The spectacular view of the Northern Lights attracts millions of people to Norway per year. Of course, there is more than Northern Lights in Norway to discover. Besides being a tourism center, Norway is attractive for workers, too. Thousands of people have a dream to live and work in Norway. Those people need to obtain a work visa to Norway to engage in business. Considering that a lot of people are interested in work visas, we decided to talk about the Norway work visa process. In this blog, you will get answers to these questions: how to get a work visa for Norway, can foreigners work in Norway, how much is Norway work visa fees, how long does Norway work visa processing time take, what are Norway work visa requirements, what is Norway post study work visa, and more.
The visa policy
Foreigners who are not from one of the visa-waiver countries must obtain a visa to travel to Norway. Depending on nationality, stay duration, and the purpose of the visit of the foreigner, there are various visa types. In general, we can divide them into four categories. Also, all of these categories have some subcategories.
- Schengen Visa – Type A for Norway
- Schengen Visa – Type C
- Entry Visa - Type D for Norway
- Residence Permits
Mentioning all of these visa types in one topic is almost impossible. Today we will talk about a work visa to Norway.
Can foreigners work in Norway?
Of course, the answer is yes. People who want to live and work in Norway can apply for a work visa. To get a work permit, you must have competitive skills. Who can apply for a work visa? Applicants who answer the following Norway work visa requirements can apply for a visa:
- Graduates of higher education
- People who completed a vocational education
- People who have an experience that can be useful in work (even if he lacks proper education)
- People who found work with an employer in Norway
- People who will work in a full-time job
- Foreigners whose income is the same as a Norwegian citizen
- Foreigner over 18
- Foreigners without a criminal background
Required documents
While applying for a visa for any country, you must collect the needed documents. It is a very crucial part of the visa application process, and it will play a vital role in the final result. So, ensure that you have collected all the required documents and details. It will be better to prepare a checklist. It will make the process easier.
- The signed cover letter; You will get it after finishing the application process on self-service.
- Completed power of attorney form. You will need it if you want that employer to apply on your behalf or your employer or another person in Norway to follow up your application in UDI.
- Two photos. Photos not older than six months, size 3,5x4,5, on the white background, with clear facial features and eyes, and a frontal view of the face-covering 70-80% (32-26mm) of the photo
- Passport, copy of the main page, and copies of all used pages of the passport: If you make your application in Norway, you will need to show your passport and give the copies. On the other hand, if you apply abroad, then you will need to provide the original and all copies.
- Civil status evidence. It means marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, death certificate of spouse, etc.
- ID Card. Validity should be a minimum of three months beyond the date of travel to Norway.
- Residence permit/visa copy. Such as in the ID Card, validity should be a minimum of three months beyond the date of travel to Norway.
- Contract to show that you have somewhere to live. It can be an apartment, a room in a shared flat, or similar. If you stay in a rental, you must show a written rental contract, which is approved by the house owner, manager, or housing co-operative.
- Completed UDI's offer of employment form
- The document that shows that the salary meets the requirements
- Documents to prove your education
- Documents to verify work experience
- CV (Curriculum Vitae). Here you will need to show all of the details that can be useful in work. Also, you may need to mention some extra information for some jobs.
If you want to get more detailed information about the required documents, click on the visa policy section on our website and choose Norway.
Norway seasonal work visa
Some people are available to work only for some periods. Those people can apply for a Norway seasonal work visa. Which documents will I need for a seasonal work permit? The documents and details that you will need to show during the application process are almost the same as the previous visa type. How much does it cost? In the next section, we will mention the price of a work visa, and it is the same for a seasonal work visa.
- The signed cover letter
- Completed power of attorney form
- Two photos
- Passport, copy of the main page, and copies of all used pages of the passport
- Civil status evidence
- ID Card
- Residence permit/visa copy
- Contract to show that you have somewhere to live
- Completed UDI's offer of employment form
- The document that shows that the salary meets the requirements
Norway work visa processing time and the payment
After providing all documents and details, you will need to pay the visa fee and wait for the finishing of the Norway work visa process. How much is Norway work visa fees? The charge for the visa is NOK 6.300. Today, It is equal to 716 USD. You may need to pay some extra charges during your application. What about the processing time? The average processing time for the visa is 15-45 working days. Of course, both the payment and time of processing may vary depending on the country of submission. So, get in touch with an organization that is responsible for a Norway visa in your country.
How to get a work visa for Norway?
You will make a standard visa application. It means paper-based application. Where can I apply? You can apply for a Norway visa in visa application centers, embassies, or consulates, whichever accepts visa applications in your country of residency. If none of them are available in your country, you need to apply to the nearest embassy or consulate to your location.
Can I bring my family?
If you get acceptance from a work visa, you can bring your family members to live with you. The name of that permission is Norway Family Visa. Can I bring all of my family members? Family members that answer the following requirements may come with you:
- Spouse or registered partner
- Cohabitant. You and your cohabitant must be over 24 years old. You should have been living together for at least two years ( or expecting a child).
- Children under 18
- Children over 18: Between 18-21, unmarried, didn't work or study, children who have a health problem. Furthermore, you must support your child financially, and they must live with you.
Finally, the applicant who wants to bring his family must earn USD 29,000 per year.
Reasons of work visa rejections
It is not a secret that not all applicants get success after the application. As we mentioned above, many people want to work in Norway, but not all of them fit the work visa requirements of Norway. What are some common reasons for rejections?
- The first reason is the lack of documents. Such as we said before, it is one of the most crucial parts of the application. You must provide all the needed documents. Also, don't try to deceive, because undoubtedly, that lie will be uncovered.
- Another reason is lower income than average. When an applicant gets a job offer, the salary that the employer offered to him must fit with the average salary standards of the country.
- Some applicants want to work as self-employed in Norway. In most cases, those applicants do not have enough skills for this kind of activity.
Other work visas
Besides the work visas that we mentioned above, there are some other work visas for Norway. Those types differ from each other because of the nature of the work. They are:
- Norway Job-Seeker Visa (Norway post study work visa). It is for skilled workers who have finished their education in Norway. It will allow those students to stay in Norway without a job offer and look for work.
- Vocational Training and Research Visa. It is for students who will join training during their higher education studies or self-funded researchers( not employed with a Norwegian employer).
- Norway Working Holiday Visa. It is for young people (under 31 years) from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand. A Holiday Visa allows them to work and live in Norway for up to a year.
Finally, I would like to wish success to all of the readers during their visa application process, and I hope that information that you read here will be beneficial.
