Norway offers temporary residence permits to nationals of countries outside the EU/EEA who will carry out seasonal work or work as holiday replacements. The rules are found in Section 23 of the Immigration Act (utlendingsloven) and Section 6-3 of the Immigration Regulations (utlendingsforskriften), supplemented by guidance from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). This article outlines what counts as seasonal work, the requirements for applicants and employers, the application process and the time limits that apply as of the review date.
What counts as seasonal work
Under Section 6-3 of the Regulations, workers who do not meet the requirements for a skilled worker permit may be granted a residence permit for up to six months for work in a seasonal business or in connection with ordinary holiday periods. Seasonal work is work that, by its nature, can only be carried out at particular times of the year. Typical examples include:
harvesting vegetables, fruit and berries;
forestry work;
seasonal work in the fishing and fish processing industry; and
seasonal work in tourism and the hospitality industry.
According to UDI, carpentry, painting and other trades are not regarded as seasonal work, even if the demand for them varies through the year.
Holiday replacement work
The permit also covers work as a holiday replacement for permanent employees in connection with ordinary holiday periods. The employer should be able to document that the work actually involves replacing employees on holiday. For UDI’s current practice on holiday periods and documentation, see udi.no.
Requirements for the applicant, the job and the employer
According to UDI, the following requirements apply:
the applicant must be at least 18 years old;
the circumstances in the applicant’s home country must indicate that the applicant is likely to return home after the work in Norway;
the applicant must have a concrete offer of full-time work for the entire period; several employers are possible, but there must be a concrete offer from each;
the work must be seasonal work or work as a holiday replacement; and
pay and working conditions must not be poorer than what is normal in Norway, and the applicant must receive at least the guaranteed minimum hourly wage stated by UDI – see udi.no for the current figure.
Vocational training is not required.
The quota and the NAV confirmation
For seasonal work in agriculture and forestry, the worker must fall within the quota for seasonal work in those industries (Section 6-3 second paragraph, cf. Section 6-12). Within the quota, no confirmation from the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) is required.
If no quota has been set, the quota has been filled, or the work is in another seasonal industry, a permit may only be granted if the position cannot be filled by workers from Norway or the EEA/EFTA area. The same applies to holiday replacement work (Section 6-3 third paragraph). In these cases, according to UDI, the employer must obtain confirmation from NAV that it is not possible to recruit sufficient workers from Norway or the EEA.
The application process
Confirmation of the job offer
According to UDI, where the applicant applies personally from abroad, the employer must first confirm the job offer digitally. The employer then gives the applicant a code that must be entered in the application. If there are several employers, a confirmation from one of them is sufficient.
Where and how to apply
As a general rule, the application must be submitted from abroad and the permit granted before entry. Under Section 10-1 first paragraph (c) of the Regulations, seasonal workers may, however, submit the application in Norway. This requires lawful stay in Norway, and it does not apply while the person is in Norway in connection with an application for protection (Section 10-1 third paragraph).
The applicant may not start work before the permit is granted. An application fee must be paid.
Documentation
The documentation normally includes a valid passport, the signed job offer, any documentation of qualifications the work requires, and, for holiday replacement work, documentation of the holiday need. The exact requirements, including rules on translation and originals, depend on where the application is submitted. Check the current checklist on udi.no before applying.
Duration, renewal and the waiting period
Under Section 6-3, the six months may be divided between several permits for work with the same or different employers, provided the work corresponds to full-time work in total. Where permits are granted repeatedly for shorter periods, the total stay may not exceed six months within a twelve-month period. For example, a person who has held a seasonal work permit for two months may be granted a new permit for four months. A worker who has held a seasonal work permit for six months may only be granted a new permit after six months outside Norway.
Decisions on residence permits, including renewals, are made by UDI (Section 65 of the Immigration Act). UDI may authorise the police to grant first-time applications from seasonal workers submitted in Norway, and applications for renewal, where there is no doubt that the conditions are met (Sections 13-1 and 13-2 of the Regulations). Such a delegation must be approved by the Ministry of Justice and Public Security. Where there is doubt, the case is decided by UDI.
For work in Norway lasting less than three months, other rules may apply; see udi.no.
Rights and limitations
The permit applies to specific work for one or more specific employers. Under Section 6-3 it does not form a basis for a permanent residence permit. According to UDI, family members are not entitled to a residence permit to live with a seasonal worker in Norway.
How we can help
We advise employers and workers on seasonal work permits, NAV confirmations and applications to UDI. 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.
