Norway · Work

Norway Athlete / coach permit

Income needed: NOK 341k+ a year ≈ $36k

Residence permit for athletes and coaches

Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026Change log

Key facts

Athlete / coach permit is a work route for Norway. Applicants need income of NOK 341k+ a year ≈ $36k. You can stay 1 yr, renewable. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.

Money needed: NOK 341k+ a year ≈ $36k
Government fees: NOK 6,300 ≈ $660
First stay: 1 yr

Cost, time and long term

To apply: government fee NOK 6,300 ≈ $660; income to show NOK 341k+/yr ≈ $36k. No lawyer or agent fee is included.

Government feesNOK 6,300 ≈ $660

NOK 6,300 (≈ $660)Application fee for a work residence permit (Immigration Act sections 23 to 26), including renewals; applicants under 18 pay half.

Shown, not spentNOK 341k+/yr ≈ $36k

NOK 341,373 a year (≈ $35,700)Minimum pre-tax pay, not poorer than Norwegian athletes or coaches in the club.

RenewalRenewable

Granted for one year at a time.

Norwegian Directorate of Immigration

Permanent residenceAfter 3 years of residence

Permanent residence can be applied for after three years of continuous residence on a qualifying permit.

Norwegian Directorate of Immigration

CitizenshipAfter 8 years of residence

Citizenship needs 8 years of residence in Norway during the last 11 years.

Norwegian Directorate of Immigration

Presence rulesAway max 7 months in total

For permanent residence you cannot have been outside Norway more than 7 months in total over the 3 years; skilled workers may be away up to 15 months if at least 8 were work travel for the employer.

Norwegian Directorate of Immigration

Why this route may not fit

Check this before you apply.

Needs a job offer from an employer in Norway
Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports

What you'll need

Who can apply2

The applicant is an athlete in top-level sport or a coach in top-level sport, such as the top two divisions in football or the top division in basketball.
The applicant has a concrete job offer from one specific employer in Norway, normally full time.

What you must show2

Pay is at least NOK 341,373 (≈ $35,700) per year pre-tax and not poorer than Norwegian athletes or coaches in the club.
The application fee is NOK 6,300 (≈ $660).

Documents1

A confirmation from the relevant member association of the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports shows the qualifications and level.

Steps1

The employer confirms the job offer and gives the applicant a code before the application is submitted from abroad.

After you arrive2

The permit is valid for one year at a time and permanent residence can be applied for after three years.
The holder can change employers within the same type of work without a new permit.

When you become tax resident

How Norway decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.

Stay on this route: Up to 1 year at first, renewable
Tax residence: More than 183 days in any 12-month periodPresence in Norway for more than 183 days in one or more periods makes a person resident for the income year in which the limit is passed.
More than 270 days in any 36-month periodPresence in Norway for more than 270 days in any 36-month period also makes a person resident, except for persons resident on Svalbard.
Foreign-source income: Norwegian tax residents are taxed on worldwide income and wealth: 22% on general income plus bracket tax of 1.7% to 17.8% on personal income above NOK 226,100, (≈ $23,600) and employees pay 7.6% national insurance contributions.

All tax rules for Norway Tax records checked 12 Oct 2026

Official site

Full official text

For top-level sport athletes and coaches with a concrete job offer; confirmation of qualifications from the relevant sports federation. ^{1 2}

What you must show and pay

Income of at least NOK 341,373 a year (≈ $35,700) · Minimum pre-tax pay, not poorer than Norwegian athletes or coaches in the club. ¹
A fee of NOK 6,300 (≈ $660) · Application fee for a work residence permit (Immigration Act sections 23 to 26), including renewals; applicants under 18 pay half. ²

Requirements

The applicant is an athlete in top-level sport or a coach in top-level sport, such as the top two divisions in football or the top division in basketball. ¹
The applicant has a concrete job offer from one specific employer in Norway, normally full time. ¹
Pay is at least NOK 341,373 (≈ $35,700) per year pre-tax and not poorer than Norwegian athletes or coaches in the club. ¹
The application fee is NOK 6,300 (≈ $660). ²
A confirmation from the relevant member association of the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports shows the qualifications and level. ¹
The employer confirms the job offer and gives the applicant a code before the application is submitted from abroad. ¹
The permit is valid for one year at a time and permanent residence can be applied for after three years. ¹
The holder can change employers within the same type of work without a new permit. ¹

Stay

One year at a time; permanent residence can be applied for after three years.
First stay: up to 12 months, decided case by case.
Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

Nationality

Third-country nationals; EU/EEA citizens do not need the permit. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

Work

Same type of work; employer may change within it.

Family

Family can usually apply.

Checked 2026-10-12

Official sources

Skilled workers, assignments, athletes, religious leaders, self-employed · Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) · checked 2026-10-12
Regulation on foreigners' entry and residence (utlendingsforskriften), section 17-10: processing fees for residence permits · Lovdata (Norwegian regulation text) · checked 2026-10-11
The residence period for permanent residence permits · Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) · checked 2026-10-12
Shorter residence requirement for certain groups: Citizenship (main rule 8 of the last 11 years) · Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) · checked 2026-10-12

Athlete / coach permit and its alternatives

Route	Money needed	Stay	Work
Athlete / coach permit	Needs income of NOK 341k+ a year ≈ $36k	1 yr, renewable	–
Skilled worker permit	Needs income from NOK 545k a year ≈ $57k	3 yr, renewable	–
Artist or performer	Needs income of NOK 341k+ a year ≈ $36k	1 yr	–
Foreign-company assignment	–	2 yr, renewable	Limited
Branch assignment permit	–	2 yr, renewable	Limited

Questions people ask

How much money do I need for the Athlete / coach permit?

Income of at least NOK 341,373 a year (≈ $35,700). Minimum pre-tax pay, not poorer than Norwegian athletes or coaches in the club. A fee of NOK 6,300 (≈ $660). Application fee for a work residence permit (Immigration Act sections 23 to 26), including renewals; applicants under 18 pay half.

How long can I stay on the Athlete / coach permit?

One year at a time; permanent residence can be applied for after three years.

Can I work on the Athlete / coach permit?

Same type of work; employer may change within it.

Can I bring my family on the Athlete / coach permit?

Family can usually apply.

Who can apply for the Athlete / coach permit?

Does the Athlete / coach permit lead to permanent residence in Norway?

Time on the Athlete / coach permit counts toward permanent residence in Norway, which the rules allow after 3 years of residence. Time on the Athlete / coach permit counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 8 years of residence.

How are Athlete / coach permit holders taxed in Norway?

No special regime in our records is tied to the Athlete / coach permit. The standard rules apply: Norwegian tax residents are taxed on worldwide income and wealth: 22% on general income plus bracket tax of 1.7% to 17.8% on personal income above NOK 226,100, (≈ $23,600) and employees pay 7.6% national insurance contributions.

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≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

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How this was checked

Checked on 2026-10-12 against 4 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.

Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.

Skilled workers, assignments, athletes, religious leaders, self-employed · Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) · checked 2026-10-12
Regulation on foreigners' entry and residence (utlendingsforskriften), section 17-10: processing fees for residence permits · Lovdata (Norwegian regulation text) · checked 2026-10-11
The residence period for permanent residence permits · Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) · checked 2026-10-12
Shorter residence requirement for certain groups: Citizenship (main rule 8 of the last 11 years) · Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) · checked 2026-10-12

Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.