Norway
Work permit in Norway.
To work in Norway without EU, EEA or Swiss citizenship you need a residence and work permit from UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration). The main routes are Residence permit (oppholdstillatelse), Residence permit: skilled worker (faglært), Residence permit: seasonal worker (sesongarbeider), Registration certificate for EU/EEA nationals (registreringsbevis). Skilled worker: the lowest pay a year before tax for a position that requires a master's degree: NOK 624,700 a year as of 24 October 2026. Permanent residence is possible after 3 years on most routes.
Permit types
The permits Norway issues
- Residence permit (oppholdstillatelse)
- Residence permit: skilled worker (faglært)
- Residence permit: seasonal worker (sesongarbeider)
- Registration certificate for EU/EEA nationals (registreringsbevis)
- Permanent residence permit (permanent oppholdstillatelse)
- Social-security certificate (A1 or under an agreement)
Salary levels
What the permit has to pay
Each figure with its legal basis and the official page it comes from.
Skilled worker: the lowest pay a year before tax for a position that requires a master's degree
NOK 624,700 a year · as of 24 October 2026
Official sourceSkilled worker: the lowest pay a year before tax for a position that requires a bachelor's degree
NOK 545,400 a year · as of 24 October 2026
Official sourceFees and other amounts
What else costs or counts
Fees and other dated amounts, each with the official page it comes from.
UDI fee: residence permit for work, applicant over 18 (first application or renewal)
NOK 6,300 · as of 24 October 2026
Official sourcePAYE for foreign workers: the income a year it applies below
NOK 725,050 · from 1 January 2026
Official sourceAssignment and Employee Register: the agreed remuneration below which an assignment is not reported
NOK 20,000 · as of 24 October 2026
Official sourceStaying longer
Faster routes and settling
Early employment start (tidlig arbeidsstart)
a complete skilled-worker application from an employer in Norway, for someone with a university or university-college education: the police's confirmation lets the person start work before UDI decides
Permanent residence: after 3 years
- Three years of continuous residence on permits that lead to permanent residence (a skilled worker's does)
- No more than seven months outside Norway in total during those years
Citizenship: after 8 years
- Eight years of residence in Norway, or a shorter period for the groups the rules name
- The other conditions UDI sets out (identity, language and social studies, conduct)
Authorities
Who does what in Norway
UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration)
Decides residence permits for work and seasonal work (Utlendingsdirektoratet)
Official websiteSkatteetaten (Norwegian Tax Administration)
The ID check, the National Population Register, the tax deduction card and the PAYE scheme
Official websiteOther countries
- Sweden
- Germany
- France
- Netherlands
- Denmark
- Portugal
- Spain
- Belgium
- Austria
- Czech Republic
- Poland
- Slovakia
- Hungary
- Slovenia
- Finland
- Estonia
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Greece
- Cyprus
- Malta
- Croatia
- Bulgaria
- Romania
- Luxembourg
- Liechtenstein
- Switzerland
- United Arab Emirates
Official sources
- UDI: the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (Utlendingsdirektoratet)
- UDI, want to apply: skilled workers (the job, the education, pay and working conditions not poorer than is normal in Norway)
- UDI: pay and working conditions in Norway (the collective wage rate, or what is normal for the occupation and place; at least NOK 624,700 a year before tax when the position requires a master's degree, NOK 545,400 with a bachelor's degree)
- UDI, frequently asked questions about residence permits for skilled workers (the employer applying with written authorisation; losing the job: the police within 7 days, up to 6 months to look for a new one)
- UDI: early employment start (a complete skilled-worker application, at least a three-year university or university-college education, the police's confirmation)
- UDI, fees (residence permit for work, over 18: NOK 6,300)
- UDI: power of attorney / authorisation
- UDI: My page, the application portal (applications, documents, the fee, appointments)
- UDI: provide your fingerprints and facial photograph (stored once; the police can often order the residence card without a new visit)
- UDI, want to apply: seasonal workers (no more than 6 months in Norway within 12 months)
- UDI: frequently asked questions about seasonal work
- UDI, want to renew: work immigration (apply at the latest one month before the permit expires to keep its rights)
- UDI: appealing a decision (within 3 weeks of receiving the decision; up to two more weeks for documents)
- Lovdata, the Public Administration Act (forvaltningsloven) § 29: three weeks to appeal from notice of the decision
- UDI: registration certificate for EU/EEA nationals (the police register EU/EEA nationals living in Norway, once)
FAQ
Questions, answered.
What is the minimum salary for a work permit in Norway?
Skilled worker: the lowest pay a year before tax for a position that requires a master's degree: NOK 624,700 a year (as of 24 October 2026). Skilled worker: the lowest pay a year before tax for a position that requires a bachelor's degree: NOK 545,400 a year (as of 24 October 2026).
Who issues work permits in Norway?
UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration): Decides residence permits for work and seasonal work (Utlendingsdirektoratet).
When can someone get permanent residence in Norway?
After 3 years on most routes. Three years of continuous residence on permits that lead to permanent residence (a skilled worker's does). No more than seven months outside Norway in total during those years.
When can someone get citizenship in Norway?
After 8 years on most routes. Eight years of residence in Norway, or a shorter period for the groups the rules name. The other conditions UDI sets out (identity, language and social studies, conduct).
Which software can an agency or HR team use to manage work permits in Norway?
Settio is relocation management and work permit software with a plan for Norway: the permit, the steps with the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration, the documents, the deadlines and the registrations after arrival, with client and employee portals, quotes and milestone invoices. It runs every EU country in the same workspace, and each case shows only Norway's own rules and sources.
How does Settio help with work permits in Norway?
Settio builds the step-by-step plan for each person moving to Norway, checks documents before filing, tracks deadlines and gives the person a portal in their own language.
More
- Relocating to Norway: the first weeks
- Relocation and immigration across Europe
- AI immigration compliance
Informational only. This guide is not legal advice. Always verify requirements with official government sources before acting. Reviewed by the Settio team. Facts checked 24 October 2026. About this information