Work & Settle in Norway

About Norway

Norway, officially known as the Kingdom of Norway (Kongeriket Norge), is a constitutional monarchy located in northern Europe. Its capital city is Oslo. Here are some fast facts about Norway:

  • Official Languages: Bokmål Norwegian and Nynorsk
  • Currency: Norwegian krone
  • Area: 148,729 square miles (385,207 square kilometers)

Norway is renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, including its famous fjords, which are sea inlets carved by glaciers between steep cliffs. The country is also characterized by its numerous mountains, some of which are so steep that they remain unclimbed.

In addition to its mainland on the Scandinavian Peninsula, Norway also holds territories such as the Svalbard island chain and three islands in the Antarctic. With a population of around 5,372,191 people, Norway is known for its high standard of living, strong social welfare system, and commitment to environmental sustainability.

Norway Immigration

If you want to work, study, or join a family member in Norway for a period longer than three months, you will need a Norway Residence Permit.

This type of Permit allows you to live and work in Norway, travel in and out of the country and even visit other Schengen States for the time that it is valid. It can also lead to permanent residency in Norway, and eventually citizenship.

10 reason why Norway is the best country in Europe to immigrate to:

  1. High Quality of Life: Norway consistently ranks as one of the best countries to work and live in, boasting excellent standards of living and social welfare programs.

  2. High Wages: The average yearly pay in Norway is impressive, with workers earning an average of $69,151 USD annually, providing financial security and opportunities for prosperity.

  3. Generous Work Benefits: Norwegian workers enjoy a range of benefits including paid vacation time, parental leave, and strong workers’ rights, contributing to a healthy work-life balance.

  4. Open Borders for Temporary Workers: Norway’s immigration policies are relatively open, welcoming temporary workers and facilitating opportunities for international professionals to contribute to its workforce.

  5. English Proficiency: While Norwegian is the official language, the majority of Norwegians are proficient in English, making it easier for immigrants to communicate and integrate into society.

  6. Universal Healthcare: Healthcare in Norway is largely free for everyone, ensuring access to quality medical services without financial burden.

  7. Multicultural Society: Norway is increasingly diverse, with efforts to foster multiculturalism and embrace the contributions of immigrants to its society and economy.

  8. High Happiness Index: Norwegians consistently rank among the happiest people in the world, attributed to factors such as social equality, community engagement, and a strong sense of well-being.

  9. Business Opportunities: Norway offers a conducive environment for entrepreneurship and business development, with supportive government policies and access to resources.

  10. Abundant Job Opportunities: The Norwegian economy is robust and diversified, offering a wealth of job opportunities across various sectors, with a steady increase in work immigration each year reflecting the demand for skilled workers.

Types of Norway Residence Permits

There are two main types of Norwegian Residence Permits:

  • Temporary Residence Permit. This is the type of Permit you receive when you first move to Norway. It is valid for 1-3 years and is renewable. The most common are:
    • Residence Permit for Work (aka Norway Work Visa).
    • Residence Permit for Studying (aka Norway Student Visa)
    • Residence Permit for Family Reunification (aka Norway Family Visa)
  • Permanent Residence Permit. This is the Permit you receive after you have lived in Norway continuously for the last three years. You can then live and work there indefinitely, and just renew the Residence Card every two years.

Norway Temporary Residence Permit Requirements

To be eligible for a Temporary Residence Permit for Norway, you have to fulfil the conditions related to why you want to move to Norway.

  • If you are moving for work: You need to have a job with a Norwegian employer and have a qualifying salary.
  • If you are moving for your studies: You must get accepted into a Norwegian educational institution and have enough funds to sustain yourself while you live there.
  • If you want to join a family member: You must be a close family member (spouse/partner or child) of someone living in Norway legally, and they must be able to financially maintain you.

Documents Required for a Norway Residence Permit Application

To apply for a Residence Permit, you must submit the following documents:

  • Your passport. Along with your original passport, attach copies of the personal information page and all used pages (ones with entry stamps or visas on them).
  • The Cover Letter. After you complete the online application, you will receive this on your email, and you simply print it your and attach it to your application.
  • Passport-size pictures. The pictures should be recent and have a white background.
  • Proof of accommodation. Submit a rental agreement or another proof that you have somewhere to live after you move to Norway.
  • If you are moving for work:
    • The Offer of Employment Form.
    • Proof that your salary meets the income requirements.
    • Proof of your academic qualifications.
    • Proof of previous employment experience.
    • Your CV.
  • If you are moving for your studies:
    • The Letter of Admission.
    • Proof you have enough financial means to sustain your stay in Norway and pay your tuition.
  • If you are moving to join a family member:
    • Proof of family relationship.
    • Proof your family member has or earns enough money to sustain you financially.
    • Proof your family member has not received social benefits in the last 12 months.

