If you are a non-EU citizen with a residence permit in Germany, Poland, Spain or another European country, that permit does not let you work in Norway. Here is what UDI says, and which routes can apply instead.
Many people living in one European country assume that the next one is open to them. For work, that assumption does not hold. A residence permit is a permission to live in the country that issued it. Permission to work in Norway is a separate question, decided by Norwegian rules.
Short answer: according to the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI), a residence permit in another Schengen or EU/EEA country does not give you the right to work in Norway. If you are not an EU/EEA citizen, you need a Norwegian residence permit that includes the right to work, unless you are the family member of an EU/EEA citizen who is exercising rights in Norway.
You do not need a residence permit to work in Norway. It does not matter which EU/EEA country you currently live in.
You may have a derived right of residence and work, but only under conditions, and you may need a residence card.
A permit from another European country does not help. You need a Norwegian permit with the right to work, for example as a skilled worker.
UDI answers the question directly on its page for skilled workers. Its answer to “I have a residence permit in another Schengen country. Can I work in Norway?” is: “No, you cannot work in Norway, even though you have a residence permit in another Schengen country.” The page names no exceptions and gives no number of days you may work. The page says that a visa or residence permit from one Schengen country lets you visit the other Schengen countries, but it does not describe that as permission to work.
UDI's FAQ for EU/EEA matters says the same: a residence permit in another EU/EEA country does not give you the right to work in Norway, and without a passport from an EU/EEA country you must apply for a work permit before you start working. Neither page shows an update date.
The situation is different if you hold a passport from an EU/EEA country. UDI says EU/EEA citizens do not need a residence permit to work in Norway, as long as they are an employee, self-employed, a service provider, or have means of support. They can stay up to six months to look for work, but must register with the Norwegian police as a job seeker no later than three months after arriving. For more on this, see our guide to working in Norway without a job offer.
Non-EU citizens who are family members of an EU/EEA citizen can have what UDI calls a derived right of residence. Covered family members include spouses, registered partners, cohabitants, children and grandchildren, and certain parents and grandparents. Four points from UDI are worth knowing:
Whether you fall into this group depends on your exact family relationship, so this is a point where individual facts decide the outcome.
Your realistic route is usually a Norwegian permit tied to a concrete job. For skilled work, UDI requires a job offer from a specific Norwegian employer for a position that requires skilled-worker qualifications, and that you have those qualifications. UDI lists a vocational upper secondary education of at least three years, a university or college degree, or in some cases long experience, normally at least six years, backed by detailed employer certificates. UDI also says it takes a lot to get permission on the basis of experience. Pay and working conditions must not be poorer than normal in Norway. Read the details in our guides to the skilled worker permit and to whether work experience counts as skilled.
A residence permit is not a work permit. Residence permission and permission to work are two different things. Also, a shortage of workers in an occupation does not mean a non-EU applicant is eligible for a permit. See jobs in demand in Norway for the difference.
Related guides: Work and residence permits: an overview · Seasonal work in Norway for non-EU citizens
General information can help you understand the rules, but it cannot determine whether you personally qualify to work in Norway. Your citizenship, current residence status, education, work experience and professional qualifications can all affect your options.
JobsNorway provides an independent assessment of your potential eligibility, qualifications and realistic employment opportunities in Norway. Every assessment is checked before it is sent, and includes personal advice where relevant. Before investing months in applications or spending money on relocation plans, find out whether Norway is a realistic option for you.
One-time paid assessment. No job placement. No employment guarantees.
General information, not legal advice or an individual assessment. Decisions on permits are made by the Norwegian authorities. JobsNorway does not find jobs.
About this guide. Written by JobsNorway (Gravityrock AS, Norway) from the official sources listed above. We use AI tools to help with research and drafting; every statement about the rules is checked against its source before publishing, and the date at the top shows when that was last done. We are not lawyers, and this is general information, not legal advice. Found an error or an outdated rule? Email support@jobsnorway.no and we will correct it.