Want to apply Seafarers
The applicant is the person who wishes to visit or live in Norway.
What type of ship do you work on?
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Norwegian ship sailing between a Norwegian and a foreign port
Some seafarers working on Norwegian-registered ships do not need a residence permit to work in Norway.
Requirements for not needing a residence permit
You must work on board a Norwegian ship (not a fishing vessel) sailing between a Norwegian and a foreign port.
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Norwegian ships sailing between Norwegian ports
You must apply for a residence permit if you are to work on board a Norwegian-registered ship that carries cargo or passengers between Norwegian ports. This also applies if you are working on board a fishing vessel that lands its catches in a Norwegian port.
Seafarers can apply for the following types of residence permit
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Foreign-registered ships in international traffic
Some seafarers on foreign-registered ships do not need a residence permit to work in Norway. You must belong to one of the following groups:
- Seafarers working on board a foreign-registered cruise ship.
- Seafarers working on board a foreign-registered ship that is registered in a ship register in an EEA country.
- Seafarers working on board a foreign-registered ship that is to carry goods or passengers in Norway for up to three months.
- If the ship is to carry goods or passenger in Norway for a continuous period of more than three months, you must apply for a residence permit for seafarers on board foreign ships sailing between Norwegian ports. The period is deemed to be continuous even if the ship has been on two short journeys or assignments to other countries for up to a total of ten days.
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Foreign ships sailing between Norwegian ports
You must apply for a residence permit if you are going to work on board a foreign-registered ship that is to carry cargo or passengers between Norwegian ports for a continuous period of at least three months. The period of three months is deemed to be continuous even if the ship has been on two short journeys or assignments to other countries for up to a total of ten days.
Requirements of the employee
- You must pay an application fee.
Requirements relating to the employment relationship
- You must have received a concrete offer of full-time work on board a foreign-registered ship that carries cargo or passengers between Norwegian ports.
- The pay and working conditions must not be poorer than is normal in Norway.
Rights and obligations
- If you are to change ships, you must apply for a new permit.
- You can be granted a permit for one year at a time.
- The period you have this permit does not count if you later wish to apply for a permanent residence permit.
- Your family members cannot apply for a family immigration permit to come and live with you in Norway.
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Crew on board laid-up ships
If you are going to be in Norway for more than three months, you must have a residence permit.
Requirements of the applicant
- You must pay an application fee.
- You must be a necessary member of the security and maintenance crew on board a foreign-owned laid up ship in Norway.
- You must provide information about the name of the ship, the content and duration of the work on board, and how much you will receive in salary.
Rights and obligations
- The period you have this residence permit does not count if you later apply for a permanent residence permit.
- Your family members cannot apply for a family immigration permit to come and live with you in Norway.
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Spending the winter on a boat in a Norwegian port
Requirements of the applicant
- You must pay an application fee.
- You must provide the name of the boat and a confirmation of a berth in a Norwegian port.
- You must have enough money to live on.
Rights and obligations
- You cannot work while you are in Norway.
- The period you have this residence permit does not count if you later wish to apply for a permanent residence permit.
- Your family members cannot apply for a family immigration permit to come and live with you in Norway.