Document guidelines:

  • You have to submit both the originals and copies of each document.
  • The documents you submit should be in English or Norwegian. If they are not, have them translated and submit the translation along with the original document.
  • Some documents, such as diplomas or birth/marriage certificates have to be legalized via an Apostille Stamp.
  • For any document that you are unable to submit, enclose a written explanation for why. Ideally, try to bring all the required documents.

How Long Is a Norway Temporary Residence Permit Valid?

The validity of your Norwegian Residence Permit is from one to three years, depending on things like your work contract, the duration of your course of study, and the decision of the Directorate of Immigration.

Can I Renew a Temporary Residence Permit in Norway?

Yes, most Norwegian Residence Permits can be renewed. You have to apply for renewal at the local police station at least one month before the visa expires, so you must start the application process about three months before.

  • Using the UDI’s Application Portal, make an appointment with the police. Do this three months before expiry, because there is usually a waiting time.
  • On the date of your appointment, submit the required documents for Residence Permit renewal at the local police station.
  • Pay the renewal fee.

Remember: If you have a Work Visa or Family Visa, and you have lived in Norway for more than three years, then you may be eligible to apply for a Permanent Residence Permit.

Norway Permanent Residence Permit Requirements

To get a Permanent Residence Permit in Norway, you must meet the following conditions:

  • You must have lived in Norway continuously for at least three years. This means:
    • You can’t have been without a residence permit longer than three months total during the past three years.
    • You can’t have been outside Norway longer than seven months total during the past three years.
  • You must have held a Temporary Residence Permit which forms “the basis for a permanent residence permit”*. As such, you can apply for permanent residence only if you had one of the following residence permits:
    • Residence permit for work (skilled workers and self-employed)
    • Residence permit for family reunification
    • Residence permit on the grounds of asylum or protection or for “strong humanitarian considerations”.
  • At the time of application, you must have a valid temporary residence permit.
  • You must be able to sustain yourself financially.
  • You must not have received financial assistance from the NAV (økonomisk sosialhjelp) in the past year.
  • You must have a clear criminal record.
  • You must not have an order for enforced psychiatric treatment.
  • You must pass a test on Norwegian language and social studies if you are between 16 and 64 years of age.

*If you had a Residence Permit as a student, au pair, or to get married in Norway, you cannot count that time towards the required three years for permanent residency.

How to Get a Permanent Residence Permit in Norway?

To apply for your Permanent Residence Permit in Norway, you must:

  1. Collect the required documents.
  2. Complete the online application on the UDI Application Portal.
  3. Pay the application fee.
  4. Hand in the documents at the local police service for residence permits and protection or the service centre for foreign workers, depending on the area in which you live.

Required Documents for Permanent Residence Application in Norway

The documents you have to submit when applying for a Permanent Residence Permit are:

  • Proof of your income. Depending on your situation, your income can be:
    • From employment
    • From self-employment
    • From pensions or other regular income sources, like rent or life insurance
    • From student loans or grants
    • From social security benefits
  • Proof you have not received financial assistance from NAV (økonomisk sosialhjelp)
  • Proof you have completed the tuition hours and passed the Norwegian language and social studies test.
  • If you held a Residence Permit for Family Reunification for spouses/partners:
    • UDI’s Declaration of relationship form
    • Copy of your partner’s passport (all the used pages)
    • Proof of the time your partner has spent abroad in the last three years
  • Any other additional documents that the UDI required. Depending on your specific situation.

Job opportunities in Norway

‘Velkommen til Norge,’ — that means welcome to Norway! This Nordic country is a part of the Scandinavia region and is known as one of the most mountainous countries in Europe. 

Gifted with good resources and one of the most advanced democracies of our time, Norway is one of the premier nations in the world today. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that you would want to partake in the festival of equality and democracy. 

We have prepared a list of the 10 most lucrative jobs that Norway has to offer, and we have devised the 10 on unique criteria, thereby ensuring that at least one will be to your liking. So without further ado, here are the 10 best job opportunities in Norway for you!

IT

  • IT job opportunities in Norway are extremely lucrative, with positions for developers and all the way to CEO. 
  • However, like all job offers for foreigners in Norway, the deciding factor comes down to knowing Norwegian. 
  • If you do know the language, then it will be relatively easy for you to secure work in the IT sector of Norway. 
  • Due to the IT skills shortage, there is a high demand for IT professionals across different sectors. 
  • Some common IT jobs in Norway in demand include developer, programmer, and project manager roles. The average yearly salary you can expect is 715,000 NOK or $90,000.
  • Getting an IT job in Norway also carries the additional advantage of being a remote online job as well. So this is ideal if you wish to explore the beautiful country while working!

