Norway · Work
Norway Skilled job seeker
First stay: 6 mo
Residence permit for skilled job seekers who do not need a visa
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Skilled job seeker is a work route for Norway. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Government fees
- NOK 6,300 ≈ $660
- First stay
- 6 mo
Cost, time and long term
Government feesNOK 6,300 ≈ $660
- NOK 6,300 (≈ $660)Application fee under Immigration Regulations section 17-10 (work and similar permits), including renewals; applicants under 18 pay half.
Renewal6 months max in total
Up to six months.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Time on this route is capped at 6 months in total
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- The applicant has skilled-worker qualifications under Immigration Regulations section 6-1.
- The applicant is exempt from the visa requirement and is 18 or older.
What you must show2
- Maintenance for the stay must be secured; no fixed figure is given in the regulation.
- The application fee is NOK 6,300 (≈ $660).
Steps1
- The application is filed within three months of arrival; the permit runs from the date of entry.
After you arrive2
- The permit is valid for up to six months, and a new permit of this kind requires one year outside Norway.
- The permit does not lead to permanent residence.
When you become tax resident
How Norway decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- This route
Up to 6 months in total, shorter than the 183-day test below.
- 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
Full official text
A person with skilled-worker qualifications who does not need a visa can obtain a permit for up to six months to look for skilled work in Norway. 1 2 3
What you must show and pay
- A fee of NOK 6,300 (≈ $660) · Application fee under Immigration Regulations section 17-10 (work and similar permits), including renewals; applicants under 18 pay half. 3
Requirements
- The applicant has skilled-worker qualifications under Immigration Regulations section 6-1. 1 2
- The applicant is exempt from the visa requirement and is 18 or older. 1 2
- Maintenance for the stay must be secured; no fixed figure is given in the regulation. 1
- The application fee is NOK 6,300 (≈ $660). 3
- The application is filed within three months of arrival; the permit runs from the date of entry. 2
- The permit is valid for up to six months, and a new permit of this kind requires one year outside Norway. 2
- The permit does not lead to permanent residence. 2
Stay
- Up to six months.
- First stay: up to 6 months, decided case by case.
- Not renewable according to our source.
Nationality
Skilled persons from countries whose citizens do not need a visa for Norway. 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.
Fine print
UDI's job-seekers page, read on 12 October 2026, describes only the permit for recent graduates and researchers and says skilled workers get a job-search permit only in some exceptional cases. This record rests on section 6-29a of the Immigration Regulations, which is still in the regulations; ask UDI before relying on it.
Official sources
- Immigration Regulations (utlendingsforskriften), chapters 6 and 10 · Lovdata (Norwegian legislation) · checked 2026-10-10
- Utlendingsforskriften section 6-29a (skilled job seekers who do not need a visa) · Lovdata (Norwegian legislation) · checked 2026-10-11
- Regulation on foreigners' entry and residence (utlendingsforskriften), section 17-10: processing fees for residence permits · Lovdata (Norwegian regulation text) · checked 2026-10-11
Skilled job seeker and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled job seeker | – | 6 mo | – |
| 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 | – |
| Athlete / coach permit | Needs income of NOK 341k+ a year ≈ $36k | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Foreign-company assignment | – | 2 yr, renewable | Limited |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Skilled job seeker?
A fee of NOK 6,300 (≈ $660). Application fee under Immigration Regulations section 17-10 (work and similar permits), including renewals; applicants under 18 pay half.
How long can I stay on the Skilled job seeker?
Up to six months.
Who can apply for the Skilled job seeker?
Skilled persons from countries whose citizens do not need a visa for Norway. 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.
More in Norway
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.
How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 3 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.
- Immigration Regulations (utlendingsforskriften), chapters 6 and 10 · Lovdata (Norwegian legislation) · checked 2026-10-10
- Utlendingsforskriften section 6-29a (skilled job seekers who do not need a visa) · Lovdata (Norwegian legislation) · checked 2026-10-11
- Regulation on foreigners' entry and residence (utlendingsforskriften), section 17-10: processing fees for residence permits · Lovdata (Norwegian regulation text) · checked 2026-10-11
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.