Skilled worker

Requirements of the applicant

  • You must pay an application fee.
  • Your work or research situation must be unchanged. 
  • You must meet the same requirements as when you applied for the first time.

Requirements of the type of residence permit you have 

  • Your residence permit must be renewable. If you already have held the residence permit for the maximum amount of months or years, you cannot apply for renewal.
Residence permit for: Is the permit renewable?
Skilled worker with an employer in Norway Yes
Employees of international companies 

Yes, but you can only have it for up to six years, then you must live outside Norway for two years before you can apply for a new such permit.
Employees of companies abroad  Yes, but you can only have it for up to six years, then you must live outside Norway for two years before you can apply for a new such permit.
Offshore workers Yes

Athletes or coaches

 Yes
Religious leaders/teachers Yes
Self-employed persons with a company in Norway Yes
Self-employed persons with a company abroad Yes, but you can only have it for a total of six years, then you must live outside Norway for two years before you can apply for a new such permit.

Are you going to change employers or jobs and have a residence permit as a skilled worker with an employer in Norway?

  • If you are going to change employers, but work in the same type of position, you do not need to apply for a new residence permit. The pay and working conditions must not be inferior to what is normal in Norway, and you still must meet the requirements for your residence permit as a skilled worker with an employer in Norway.
  • If you are going to start in a new type of position you must apply for a new residence permit, no matter if you are staying with the same employer or changing employers. You cannot start in a new type of position until you have been given a new residence permit. 

Did you lose your job?

  • If you lose your job, you must notify the police where you live within seven days. You can then stay in Norway for up to six months to look for a new job. Your residence permit must still be valid for the duration of this period.
    • If you get a new job, but are going to work in the same type of position as before, you do not need to apply for a new residence permit, but you must notify the police where you live within seven days after you start the new job.
    • If you get a new job, where you are going to have a different type of position than before, you must apply for a new residence permit. You cannot start in the new type of position until you have been given a new residence permit.

Who is responsible for processing renewal applications?

Renewal applications (skilled workers) are normally processed by the police, without involving UDI. You will be notified by email if the police do forward your case to UDI.

Information about the expected waiting times for the police (external website).