Biotechnology

  • Norway has one of the world’s most developed biotechnology sectors, and these are centered around the beautiful city of Oslo.
  • Unlike in the IT field, biotechnology job opportunities do not have a Norwegian language bias, making it an ideal fit for those who love Norway but don’t know Norwegian.
  • There is also a relatively high demand for biotech as it is an expanding vertical. 
  • The average yearly salary you can expect is between 823,000 NOK and 1,290,000 NOK.

Civil Engineering

  • The construction industry in Norway is close to USD 100 billion, and its growth seems all but assured in the foreseeable future.
  • Consequently, there is a large demand for qualified civil engineers in the nation, and the pay is lucrative as well.
  • You can expect a yearly average salary of nearly 560,000 NOK.
  • However, civil engineering in Norway is more hands-on than in other nations and as with the IT sector, there is a requirement to know Norwegian (though not officially).

Mechanical engineering

  • There is a large demand for mechanical engineers in Norway.
  • The mechanical engineering job opportunities in Norway are typical for freshers.
  • Considering that Norway is one of the most industrialized nations on earth, this demand is far from met.
  • Therefore, it is relatively easy to find a job in this field and simultaneously brush up on your Norwegian speaking skills.
  • This will improve your prospects in the industry. 
  • The average salary you can expect to earn in this job is between 251,000 NOK to 867,000 NOK.
  • Some of the highest-paying jobs in Norway today are those of lawyers and judges.
  • The selection criteria for these job opportunities in Norway are straightforward, but they are not a cakewalk.
  • An aspirant for a legal job in Norway from a non-EEA country must apply to the Supervisory Council for Legal Practice and only upon meeting certain conditions and criteria will they be granted a working title of ‘Advokat’.
  • After earning the working title, the individual is free to practice law in Norway.
  • This job pays well and offers a certain amount of dignity.
  • However, choosing this profession is usually a long-term commitment, so you need to have long-term plans for residing in Norway.
  • Legal jobs in Norway pay nearly 515,000 to 1,780,000 NOK per year.

Chefs

  • Believe it or not, chefs are not only high in demand in Norway, but the profession pays quite well too.
  • To work as a professional chef in Norway, you don’t need to have any working knowledge of Norwegian as long as your credentials are good.
  • Therefore, aspirants from all countries can apply.
  • The average yearly salary of a chef in Norway is nearly 115,000 to 536,000 NOK.

Teacher/Professor

  • Norway really values teachers, and they are afforded respect and deference within the Norwegian community.
  • Moreover, there is a huge demand for teachers in Norway as well. Being a college professor is not only prestigious but also quite well paid.
  • School-level teachers earn a little less, but then the requirements for being a teacher are also considerably less than those for being a professor. 
  • The average yearly salary for a teacher is between 205,000 NOK to 710,000 NOK.
  • However, for a college professor, the pay is nearly 789,000 NOK per year.

Highest paying job opportunities in Norway

  • Quite simply, the medical profession pays the best in Norway. A surgeon/doctor in Norway earns between 592,000 NOK to 2,730,000 NOK on an average per year. 
  • In fact, even being a dentist or an orthodontist pays extremely well in Norway. In this profession again, there is a less bias for those who do not know Norwegian, but the pressure from the competition is intense. After all, who doesn’t want to practice medicine in one of the safest, richest, and most transparent nations of the world?
  • Judges in Norway learn a high salary because of the responsibility they hold. They earn anywhere between 880,000 NOK to 3,040,000 NOK.
  • Lawyers are next on this list. They earn anywhere between 712,000 NOK to 2,460,000 NOK. 
  • Bank managers are in charge of millions of funds and investments, which is why they earn anywhere between 670,000 NOK to 2,320,000 NOK.

In-demand jobs in Norway

  • Nursing is the highest-demand job in Norway today and it pays anywhere between 211,000 NOK to 729,000 NOK.
  • Additionally, pharmacists, HVAC engineers, and railway engineers are professions in high demand in Norway.
  • These jobs have a very high conversion rate and there is no bias as to who can apply.
  • Though certain jobs in Norway require the applicant to know Norwegian.
  • This bias is inversely proportional to the demand for the job.
  • Thus, for those who have the relevant degrees for the above-mentioned jobs, but do not possess a heavy knowledge of Norwegian, Norway can be a good place to start your career.

Part-time jobs opportunities in Norway

  • One way to earn and practice Norwegian is by taking part-time jobs as an international student
  • Getting a job in Norway may seem difficult, but there is no paucity of part-time jobs in Norway. 
  • From being a dog-walker to a taxi driver and to providing elder care, there are multiple part-time professions that Norway has to offer.
  • However, students must note that there are restrictions on how much they can work besides being full-time students.  
  • Students who have a study permit have permission to work part-time. A student residence permit does not cover the right to take employment in Norway.
  • EU/EEA students don’t need a work permit, they can work in Norway after they have registered with the police.
  • Non-EU/EEA students can walk 20 hours per week during the first year of their study. 
  • To renew the work permit students need to have satisfactory progress in their studies. 

