Work in Norway

Norwegian employers usually offer very favorable employment conditions, high remuneration, social welfare, and various professional privileges. However, in order to find a good job in Norway, one basic condition must be met – you must know the language! Although knowledge of English is common in this country, at least a basic knowledge of Norwegian is required for most jobs. Immigrants looking for work have a legal obligation to learn the Norwegian language. Free courses are provided only to refugees and their families. When applying for a job, you will also have to arrange language learning and cover the costs. Therefore, it is worth taking care of it in Poland, where the prices of Norwegian courses are incomparably lower than in Norway.

Planning

If you intend to work in Norway for more than 3 months, you must register with the police. You can do this electronically at www.selfservice.udi.no. Then you should go to the nearest police station or the Foreign Workers Service Center.

Search

When looking for employment, you are entitled to use the services of a Norwegian employment agency called NAV. It offers up-to-date job offers, as well as free Internet, photocopying, and fax services. Registration with NAV is free of charge. While in Norway, you have 6 months to legally look for a job, after reporting to the police in advance.

I already have a job, what next?

Once you find a job, you should contact the tax office responsible for your place of residence as soon as possible to obtain a tax card (“skattekort”) and a registration number (“personnummer / D-number”).

Earnings

In Norway, the amount of wages is generally agreed upon between the employee and the employer. In some industries (for example, construction or shipbuilding), the so-called dissemination of collective agreements, setting a lower limit of wages, which is approximately NOK 193-200 / hour.

According to the Central Statistical Office in Norway, the average monthly wage in 2019 was NOK 57,900, or approximately PLN 24,000.

Unemployment

Norway is one of the countries with the lowest unemployment. It concerns only slightly more than 3.7% of its inhabitants. Such a situation, combined with high wages and a well-prepared system of social benefits, is a great alternative for many foreigners who are looking for better living conditions in Norway than in their own country.

Useful websites:

  • www.nav.no (The Norwegian Labor and Welfare Authority)
  • www.eures.no (European Employment Services – Current job offers)
  • www.skatteetaten.no (Tax Office)
  • www.ssb.no (Central Statistical Office – data on salaries)
  • www.finn.no/jobb (online jobs)
  • www.stillinger.no (job search)
  • www.bedin.no (own company in Norway)
  • www.amb-norwegia.pl (official website of the Embassy of Norway in Poland)
  • www.regjeringen.no (official website of the Norwegian government)
  • www.udi.no (Office for Foreigners)
  • www.sua.no (Foreign Workers Service Office)
  • www.helfo.no (the equivalent of the Polish National Health Fund)