must acquire knowledge about Norwegian agriculture and culture through your work.
- You cannot work more than 35 hours per week. You are entitled to at least one and a half continuous day off per week.
- You must receive a minimum pay per week of at least NOK 600 after tax, and your employer must also provide you with food and accommodation and pay for your return ticket.
- Your employer cannot employ more than three working guests at the same time.
Rights and obligations
- You can only be granted a residence permit as a working guest once, for up to three months.
- The period you have this permit does not count if you later wish to apply for a permanent residence permit.
- Your family members cannot apply for a family immigration permit to come and live with you in Norway.
- Your employer / exchange organisation can apply on your behalf.
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Journalist on assignment for a foreign media institution in Norway for over three months
Requirements of the applicant
- You must pay an application fee.
- You must be employed by, or on assignment for, a foreign media institution.
- You must have a place to live in Norway.
Rights and obligations
- You can be granted a permit for a maximum of two years at a time.
- The period you have this residence permit does not count if you later wish to apply for a permanent residence permit.
- Your spouse or cohabitant and children can usually apply to come and live with you in Norway. If your family members apply at the same time as you, you will receive the answer to your applications at the same time.
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Other media personnel on assignment for a foreign media institution in Norway for over three months
Requirements of the applicant
- You must pay an application fee.
- You must be employed by, or on assignment for, a foreign media institution.
- You must have a place to live in Norway.
Rights and obligations
- You can be granted a permit for a maximum of two years at a time.
- The period you have this residence permit does not count if you later wish to apply for a permanent residence permit.
- Your spouse or cohabitant and children can usually apply to come and live with you in Norway. If your family members apply at the same time as you, you will receive the answer to your applications at the same time.
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Other types of stays for cultural purposes in Norway
In some very special cases, you can get a residence permit for a stay for cultural purposes in Norway.
Some examples of what can fall under such stays for cultural purposes are if you are:
- An athlete. You must practice a sport in Norway, and the stay must, as a general rule, be necessary for the establishment or further development of the branch of sport.
- A creative artist. You must be an established artist and you must substantiate that your stay in Norway is important for your development as an artist, because certain elements present in Norway are important to you in order to be able to produce a product (picture, book, sculpture, etc.).
- A culture disseminator. It is a condition for the permit that you disseminates knowledge about Norway and Norwegian culture abroad. You must already have established yourself as a culture disseminator abroad and continue to do so after your stay in Norway has ended.
- A volunteer under the Erasmus+ programme.
- Participant in the Fulbright programme. You are going to participate in the Fulbright program and fall outside the rules on residence permits for students and residence permits for researchers with own funds.
Requirements of the applicant
- You must pay an application fee.
- You must have a place to live in Norway.
- You must have enough money to live on.
- You must provide information about the purpose of your stay in Norway.
- If the purpose of the stay is cultural work, you must provide documentation of previous involvement or work in culture or sport.
- If you are going to be a volunteer or intern under the Erasmus+ programme, you must provide a confirmation from the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs (Bufdir).
Rights and obligations
- You have the right to work part-time and during holiday periods.
- The period you have this residence permit does not count if you later wish to apply for a permanent residence permit.
- Your spouse or cohabitant and children can usually apply to come and live with you in Norway. If your family members apply at the same time as you, you will receive the answer to your applications at the same time.