Working hours and paid time off

The working hours in Norway are 9 hours per workday.  There are ten public holidays. Employees are eligible for 25 unpaid workdays as per the Holidays Act in Norway, but most employees receive five weeks. In place of paid leave, employees get holiday pay.  This pay is accumulated in the year previous to the time when the holiday is taken.

Average salary and taxes

The annual average salary in Norway is around 636,688 NOK (69,151 USD). The salary will vary depending on your skill level, experience, age, and also industry. Even though there is no minimum wage, minimum salaries have been introduced in certain sectors such as construction, maritime, agriculture and hospitality.

Employees have to pay income tax based on their salary; the tax percentage is as under:

0% -0-180,800 NOK

1.9%-180,880-254,500 NOK

4.2%-254,500-639,750 NOK

13.2%-639,750-999,550 NOK

16.2%-909,500 NOK and above

Maternity leave

The mother is entitled to a three-week leave of absence before giving birth. Unless she presents a medical document declaring that it is healthier for her to continue work, the mother must take a six-week leave of absence after giving birth.

Paternity leave

After childbirth, the father is entitled to a two-week leave of absence. If the parents do not live together, another person who aids the mother can exercise this right to leave. Under the National Insurance Act of February 28, 1997, No. 19, this leave is unpaid and does not qualify for financial assistance.

Caretaker leave

Children: The employee is entitled to ten days of leave per calendar year if the child is unwell, and fifteen days if the employee is caring for two or more children. Employees who are solely responsible for their children are entitled to twice the amount of time off.

The employee is entitled to a maximum of 20 days of leave per year if the child has a chronic or long-term sickness or impairment.

Close relatives-A n employee who is caring for a close relative who has a terminal disease is entitled to a 60-day leave to care for the patient.

Parents, spouse, or registered partner- Each calendar year, an employee is entitled to a ten-day leave of absence to give necessary care to a parent, spouse, or registered partner.

Social security and benefits

When you are working and paying taxes in Norway, you will automatically become a part of the National insurance scheme which is run using the funds from social security contributions.

The amount of contributions is determined by the Government. You will either get a Norwegian social security number or a D-number (temporary number) when you arrive in Norway — which one you get depends on the amount of time you plan to stay in the country.

The social security number is a personal identification number and is a 11-digit number. This number is used to prove your identity to public authorities and other official parties in Norway. Even the D-numbers have 11 digits.

For access to services in this country like opening a bank account, you must have a social security or D-number.

A Social Security Number will be assigned to someone who stays in Norway (i.e. living for more than six months). When you plan to live here for six months or less you’ll be assigned a D-number.

Benefits of social security: You will get access to a range of benefits that include:

  • family benefits;
  • Benefits for pregnancy, birth, and adoption
  • Care services
  • Healthcare services
  • Sickness benefits
  • Occupational injury and illness benefit
  • Disability benefit
  • Work assessment allowance
  • Retirement pension
  • Financial assistance and supplementary allowance
  • Unemployment benefit

Unemployment benefits

When you start working and residing in Norway, you are automatically covered against unemployment through membership in the National Insurance Scheme. If you lose your job, you can be eligible for unemployment payments.  During a layoff, you are temporarily relieved of your need to report to work, while your employer is relieved of the obligation to pay your wages. However, the employee-employer connection remains intact, and the layoff is presumed to be temporary. The employee must be given notice if the position is not temporary.

A layoff must always be based on factual reasons related to the organization, not the employee.

Sickness benefits

If you have worked in Norway for four weeks and are unable to work due to illness or accident, you are normally eligible to sickness benefits. In general, illness benefits are available for up to a year.

With a personal declaration or a sick leave certificate, you must be able to prove why you are unable to work. A personal statement can be used to alert an employer of an employee’s illness.

Benefits for sickness can be paid for up to a year. If you are on long-term sick leave, however, your employer, doctors, and NAV will monitor you to ensure that you return to work as soon as possible. If you are an employee, your employer is in charge of keeping an eye on you and devising a strategy to get you back to work. NAV is accountable for this if you do not have an employment.

If you are still unable to work after a year, you may be eligible for benefits such as a work assessment allowance or disability compensation.

You may be eligible for social security payments if you become ill or injured as a result of working conditions and now have an approved occupational injury. The employer must report the accident to NAV within one year of the date of the injury.

With numerous social security benefits and an emphasis on work-life balance, Norway is an attractive destination for those looking at an overseas career.

Coraledu, a leading overseas immigration consultancy, offers tailored services to assist clients with their immigration needs.

Services include:

  • Expert guidance and counseling for Norway Immigration.
  • Free career counseling sessions available, schedule your appointment today.
  • Comprehensive support for Norway PR visa applications.
  • Job search assistance to help find relevant employment opportunities in Norway.

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