Norway Self-employed · Assignment

For a self-employed person established abroad with a contract for services of limited duration for a client in Norway. ^{1 2}

What you must show and pay

• 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 self-employed with an established business abroad, normally a sole proprietorship and not a limited company. ¹
• The applicant has three years of vocational training, a degree or special qualifications relevant to the assignment. ¹
• The applicant has a contract with a business in Norway that has a registered address there; the client is not a staffing company. ^{1 3}
• Remuneration under the contract is at least equal to the pay requirement for skilled workers and not poorer than normal in Norway. ^{1 3}
• The application fee is NOK 6,300 (≈ $660). ²
• Authorisation or recognition is submitted where the occupation requires it. ¹
• ¹
• The permit is valid for two years at a time and up to six years in total; after six years the holder lives outside Norway for two years. ^{1 3}
• The permit period does not count towards permanent residence. ¹

Stay

• Two years at a time, up to six years in total, then two years outside Norway; the permit does not lead to permanent residence.
• First stay: up to 24 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

The assignment only.

Family

Family can apply if the assignment lasts more than six months.

Fine print

The Norwegian party is a client with a service contract, not an employer.

Checked 2026-10-12

Official sources

1. Skilled workers, assignments, athletes, religious leaders, self-employed · Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) · checked 2026-10-12
2. Regulation on foreigners' entry and residence (utlendingsforskriften), section 17-10: processing fees for residence permits · Lovdata (Norwegian regulation text) · checked 2026-10-11
3. Immigration Regulations (utlendingsforskriften), chapters 6 and 10 · Lovdata (Norwegian legislation) · checked 2026-10-10