Seasonal Worker Permit in Norway

For non-EU/EEA workers with a full-time job offer for seasonal work, such as agriculture, forestry, fish processing, restaurants and tourism. You can stay up to six months out of twelve.

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Seasonal work for workers from outside the EU/EEA

The seasonal worker permit lets citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA work in Norway in work that can only be done at a particular time of year, or as a holiday stand-in for a permanent employee. UDI (Utlendingsdirektoratet, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration) processes the applications under the Immigration Act (utlendingsloven) and the Immigration Regulations (utlendingsforskriften).

Each worker applies individually, based on a concrete full-time job offer. Outside agriculture and forestry, the employer must get confirmation from NAV (the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration) that enough workers cannot be recruited from Norway or the EEA. EU/EEA citizens do not need this permit: they can start work at once under the EEA rules and must register with the police (Politiet) if they stay more than three months.

You can stay as a seasonal worker for up to six months out of twelve. Family members cannot get a residence permit to live with you, and the time does not count towards permanent residence.

What counts as seasonal work

Seasonal work is work that can only be done at a particular time of year, or a holiday stand-in for a permanent employee. UDI's examples, and what does not count:

Agriculture: Seasonal farm work. No NAV confirmation is needed, and a generalised collective agreement sets minimum pay in agriculture and horticulture.
Forestry: Forestry work done at a certain time of year. No NAV confirmation is needed.
Fish processing: Work in fish processing during the season. The employer needs confirmation from NAV.
Restaurants and tourism: Work in restaurants and tourism during the season. The employer needs confirmation from NAV.
Holiday stand-ins: Replacing a permanent employee who is on holiday.
Not seasonal work: Carpentry, painting and other trades do not count as seasonal work.

Requirements for a seasonal worker permit

The worker

Conditions you must meet yourself.

You must be at least 18 years old.
Your circumstances in your home country must make it likely that you will return.
Your stays as a seasonal worker cannot add up to more than six months out of twelve.

The job offer

A concrete full-time offer before you apply.

The employer makes a concrete job offer before you apply, normally on UDI's offer of employment form.
The job must be full-time throughout your stay.
You may work for several employers if each of them makes a concrete offer.

Pay and working conditions

Not worse than normal in Norway.

You must be guaranteed a minimum hourly wage.
Where a collective agreement applies, you must get the collective agreement wage, and otherwise normal pay for the occupation and place.
Generalised collective agreements set minimum pay for all workers in agriculture and horticulture, and in hotels, restaurants and catering.

Employer checks

What the employer must do.

Outside agriculture and forestry, the employer gets confirmation from NAV that enough workers cannot be recruited from Norway or the EEA.
If you apply from abroad on your own, the employer confirms the offer to UDI and gives you a code of four English words. A company representative needs the right Altinn role.
Before you start, the employer checks that your permit gives the right to work. Employing someone without the right permit can be punished by fines or imprisonment.

Six months out of twelve

A seasonal worker cannot stay in Norway for more than six months out of twelve. After a six-month permit, you must stay outside Norway for six months before you can get a new seasonal worker permit. After a three-month permit, a new three-month permit can be granted at once.

The permit is for seasonal work only. Family members have no right to a residence permit to live with you, and the time does not count towards permanent residence. For long-term work in Norway, look at the skilled worker permit, which requires vocational training, a degree or special qualifications. Our Skilled Worker and Work Permits pages explain the options.

How to apply

1
Job offer
The employer makes a concrete full-time offer for seasonal work, normally on UDI's offer of employment form.
2
NAV confirmation
Outside agriculture and forestry, the employer gets confirmation from NAV that enough workers cannot be recruited from Norway or the EEA.
3
Job offer confirmation
If you apply from abroad on your own, the employer confirms the offer to UDI and gives you a code of four English words, which you enter in the application.
4
Apply and pay online
Register the application on UDI's website and pay the fee of NOK 6,300 for applicants over 18 (2026). With your written power of attorney, the employer can do this for you.
5
Appointment
Book an appointment from the receipt page: abroad at an embassy, a consulate or a VFS application centre, in Norway with the police or a Service Centre for Foreign Workers (SUA). Bring your passport and original documents.
6
Processing
For an application handed in at SUA that the police send on to UDI, it can take up to 4 months before UDI looks at the case. Apply well before the season starts.
7
Start of work
You may start work only when the permit is granted. You need a written employment contract and a tax deduction card from the Norwegian Tax Administration (Skatteetaten), which your employer can apply for on your behalf.

