Moving to Norway
3 routes for people from the US, Canada and the UK, each checked against official sources. Find the one that fits, then check it with the source before you apply.
Freelance or your own business
Norway self-employed permit
Residence permit for self-employed persons with a company in Norway (sole proprietorship)
Qualified skilled workers who will run their own Norwegian sole proprietorship in their trade and actively work in it.
- What you need
- Same skilled-worker qualification as an employee (degree, 3-year vocational training or special qualifications); the business work must need those qualifications
- Business likely to give a profit (business income) of at least this amount before tax (NOK 341,373 a year)
- Business must normally be your own sole proprietorship, not a limited company; any required public licences must be held
- Not for
- Digital nomads: UDI says you can only work in this business and cannot take other work, including remote work
- Limited companies (AS)
- People without a recognised skilled qualification
- Where you apply
- From home or inside the country. Apply via UDI online. Register the business in the Brønnøysund Register after the first permit is approved. A separate variant covers self-employed people with a company abroad on a contract with a Norwegian business.
- How long it takes
- Not officially stated.
- First permit
- 1 year at a time
- Renewal
- Yearly while conditions are met.
- Longer term
- Permanent residence after about 3 years. Citizenship after about 8 years.
- Family
- Family can apply for family immigration.
A job offer
Norway skilled worker permit
Residence permit for skilled workers (faglært)
People with a degree, a 3-year vocational qualification or special qualifications and a concrete full-time (80%+) job offer from a Norwegian employer.
- What you need
- University degree, completed 3-year upper-secondary vocational training with a Norwegian equivalent, or special qualifications (usually 6+ years of experience)
- Minimum pre-tax salary where the job requires a master's degree (where no collective agreement applies) (NOK 624,700 a year)
- Minimum pre-tax salary where the job requires a bachelor's degree (NOK 545,400 a year)
- Vocational jobs: pay at the collective agreement rate or normal pay for the occupation and place
- Not for
- Remote work for a foreign employer
- Part-time jobs under 80%
- Unskilled jobs
- Where you apply
- From home or inside the country. Apply online via UDI; the employer confirms the job offer. Visa-exempt nationals (US, Canada, UK, Australia) may apply from inside Norway in many cases; otherwise hand in documents at the embassy/VFS. Norway is in Schengen but not the EU.
- How long it takes
- Not stated; UDI publishes waiting times. Vocational-level cases may take longer.
- First permit
- Up to 3 years for university-level jobs (1 year for staffing agencies or vocational level)
- Renewal
- Renewable while conditions are met.
- Longer term
- Permanent residence after about 3 years. Citizenship after about 8 years.
- Family
- Family can usually apply for family immigration; joint applications get decisions together. Adult family immigration fee NOK 11,900.
Treaties and special cases
Svalbard visa-free living
Residence on Svalbard (no permit required under the Svalbard Treaty regime)
Self-sufficient people who can line up a job and housing in Longyearbyen and want to live in the Arctic without a Norwegian permit.
- What you need
- Must have the means to live on Svalbard; the Governor can refuse or expel those who cannot support themselves
- Housing is mostly tied to jobs; arrange work and housing before arrival
- Travel goes via mainland Norway (Schengen): nationals who need a Schengen visa need a double-entry visa
- Not for
- Anyone wanting a path to mainland Norway residence or citizenship (Svalbard time generally does not count)
- People without a job or housing lined up
- People needing public welfare
- Where you apply
- From inside the country. No application: the Immigration Act does not apply on Svalbard. US, Canadian, UK and Australian citizens are visa-exempt for the Schengen transit (90/180 rule applies on the mainland).
- How long it takes
- Not applicable
- First permit
- No permit; stay as long as you support yourself
- Renewal
- Not applicable
- Family
- Each person must meet the self-support condition.