How to Get a How to Get a Post Study Work Visa Norway | IAM (Immigration and Migration)

Post Study Options: How to Get a Post Study Work Visa in Norway

Contents in this Article

Jobseeker/Researcher Permit
Residence Permit for a Skilled Worker with an Employer
Residence Permit for Self Employment
- Residence Permit for Self-Employment: Self-employed with a company in Norway
- Residence Permit for Self-Employment: Self-employed with a company abroad
Permanent Residence
Naturalised Citizenship
Did you know?

Norway is ranked as one of the best countries to live in by the United Nations Human Development Report and has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. This northern European country is known for the highest concentration of stunning fjords in the world. It has various outdoor activities for every season including the Aurora Borealis “Northern Lights” and cross-country skiing in the winter to white water rafting and climbing in the summer.

Although Norway is not part of the European Union, the country is a member of the Schengen Agreement and the European Economic Area. The rules for visas & permits depend on the student’s home country of residence. So what are the post study work visa Norway options?

All EU/EEA and Swiss nationals are entitled to work in Norway and can stay in Norway for up to six months while searching for a job. You just need to register with the police. Nordic (Swedish, Danish, Icelandic and Finnish) students do not need to register with the police. You also do not need a visa to work after completing your studies.

International non-EU/EEA students who wish to work in Norway after completing your study programme need a residence permit, previously known as a work permit. You may stay in Norway for one year after graduating from a Norwegian university to look for work. As a student, it is expected that you have work experience when you finish your studies

Jobseeker/Researcher Permit – Post Study Work Visa Norway

This is the permit you need to look for employment as a skilled worker in Norway. Keep in mind that you must apply for a residence permit as a job seeker before your current permit expires and after completing your degree. This residence permit will be valid for a maximum of 12 months.

How to get a Jobseeker or Researcher Permit for Norway

To apply, you must meet one of the following conditions:

You must have a residence permit as a student at university college or university, student at a vocational school or student at upper secondary school. You must have completed your degree/education in Norway.
You must have a residence permit for additional education in order for your education to be recognised in Norway Your education must have been recognised or be about to be recognised.
You must have a residence permit as a researcher with own funds
You must have a residence permit as a skilled worker with an employer in Norway for being a researcher at a university, university college or research institute.

You should prepare the following documents:

Valid Passport
2 Passport photos with white background
Proof of Accommodation
Proof of sufficient funds (NOK 20,521 per month or NOK 246,246 per year)
Bank Statement for six months
Proof of your Education
Proof of your work experience

With this post study work visa Norway permit, you are entitled to work full-time or part-time while you look for relevant employment as a skilled worker, including in jobs that do not require skilled workers. However, the period you have this residence permit does not count if you later wish to apply for a permanent residence permit.

Residence Permit for a Skilled Worker with an Employer

How to get a Residence Permit as a Skilled Worker for Norway

Once you have received a concrete job offer then you can switch with this permit. You should be able to switch to this permit before your current permit expires. The duration of the permit depends on the position offered but is usually 1-3 years. You are eligible to apply for a permanent residence after three years with this permit and you are able to bring your family.

You can qualify for this application if you meet the following requirements:

you are a a skilled worker
you have a qualifying job offer in Norway
special requirements, if required

You should prepare the following documents:

Valid Passport
2 Passport photos with white background
Proof of Accommodation
UDI Employment Form
Proof of Salary offer meets the requirements
Proof of your Education
Proof of your work experience
Proof of valid residence permit

Residence Permit for Self Employment

Norway’s self-employment visas fall under the skilled worker visa and fall under two categories:

Self employed with a company in Norway
Self employed with a company abroad

They share the same education requirements:

must have completed vocational training program of at least 3 years at an upper secondary school level
must have completed education or degree from a university or university college
must have special qualifications that obtained through long work experience

Residence Permit for Self-Employment: Self-employed with a company in Norway

post study work visa norway - Your post study work options explained- How to get a Residence Permit as a Self Employed person for Norway

If you want to open your own business in the country, this permit is for you. The permit will be valid for a year and can be renewed. You are eligible to apply for a permanent residence after three years with this permit.

