Residence permit

English

Skilled jobseekers
Who is eligible for a residence permit as a jobseeker? Your purpose must be to seek employment as a skilled worker or specialist in Norway. You must be subject to a visa requirement. You must be a skilled worker. The term skilled worker covers the following categories: o Specialist training corresponding to upper secondary education level. You must have completed vocational training for a specific occupation. The education must as a minimum correspond to upper secondary education level, i.e. at least three years. You must have achieved the same level of expertise as you would have achieved had you been educated in Norway. Examples include vocational education for plumbers or auxiliary nurses. o Craft certificate. The craft certificate must have resulted in the same level of expertise as a Norwegian craft certificate. o University college or university education. The requirement is a completed degree or study programme, e.g. a Bachelor or Masters degree. o Special qualifications. You must have gained expertise through professional experience of a certain duration, alternatively in combination with other training (courses and similar). If there is a formal education in the field in question, then your level of expertise must be approximately equivalent to the level of such education. A permit is only granted on the basis of special qualifications in exceptional circumstances. You are not eligible for a residence permit as a jobseeker if you are to seek employment as a religious leader/teacher or an ethnic cook. You must have sufficient funds for the period for which you intend to stay in Norway. This must at a minimum correspond to salary grade 1 in the pay scale for Norwegian state employees, currently NOK 207.900 per year. Who does not need a residence permit as a jobseeker?

You can get a residence permit as a jobseeker in Norway if you are a skilled worker and subject to a visa requirement.

If you are not subject to a visa requirement and are qualified as a skilled worker, you can stay in Norway without a residence permit for six months to seek employment as a skilled worker or a specialist. You must report to the police in the place where you live no later than three months after your arrival, provide proof of your identity and inform the police that you are a job seeker. However, you need a residence permit if you are seeking employment as a religious leader/teacher or an ethnic cook.

How to apply In order to apply for a residence permit, you must complete the application form for a residence permit in Norway. You can submit your application to the nearest Norwegian foreign service mission (embassy or consulate) in your home country or in the country where you have held a residence permit for the past six months. If you are a skilled worker with legal residence in Norway, you can apply from Norway. This does not apply to asylum seekers. If you apply from Norway, you can submit your application either to the police district where you live or at a service centre for foreign workers (SUA).

What must be enclosed with the application? In addition to the completed application form, you must enclose: Documentation of your education containing information about the duration of the education, its content and the level of the educational institution. Documentation of work experience containing detailed information from former employers about the duration, tasks and the nature of the activities. Your CV Documentation that you have sufficient funds for your stay. Information about housing A copy of your passport A passport photo/photo that meets specific requirements. Documentation that you have paid a fee. As a rule, it is sufficient that you enclose a copy of the documents with your application, but it is a precondition that you present the original documents when you hand in your application. You must also enclose translations of the documents into Norwegian or English.

Frequently asked questions

How long will it take to process the application? See the list of the UDIs expected processing times at www.udi.no/caseprocessingtime Can you appeal a rejection? You can appeal the decision. Read more about how to appeal a decision at www.udi.no/appeals Further information If you have more questions about this topic, contact your nearest Norwegian embassy or consulate, the nearest police district or the UDIs Information Service. You can find more information about the regulations that apply to skilled workers in the Immigration Act chapter 3 and the Immigration Regulations chapter 6.

The content of the permit The residence permit entitles you to seek employment as a skilled worker in Norway, but it does not entitle you to work. The permit can be granted for six months. The permit entitles you to repeated entry into Norway for the duration of the permit. The permit does not form the basis for a permanent residence permit. The permit does not form the basis for family immigration.

Is the permit renewable? The permit is not renewable. A new permit as a jobseeker cannot be granted until the applicant has stayed outside Norway for one year.

The Directorate of Immigration (UDI) P.O. Box 8108 Dep. N-0032 Oslo Office address: Hausmannsgate 21
Sist oppdatert: 04.10.2010

Tel.: (+47) 23 35 15 00 Fax: (+47) 23 35 15 15 www.udi.no E-mail: udi@udi.no