---
title: "Norway Self-employed permit 2026: income NOK 341k+/yr needed"
url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/norway/self-employed/
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-12
---

Norway · Business / Startup

# Norway Self-employed permit

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

Residence permit for self-employed persons with a company in Norway

Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/)

- **Income needed:** NOK 341k+ a year ≈ $36k (Income of at least NOK 341,373 a year (≈ $35,700) · Likely business income (profit) pre-tax. 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.)
- **First stay:** 1 yr (One year at a time; permanent residence can be applied for after three years.)
- **Who can apply:** Most passports (Third-country nationals; EU/EEA citizens do not need the permit.)
- **Work:** Limited (Only in the own business.)

## Key facts

Self-employed permit is a business / startup route for Norway. Applicants need income of NOK 341k+ a year ≈ $36k. You can stay 1 yr, renewable. Local work: limited. 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 fees: NOK 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 spent: NOK 341k+/yr ≈ $36k**

- NOK 341,373 a year (≈ $35,700) Likely business income (profit) pre-tax.

**Renewal: Renewable**

Granted for one year at a time.

[Norwegian Directorate of Immigration](https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/work-immigration/skilled-workers/)

**Permanent residence: After 3 years of residence**

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

[Norwegian Directorate of Immigration](https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/work-immigration/skilled-workers/)

**Citizenship: After 8 years of residence**

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

[Norwegian Directorate of Immigration](https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/citizenship/shorter-residency-requirement-for-certain-groups/)

**Presence rules: Away max 7 months in total**

For permanent residence you cannot have been outside Norway more than 7 months in total over the 3 years. The longer 15-month allowance for skilled workers' work travel does not apply to self-employed permits.

[Norwegian Directorate of Immigration](https://www.udi.no/en/word-definitions/calculating-the-residence-period-for-permanent-residence-permits/)

## Why this route may not fit

Check this before you apply.

- Work rights are limited
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports

### What you'll need

#### Who can apply

- The applicant has vocational training of at least three years at upper-secondary level, a university or university-college degree, or special qualifications.
- The owner must live in Norway and take an active part in running the business.
- The business is normally a sole proprietorship and not a limited company, and the owner can work only in this business, including no remote work.
- The work in the business requires the owner's skilled-worker qualifications.
- Any permit that the business needs under other legislation is held, or the authority confirms it will be granted.

#### What you must show

- Expected business profit is at least NOK 341,373 (≈ $35,700) per year pre-tax.
- The application fee is NOK 6,300 (≈ $660).

#### Documents

- Proof of competence and role is submitted.
- A description of the business, financing and budget plans is submitted.
- Accounts, if any, are submitted.
- Advance statements that other authorities will grant required permits are submitted.

#### After you arrive

- The permit is valid for one year at a time and is tied to the specific business.
- Permanent residence can be applied for after three years.

## 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 period** Presence 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 period** Presence 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/norway/tax/) Tax records checked 12 Oct 2026

**Full official text**

For a skilled self-employed person running a sole proprietorship in Norway (not a limited company); the business must be likely to give a profit of at least NOK 341,373 (≈ $35,700) per year pre-tax; other work, including remote work, is not allowed. (sources 1, 2)

#### What you must show and pay

- Income of at least NOK 341,373 a year (≈ $35,700) · Likely business income (profit) pre-tax. (source 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. (source 2)

#### Requirements

- The applicant has vocational training of at least three years at upper-secondary level, a university or university-college degree, or special qualifications. (source 1)
- The owner must live in Norway and take an active part in running the business. (sources 1, 3)
- The business is normally a sole proprietorship and not a limited company, and the owner can work only in this business, including no remote work. (source 1)
- The work in the business requires the owner's skilled-worker qualifications. (sources 1, 3)
- Any permit that the business needs under other legislation is held, or the authority confirms it will be granted. (sources 1, 3)
- Expected business profit is at least NOK 341,373 (≈ $35,700) per year pre-tax. (source 1)
- The application fee is NOK 6,300 (≈ $660). (source 2)
- Proof of competence and role is submitted. (source 3)
- A description of the business, financing and budget plans is submitted. (source 3)
- Accounts, if any, are submitted. (source 3)
- Advance statements that other authorities will grant required permits are submitted. (source 3)
- The permit is valid for one year at a time and is tied to the specific business. (sources 1, 3)
- Permanent residence can be applied for after three years. (sources 1, 3)

#### 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

Only in the own business.

