From outside EEA/EU
Visa for Schengen area Foto: colorbox.com
Residence permit - skilled worker
Nationals from countries outside the EEA normally need a residence permit in order to work in Norway. The exception from this rule is researchers/lectures that are going to work for less than three months a year in Norway (read more about it under heading "Visiting").
Many nationals also need a visa in order to come to Norway. Find out if you are from a country with visa exemption agreements with Norway, and read more about visa below.
Most university employees should apply for a residence permit as a skilled worker. A person with a university degree is considered a "skilled worker". Find out more about the rules and routines for the residence permit for skilled workers. And/or read the fact sheet from the authorities about skilled worker.
Visa
Information about visas and how to apply.
- If you decide to apply for residence permit from your home country, or country of residence for the last 6 months, and you are granted a residence permit in Norway, you automatically also receive an entry permit, and do NOT need to apply for a visa as well.
- If you qualify for a residence permit as a skilled worker, you can apply for visa in order to travel to Norway and apply for the residence permit from here. Be aware that it can take several weeks to get an appointment with the police to hand in your documentation and before you may get permission to start working). If you choose this option, you should also ask the police for a preliminary work permit while your residence permit is processed. The processing time for a preliminary work permit is usually one week, while the processing of your residence permit may take several months).
- If your employer is applying for residence permit on your behalf (using the early employment scheme), you can also get a fast processed visa. (Due to the long waiting time to get an appointment with the police to hand in documentation needed for your application, in many cases it will be better to apply for residence permit from your home country / country of residence for the last six months).
Where and when to apply
Application for residence permit can be made from home country, or country where you have had a residence permit for the last six months.
Nationals from countries with visa exemption agreements can travel to Norway (allowed to stay for 90 days) before applying for a residence permit.
Most nationals can (and should) now use online application: https://selfservice.udi.no/en-gb/
Nationals from countries who needs visa, can either apply for residence permit (includes entry visa) before coming to Norway, or apply for just for the visa and arrange for the rest of the permit after arriving. (But this may take some time to get.)
Read about expected processing time on applications.
NB! For citizen of Bangladesh, we have experienced problems with the immigration process. We therefor recommend that you contact us to discuss how to proceed with the process.
Police
When applying for residence permit from Norway (or when renewing your permit), you can apply at your nearest police station or at a Service Centre for Foreign Workers.
Foreign nationals and accompanying family members who have applied for a residence permit through a Norwegian Foreign Service Mission (embassy, general consulate and consulate) must register in person at the local police station within seven days of arriving in Norway.
The police in Bergen:
The office for handling residence permits and for registration for foreign nationals in Bergen, is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; from 9:00 - 13:00. It is possible to call then on Tuesday and Friday: 09:00 - 14:45
Phone: 55 55 63 00, Fax: 55 55 65 60
Visiting address; Allehelgens gate 6
Postal address: Postboks 285 Sentrum, 5804 Bergen.
E-mail: post.hordaland@politiet.no
Service Centres for Foreign Workers in Norway (SUA)
For fast processing (one week) of residence permits, id.no. and tax-card, people coming to Bergen can visit one of the Service Centres (SUA) in Oslo or Stavanger instead of the local police. But remember to send in an electronic application form first at: https://selfservice.udi.no/en-gb/ where you should also remember to book an appointment at the SUA (in Oslo or Stavanger), and not for the local police station (the result can be sent to your local police station, so you don´t need to wait in Oslo or Stavanger for the processing)..
At the Service Centre you may:
•apply for residence permit/ register yourself in accordance to the Foreigners Act
•apply for the tax deduction card and obtain a D-number in this case (if your residence application has been approved)
•hand in notification of immigration to the Population Register or change your address inside the country
•obtain information on rights and obligations as an employee in Norway
Visa and residence permit
For general information, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration has a lot of valuable information on the web: www.udi.no
Or for a more summarized version of the information take a look at: www.euraxess.no/incoming
Norwegian Foreign Service missions abroad, see: www.norway.info/
Citizens of an EU/EEA/EFTA country no longer need to apply for a residence permit, read more about registration here: www.udi.no
Last updated 4.4.2013