To qualify for this permit, you need to meet the following conditions

You must meet the education requirements.
You must have plans to engage in long-term business activities in Norway
The business concerned must normally be your own sole proprietorship. The business cannot be a limited company. You can only work in this business. You cannot take other work
The work you will be doing in the business must require your qualifications as a skilled worker
It must be likely that the business will give you a profit of at least NOK 246 246 per year before tax
If the type of business you will be running requires permits from public authorities, you must hold such a permit or a confirmation from the authority that you will be granted such a permit

You should prepare the following documents for this post study work visa Norway:

Valid Passport
2 Passport photos with white background
Proof of Accommodation
Proof of your Education
Proof of your work experience
Curriculum vitae (CV)
A detailed description of the business, including an assessment of the market and the sales potential for your product or service and your role in the business
Specification of the location of the business premises and the name of the business
Any necessary permit from a public body, if applicable, or a prior commitment of such a permit
If the business is newly established: budget for the business
If the business is established: accounts (income/expenses) and bank statement for the business' bank account for the past 12 months

Residence Permit for Self-Employment: Self-employed with a company abroad

You can be granted this permit for two years at a time. You can have this permit for up to six years, then you must live outside Norway for two years before you can apply for a new such permit. The period you have this permit does not count if you later wish to apply for a permanent residence permit.

If you are going to carry out assignments other than that described in the contract or for another enterprise, you must apply for a new residence permit.

To qualify for this permit, you need to meet the following conditions

You must meet the education requirements.
You must be a self-employed person with an established business abroad and have entered into a contract to carry out an assignment for a business in the country
The business in Norway must have a registered business address in the country
As a rule, the offer of an assignment must be for one specific enterprise in Norway
Your remuneration must not be lesser than is normal in Norway.
Your qualifications as a skilled worker must be relevant to your ability to complete the assignment
If you are going to carry out an assignment in an occupation for which recognition or authorisation is required, you must have such approval or authorisation.

You should prepare the following documents:

Valid Passport
2 Passport photos with white background
Proof of Accommodation
Proof of your Education
Proof of your work experience
Curriculum vitae (CV)
Contract between you and the Norwegian client
Proof that you are a self-employed contractor with a business established abroad

Permanent Residence

You are eligible for this permit if you have continuously lived in Norway for at least three years and must hold a valid residence permit and still meet the requirements. You must be financially independent for the past 12 months with no record of criminal conviction. You are also required to provide a completed mandatory tuition in the Norwegian language and social studies and pass the concluding tests, or document that you have been granted exemptions by the municipality

You should submit your application three months before your current residence permit expires and no later than a month before the permit expires. You will still have the same rights while waiting for a decision however if your previous residence permit expires before you get a new permit (permanent or renewed residence permit), you may have trouble travelling in and out of Norway. Without a valid residence card, you can be stopped at the border control in other countries.

With this permit, you can live and work in Norway indefinitely.

Naturalised Citizenship

If you hold a valid residence permit in Norway and you live here on a permanent basis, you can apply for Norwegian citizenship. You must have stayed in Norway for a total of seven of the past ten years and have held residence permits that were each valid for at least one year. Fluency in the Narwegian language is non-negotiable.

Your residence permit must be valid both when you apply for Norwegian citizenship and while your application is being processed. Applying for Norwegian citizenship does not mean that you have a valid permit to stay in Norway therefore it is very important that you renew your permit in the normal manner no later than one month before it expires.

From 1 January 2020, Norway has allowed dual citizenship. This means you can have dual citizenship so long as your current citizenship will allow it.

Did you know?

Norway passport holders can visit 149 countries visa free. Norway citizens can have a visa on arrival for 33 countries and can get e-visa for 17 countries
The Norwegian Nationality Act of 1950 allows any Nordic citizen (Swedish, Danish, Icelandic and Finnish) who has been legally living in Norway for at least two years and can understand Norwegian to become a citizen upon application. The same rule applies to a Norwegian living in the Nordic country