Requirments for employment in Norway
To work as healthcare personnel in Norway, several requirements and procedures must be met. These depend on your profession and where you obtained your education.
When hiring personnel who are not yet proficient in Norwegian, language training and assessment are included as supplementary parts to the recruitment process. All employees must demonstrate Norwegian language skills at a level that ensures effective communication and safe professional practice.
Doctors, nurses, psychologists, other health personnel with patient contact (including documentation responsibilities), and administrative staff who interact with patients must have oral and written Norwegian efficiency at a B2 level, equivalent to the Bergen test.
Platforms like Duolingo, Babbel, and Memrise offer Norwegian courses that are engaging and suitable for beginners to intermediate learners. These apps focus on vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
Language test
Norwegian language test A1-B2 | HK-dir (hkdir.no)
Courses and tests
Norwegian courses (folkeuniversitetet.no)
Placement test (folkeuniversitetet.no)
Practice for the test - Norwegian language test A1-B2 | HK-dir (hkdir.no)
Free online learning
Duolingo - The world's best way to learn a language
To work in a healthcare profession in Norway, you must have a valid authorization or license issued by the Norwegian Directorate of Health. This confirms that you have the necessary education and qualifications to practice your profession in Norway.
It is important to begin the authorization process early, as it can be time-consuming.
Authorisation and License for Health Personnel - Helsedirektoratet
To apply for a residence permit in Norway, you must follow a process established by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). Here you will find a step-by-step guide on how to proceed.
For certain countries, a visa is also required. Further information about different types of residence permits, visas, regulations and forms, can be found at the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). Nordic citizens do not need a residence permit to stay and work in Norway.
Once the application has been processed, you will receive a response. If the application is approved, you will be informed about how and where you can collect your residence permit.
EEA countries
Citizens from EEA countries (EU and EFTA countries) can register in Norway instead of applying for a work residence permit. EEA citizens should register if they plan to stay and work in Norway for more than three months. This scheme is administered by the police. For detailed information about the registration scheme, please consult the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI).
EEA citizens can pre-register online. Subsequently, they are required to appear at the nearest police authority to provide identification and present documentation for their basis of residence.
The documentation requirements for EEA citizens working in Norway include a valid identity card/passport and proof of employment (a form available on the UDI website, completed by the employer) or a work contract compliant with the Working Environment Act.
For shorter work stays, internships and research
For shorter work stays, internships, and research up to 3 months, there are specific regulations for residence permits and visas. If the individual will be in contact with patients, MRSA testing and a tuberculosis test must be completed.
Countries outside the EEA
For citizens from countries outside the EEA area, generally, a residence permit must be applied for before arriving in Norway. For some countries, a visa for Norway is also required. For more detailed information, please visit the UDI website. Employment documentation is required from the employer, meaning the hiring authority at the clinic/section must complete a specific form for employment offers found on the UDI website.
Links
Checklists which explain which documents you must hand in with your application - UDI
A police certificate of conduct must be provided for positions that involve working with children or individuals with developmental disabilities, in accordance with Section 20a of the Health Personnel Act.
You can request a certificate online through the official website of the Norwegian Police: Police certificate of conduct - Politiet.no
Once issued, the police certificate will be delivered digitally. It is your responsibility to forward or submit the certificate to your supervisor.
It is mandatory to present the police conduct certificate before starting your position. Please ensure that the certificate is no more than three months old at the beginning of your employment.
To open a bank account in Norway, you must provide your national identity number to the bank.
As a foreign worker, it is important to have a Norwegian bank account where you employer can deposit your salary, and where tax authorities can transfer any tax refunds or adjustments.
Tax card
Foreign nationals without a Norwegian identification number must appear in person at an ID office so that the Norwegian Tax Administration can conduct an identity check when applying for a tax deduction card. This is a mandatory step in the application process.
You should apply for a tax card as early as possible. If you are unable to present a valid tax card to your employer, 50 percent tax will be deducted from your salary by default.
Tax for individuals - The Norwegian Tax Administration
Identification number and D-number
When applying for a tax card for the first time, you will be assigned a registration number – either a D-number or a national identity number (11 digits). This number appears on your tax card and is used to identify you in interactions with public authorities.
ID number in Norway
In Norway, identification numbers are used to register individuals who have a formal connection to the country. Many public and private services require a Norwegian identification number to get access to services – for example, you need one to open a bank account.
See more information:
National identity number - UDI
Identification numbers in Norway - The Norwegian Tax Administration (skatteetaten.no)