Before Arrival

Citizens from all Nordic countries may stay and work in Norway indefinitely without a work permit.

However, if you plan to live in Norway for more than six months, you must visit a tax office for an ID check and submit a notification of change of address, no later than eight days after you arrive in Norway.

If you are an EU/EEA national and intend to stay in Norway for more than 90 days, you need to register with the Norwegian authorities. We strongly recommend you register as soon as possible, preferably before arriving. You are entitled to move to Norway and start working right away, provided you register within three months.

Make sure you have a valid passport and a UDI employment certificate.

If you are a non-EU/EEA national formally employed by HVL and you intend to stay in Norway for more than 90 days, you need a residence permit.

The application includes an online registration and a meeting in person with the immigration authorities upon arrival to finalize the registration. Make sure you have a valid passport and a UDI employment certificate.

Start the process early. Please note that you are not allowed to start working in Norway before the residence permit has been granted. Therefore, you must apply for a residence permit well in advance of your planned arrival in Norway.

Registration

You do not have to register with the Norwegian immigration authorities if you are staying in Norway for less than 90 days. You do not need to report a move to Norway for those 90 days.

Tax, ID control and Social security

If you receive a salary from Western Norway University of Applied Sciences during your stay, you must apply for a tax deduction card and, as a rule, undergo an ID control. You can book an appointment with the tax administration.

A couple of weeks after submitting the application for a tax deduction card you can expect to receive a letter from the tax office with your 11-digit temporary Norwegian ID number.

You will pay taxes to Norway for the social security contribution unless you bring your A1 form that confirms that you are paying social security to another country. This form will be sent to NAV with your Norwegian ID number attached to it.

You must send your Norwegian ID number and A1 form to the salary office at lonn@hvl.no.

Tax return

If you did not bring your A1 form and therefore paid social security to Norway, you will have to amend this in your Tax return on the following year. You will only be able to do so if you are not on the PAYE scheme or by opting out from it

Registration

You do not have to register with the Norwegian immigration authorities if you are staying in Norway for less than 90 days. There are some countries that need a visa in order to visit Norway for up to 90 days. Check who are not required to have a visa at UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration) to see if this applies to you. If you do need a visa, you can find more information on how to apply at UDI and more information about the Schengen Visa at Schengen Visa Info.

As a general rule, you are allowed to stay in Norway (and sometimes the Schengen countries) for 90 days in 180 days. Check that you are allowed to stay in Schengen if you have been in another country before coming to Norway.

Tax, ID control and Social security

If you receive a salary from Western Norway University of Applied Sciences during your stay, you must apply for a tax deduction card and, as a rule, undergo an ID control. You can book an appointment with the tax administration.

A couple of weeks after submitting the application for a tax deduction card you can expect to receive a letter from the tax office with your 11-digit temporary Norwegian ID number.

Social security

You will pay taxes to Norway for the social security contribution unless you bring your Certificate of Coverage (CoC) that confirms that you are paying social security to another country. This form will be sent to NAV with your Norwegian ID number attached to it.

For some countries that don't have a Cerfiticate of Coverage, you will have to pay social security to Norway.

You must send your Norwegian ID number and CoC form to the salary office to lønn@hvl.no.

Tax return

If you didn't bring your CoC form and therefore you paid social security to Norway, you will have to amend this in your Tax return on the following year. You will only be able to do so if you are not on the PAYE scheme or by opting out from it.

Membership in the National Insurance Scheme is the key to eligibility for the services provided by the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV). In Norway, your membership can be based on residence or employment. 

HVL does not provide rental rooms/apartments for employees, and you will have to find housing on the private market.

• Finn.no - Most listings are found here for both rental and purchase (in Norwegian)
• Hybel.no - Smaller-sized housing, bedsits, and shared housing for rent (in Norwegian)
• Utleigemegleren - A professional and efficient team to help you find suitable housing.

• Tax deduction card - a step-by-step guide
• Norwegian identification number
• Get an Electronid ID / Become an online User
• SUA - Service Centre for Foreigns Workers
• Coming from an EU/EEA country to work in Norway
• Coming from a country outside EU/EEA to work in Norway
• Membership in the National Insurance Scheme
• About general practitioner and the GP scheme
• Information about NAV's services and benefits