#### Family

Family can apply.

Checked 2026-10-12

## Official sources

1. [Skilled workers, assignments, athletes, religious leaders, self-employed](https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/work-immigration/skilled-workers/) · 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](https://lovdata.no/forskrift/2009-10-15-1286/%C2%A717-10) · Lovdata (Norwegian regulation text) · checked 2026-10-11
3. [Immigration Regulations (utlendingsforskriften), chapters 6 and 10](https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2009-10-15-1286) · Lovdata (Norwegian legislation) · checked 2026-10-10
4. [The residence period for permanent residence permits](https://www.udi.no/en/word-definitions/calculating-the-residence-period-for-permanent-residence-permits/) · Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) · checked 2026-10-12
5. [Shorter residence requirement for certain groups: Citizenship (main rule 8 of the last 11 years)](https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/citizenship/shorter-residency-requirement-for-certain-groups/) · Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) · checked 2026-10-12

## Self-employed permit and its alternatives

| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Self-employed permit | Needs income of NOK 341k+ a year ≈ $36k | 1 yr, renewable | Limited |
| [Self-employed · Assignment](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/norway/self-employed-abroad-assignment/) | – | 2 yr, renewable | Limited |
| [Startup Visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/startup-visa-89-4/) Portugal | Needs savings of €6,446+ ≈ $7,200 | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| [Entrepreneur visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/entrepreneur-visa/) Spain | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| [Startup Visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/startup-visa/) Italy | Needs savings of €50k+ ≈ $56k | 1 yr, renewable | – |

## Questions people ask

### How much money do I need for the Self-employed permit?

Income of at least NOK 341,373 a year (≈ $35,700). Likely business income (profit) pre-tax. 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 Self-employed permit?

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

### Can I work on the Self-employed permit?

Limited. Only in the own business.

### Can I bring my family on the Self-employed permit?

Family can apply.

### Who can apply for the Self-employed permit?

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.

### Does the Self-employed permit lead to permanent residence in Norway?

Time on the Self-employed permit counts toward permanent residence in Norway, which the rules allow after 3 years of residence. Time on the Self-employed permit counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 8 years of residence.

### How are Self-employed permit holders taxed in Norway?

No special regime in our records is tied to the Self-employed 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.

## More in Norway

[Working Holiday · Andorra](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/norway/working-holiday-ad/) [Working Holiday · Argentina](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/norway/working-holiday-ar/) [Working Holiday · Australia](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/norway/working-holiday-au/) [Working Holiday · Canada](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/norway/working-holiday-ca/) [Working Holiday · Japan](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/norway/working-holiday-jp/) [Working Holiday · New Zealand](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/norway/working-holiday-nz/) [Skilled worker permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/norway/skilled-worker/) [Artist or performer](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/norway/artist-musician-performer/)

## Business / startup visas elsewhere

[🇬🇷 Business investor permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/business-investment-b2/) [🇩🇪 Self-employed permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/self-employment-21/) [🇫🇷 Entrepreneur / freelancer](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/entrepreneur-liberal/) [🇬🇧 Innovator Founder](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-kingdom/innovator-founder/) [🇳🇱 DAFT self-employed](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/netherlands/daft-self-employed/) [🇨🇾 Startup visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/cyprus/startup-visa/)

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

## How this was checked

**Checked on 2026-10-12 against 5 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.

1. [Skilled workers, assignments, athletes, religious leaders, self-employed](https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/work-immigration/skilled-workers/) · 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](https://lovdata.no/forskrift/2009-10-15-1286/%C2%A717-10) · Lovdata (Norwegian regulation text) · checked 2026-10-11
3. [Immigration Regulations (utlendingsforskriften), chapters 6 and 10](https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2009-10-15-1286) · Lovdata (Norwegian legislation) · checked 2026-10-10
4. [The residence period for permanent residence permits](https://www.udi.no/en/word-definitions/calculating-the-residence-period-for-permanent-residence-permits/) · Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) · checked 2026-10-12
5. [Shorter residence requirement for certain groups: Citizenship (main rule 8 of the last 11 years)](https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/citizenship/shorter-residency-requirement-for-certain-groups/) · Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) · checked 2026-10-12

Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.