Foreign workers who will carry out assignments in Norway for a limited period on behalf of a foreign employer must have the correct residence permit. This article gives an overview of the residence permit for posted workers under Section 24 of the Immigration Act and Section 6-13 of the Immigration Regulations.
What is a posted worker?
Under Section 6-13 first paragraph of the Regulations, a residence permit may be granted to a foreign national who is employed by a foreign enterprise that has entered into a contract with a client (oppdragsgiver) in Norway for services of limited duration. In short, a posted worker:
is employed by an enterprise abroad;
is sent to Norway to carry out an assignment of limited duration; and
keeps the foreign enterprise as their employer.
A permit as a posted worker may also be granted where the worker is posted from the foreign part to the Norwegian part of an international company.
Conditions
The conditions in the Immigration Act
Section 24 of the Immigration Act sets the basic conditions for permits for posted workers and self-employed contractors:
(a) the applicant must be at least 18 years old;
(b) wage and working conditions must not be poorer than under the applicable collective agreement or wage regulation for the industry, or, where none exists, than what is normal for the place and occupation;
(d) there must be a concrete offer of an assignment, which as a main rule must concern one client.
Under Section 6-13 third paragraph of the Regulations, posted workers covered by that provision are exempt from the labour market test in Section 24 first paragraph letter c.
Contract with a client in Norway
There must be a contract between the foreign employer and the client in Norway. UDI states that the enterprise in Norway must have a registered business address in Norway, that the offer of an assignment must as a rule concern one specific enterprise, and that the company in Norway cannot be a staffing company (udi.no, read 29 October 2026).
Under Section 6-16 fourth paragraph of the Regulations, UDI may issue guidelines on who is to be regarded as the client. A permit may be granted even if the assignment offer is not continuous (Section 6-13 fourth paragraph).
The assignment offer form
Under Section 6-16 of the Regulations, the client must inform the foreign employer of the wage and working conditions that apply and must make sure that they are complied with. The assignment offer form must be signed by the client, the foreign employer and the applicant, unless UDI decides otherwise, and the contracts between the parties must be submitted. UDI states that the client confirms the assignment offer and gives the applicant a code to enter in the application form.
Skilled worker competence
The applicant must have skilled worker competence as defined in Section 6-1 first paragraph, and the competence must be relevant to the assignment (Section 6-13 second paragraph). This covers completed vocational training at upper secondary level, a degree from a university or university college, or special qualifications. Where the occupation requires authorisation or approval in Norway, the applicant must have it.
Wage and working conditions
Wage and working conditions must meet the requirement in Section 24 first paragraph letter b of the Immigration Act. Under Section 6-13 second paragraph of the Regulations, UDI may issue guidelines on what counts as wage. In practice, the wage is assessed against the applicable collective agreement or what is normal in the industry. Ask for advice if the wage includes allowances, benefits in kind or is paid partly in Norway and partly abroad.
Content and duration of the permit
Content
The permit is tied to the assignment or assignments for which it was granted (Section 6-13 fifth paragraph). UDI states that you must apply for a new permit if you will carry out other assignments than those described in the contract, or work for another enterprise, and that you may not work remotely unless this is part of the job you have a permit for. The permit does not form a basis for permanent residence (Section 24 fourth paragraph of the Immigration Act and Section 6-13 fifth paragraph of the Regulations).
Duration
Under Section 6-13 first paragraph, a posted worker may have this permit for a total of up to six years. A new permit may then be granted only after the person has stayed outside Norway for two years.
Each permit may be granted for up to two years under Section 10-16 fourth paragraph of the Regulations and UDI’s guidelines, and never for longer than the application or the assignment (Section 10-16 fifth paragraph). UDI states that the permit is granted for two years at a time.
Family members
UDI states that the spouse or cohabitant and children can apply for family immigration if the assignment lasts more than six months, or if the worker is employed in an international company and posted to its Norwegian part. Family immigration is assessed under the ordinary rules in chapter 9 of the Immigration Regulations. Under Section 10-1 first paragraph letter e, family members of a posted worker employed in an international company may in some cases apply from Norway.
Application
As a main rule, a first-time residence permit must be granted before entry into Norway (Section 56 first paragraph of the Immigration Act). The worker may not start working before the permit is granted, unless an exception applies.
For employees of international companies, the police may issue a confirmation of early employment start under Section 10-4 of the Regulations, if the conditions are met. UDI states that such workers must also meet the education requirement for skilled workers under that scheme. See our separate article on early work start.
The application is submitted through UDI’s application portal with the documents in UDI’s current checklist, including the signed assignment offer form. An application fee must be paid.
Renewal
A permit may be renewed if the conditions are still met (Section 61 of the Immigration Act). If you apply for renewal no later than one month before your permit expires, you may continue to stay on the same terms until the application has been decided (Section 61 sixth paragraph).
How we can help
We assist foreign employers, Norwegian clients and posted workers with residence permits, assignment offer forms, renewals and family immigration. Contact us if you would like Advokatfirmaet Sterk AS to look at your situation.
This article provides general information as of 29 October 2026 and is not legal advice for your specific situation.
