Norwegian and Sami
Language
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Country guide · Norway
Living and working in Norway
A guide for international candidates
Unless you're an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you'll usually need a residence permit as a skilled worker, based on a job offer. There's no sponsor licence. Pay must match the collective agreement for the job or, where there isn't one, at least NOK 545,400 a year for bachelor's level jobs or NOK 624,700 for master's level jobs. The application fee is NOK 6,300.
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Norwegian krone
Currency
NOK, kr
Oslo
Capital
CET
Time zone
UTC+1, CEST (UTC+2) in summer
112
Emergency number
Police, 113 ambulance, 110 fire
Type C and Type F
Plug
230 V
Last checked 12 October 2026. Estimates are labelled.
Where the jobs are
All regions lets you pick a place and see rent, jobs and the sectors in this guide. Choose a sector to see that industry in every place.
Cyan is the region you picked. Navy is everywhere else.
Region
Oslo
NOK 15,260 a month for 2 rooms (Oslo and Bærum municipality)
- Rent a month
- NOK 15,260
- Vs regions in this guide
- +42%
- People in work
- 538k
- Strongest sector
- Tech
Sector strength vs average for Norway
- Tech2.54×
- Healthcaren/a
- Engineeringn/a
- Finance2.38×
- Hospitality1.29×
Job links open all Norway roles for now. Rent compared with the other regions in this guide.
View the map as a table
| County | Population | People in work | Sectors above average (LQ 1.05 or more) | Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oslo | 728,714 | 538,130 | Tech 2.54, Finance 2.38, Hospitality 1.29 | NOK 15,260 a month for 2 rooms (Oslo and Bærum municipality) |
| Østfold | 316,448 | 127,120 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.35, Healthcare 1.21 | NOK 9,880 a month for 2 rooms (Urban settlements with more than 20,000 inhabitants figure used for the county, estimate) |
| Akershus | 749,207 | 317,084 | None (all close to or below average) | NOK 12,520 a month for 2 rooms (Akershus except Bærum municipality) |
| Buskerud | 272,981 | 126,962 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.60, Healthcare 1.05 | NOK 9,880 a month for 2 rooms (Urban settlements with more than 20,000 inhabitants figure used for the county, estimate) |
| Innlandet | 379,488 | 174,341 | Healthcare 1.21, Engineering and manufacturing 1.19 | NOK 9,880 a month for 2 rooms (Urban settlements with more than 20,000 inhabitants figure used for the county, estimate) |
| Vestfold | 259,332 | 113,454 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.31, Healthcare 1.10 | NOK 9,880 a month for 2 rooms (Urban settlements with more than 20,000 inhabitants figure used for the county, estimate) |
| Telemark | 177,923 | 78,857 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.41, Healthcare 1.22 | NOK 9,880 a month for 2 rooms (Urban settlements with more than 20,000 inhabitants figure used for the county, estimate) |
| Agder | 323,930 | 149,319 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.29, Healthcare 1.12 | NOK 9,880 a month for 2 rooms (Urban settlements with more than 20,000 inhabitants figure used for the county, estimate) |
| Rogaland | 508,922 | 269,290 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.25 | NOK 11,400 a month for 2 rooms (Stavanger municipality figure used for the county, estimate) |
| Vestland | 658,342 | 338,463 | Engineering and manufacturing 1.16, Finance 1.09, Healthcare 1.05 | NOK 11,870 a month for 2 rooms (Bergen municipality figure used for the county, estimate) |
| Møre og Romsdal | 273,169 | 133,756 | Engineering and manufacturing 2.00, Healthcare 1.06 | NOK 9,880 a month for 2 rooms (Urban settlements with more than 20,000 inhabitants figure used for the county, estimate) |
| Trøndelag | 489,166 | 249,163 | None (all close to or below average) | NOK 11,850 a month for 2 rooms (Trondheim municipality figure used for the county, estimate) |
| Nordland | 243,272 | 118,984 | Healthcare 1.15, Engineering and manufacturing 1.05 | NOK 9,880 a month for 2 rooms (Urban settlements with more than 20,000 inhabitants figure used for the county, estimate) |
| Troms | 171,218 | 90,747 | Healthcare 1.24, Hospitality 1.09 | NOK 9,880 a month for 2 rooms (Urban settlements with more than 20,000 inhabitants figure used for the county, estimate) |
| Finnmark | 75,288 | 38,486 | Healthcare 1.13 | NOK 9,880 a month for 2 rooms (Urban settlements with more than 20,000 inhabitants figure used for the county, estimate) |
Cities
Pay, rent and the share of pay that rent takes. Estimates stay labelled.
Estimate
Oslo
- Rent
- NOK 19,407
- Pay
- NOK 44,027
- Rent share
- 44%
Estimate
Bergen
- Rent
- NOK 13,960
- Pay
- NOK 43,816
- Rent share
- 32%
Estimate
Trondheim
- Rent
- NOK 13,988
- Pay
- NOK 40,198
- Rent share
- 35%
Tools
Step 1 of 2
Visa route finder
A route to read about, not a decision on your application. Figures are the ones in this guide.
Rent and pay
The pay and rent figures already in this guide. This is not a tax calculation.
Rent a month in Oslo
NOK 19,407
- Pay
- NOK 44,027
- Rent share of pay
- 44%
Take-home pay
The Norwegian Tax Administration calculator estimates tax from the figures you enter. No login is required, and they say the result is approximate.
Open the Skatteetaten calculatorVisa routes to read about
These describe the route. They do not say whether you qualify.
Little-known facts
Daily life
- Good to knowFriluftsliv (outdoor life), early dinners, cabins (hytte), a strong cash-free culture with Vipps, and polar night and midnight sun in the north.
- HealthcareMembers of the National Insurance Scheme get public healthcare and a regular GP (fastlege).
- Good to knowCall 116 117 for an out-of-hours doctor and 113 for an ambulance.
Family, school and pets
- FamilyFamilies can usually join, and spouses can usually work (check UDI).
- Good to knowKindergarten fees are capped by a national maximum price.
- SchoolSchool is free and compulsory from age 6 to 16.
From job offer to settled in
1
Collect your residence card and attend the UDI or police appointment
2
Get a national identity number
Via the National Population Register
Source3
Bank account and BankID
4
Tax deduction card
From Skatteetaten
5
Find housing
Most newcomers rent privately. Deposits are capped at 6 months' rent under the Tenancy Act
Questions
Do Norwegian employers need a sponsor licence?
No. You need a concrete job offer, and the job must need a degree or vocational training.
What is the minimum salary?
The collective agreement rate for the job. Where there is no agreement, UDI sets floors: NOK 545,400 a year for bachelor's level jobs and NOK 624,700 for master's level jobs.
How much does it cost?
NOK 6,300 for applicants 18 or over, including renewals.
Can my family come with me?
Usually yes, with a family immigration permit; check UDI for the income rules.
Does every employer on Global Sponsor Hub sponsor visas?
No. Each listing shows the support the employer or agency has stated, such as visa sponsorship or relocation support. Confirm it with the employer before you apply.
UDI does not sell permits through agents; apply on udi.no. Never pay for a job offer. Fake rental ads asking for a deposit before a viewing are common. Norwegian Police advice.
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