Key time limits and waiting times

Maximum stay

6 months out of 12

After a 6-month permit

6 months outside Norway before a new permit

UDI waiting time, application handed in at SUA

Up to 4 months before UDI looks at the case, if the police send it to UDI (updated 29 October 2026)

Written employment contract

As soon as possible, at the latest 7 days after the start (jobs of more than 1 month)

Minimum pay in seasonal sectors

Agriculture and horticulture: Holiday and harvest help over 18: at least NOK 162.90 an hour for the first 12 weeks and NOK 168.40 from 12 weeks to 6 months; under 18: NOK 142.90 (generalised agreement, rates from 15 June 2025).
Hotels, restaurants and catering: At least NOK 166.34 an hour at age 18, and a starting wage of NOK 204.79 for workers over 20, or over 18 with 4 months' experience (generalised agreement, rates from 15 June 2025; new rates may be adopted).
Fish processing: No generalised minimum wage since the regulation was repealed on 3 August 2026, and a new one is being considered. Pay must still not be worse than normal in Norway.
Other seasonal work: Where no generalised agreement applies, for example in forestry, you must get the collective agreement wage or normal pay for the occupation and place, and a guaranteed minimum hourly wage.
Overtime and holiday pay: Overtime gives a supplement of at least 40%. Holiday pay is at least 10.2% of your pay, and 12% under many collective agreements.

Your rights as a seasonal worker

Written contract: You must get a written employment contract that states, among other things, the duration, the pay, the working hours and the holiday rules, under the Working Environment Act (arbeidsmiljøloven) §§ 14-5 and 14-6.
Working hours: Normal working hours may as a rule not exceed 9 hours in 24 hours and 40 hours in 7 days, and overtime is allowed only for a special and time-limited need.
Holiday pay at the end: When the job ends, the employer pays all the holiday pay you have earned on the last ordinary payday before you leave, under the Holiday Act (ferieloven) § 11.
Tax: You need a tax deduction card; without one, the employer must deduct 50% tax. Most foreign workers on short stays are enrolled automatically in the PAYE scheme (kildeskatt på lønn): 25% of gross pay in 2026, including national insurance contribution, with no deductions and no tax return. You can opt out.
Help in Norway: At a Service Centre for Foreign Workers (SUA), the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority (Arbeidstilsynet) answers questions about employment contracts, pay, overtime and holidays.

Typical seasonal jobs

The examples of seasonal work that UDI gives.

Agriculture

Seasonal farm work, such as harvest help. No NAV confirmation is needed.

Forestry

Forestry work at the time of year when it is done. No NAV confirmation is needed.

Fish processing

Work in fish processing during the season, with confirmation from NAV.

Restaurants

Restaurant work during the season. The generalised agreement for hotels, restaurants and catering sets minimum pay.

Tourism

Tourism work during the season, with confirmation from NAV.

Holiday stand-ins

Replacing a permanent employee who is on holiday.

Common challenges

Work that is not seasonal: Trades such as carpentry and painting are not seasonal work, so they need another permit, such as the skilled worker permit.
Part-time offers: The job must be full-time throughout the stay. Offers from several employers are possible only if each of them is a concrete offer.
Missing NAV confirmation: Outside agriculture and forestry, the employer must have NAV's confirmation that enough workers cannot be recruited from Norway or the EEA.
Likely return: Your circumstances in your home country must make it likely that you will return when the job ends.
Waiting time: Applications that the police send on to UDI can wait up to 4 months before UDI looks at them, so apply well before the season starts.

How Nordic Relocators supports seasonal hiring

Eligibility check

We check whether the job counts as seasonal work and whether NAV's confirmation is needed.

Job offer and pay

We review the job offer and check the pay against the generalised agreement or normal pay for the occupation.

Employer guidance

NAV confirmation, job offer confirmation codes, written contracts and the right-to-work check.

Application documentation

Applications prepared for each worker, which the employer can hand in with the worker's written power of attorney.

Season planning

Start dates, waiting times and the six-months-out-of-twelve rule planned before the season.

Arrival support

Tax deduction card, housing and practical help when the workers arrive.

Frequently asked questions

Which jobs count as seasonal work?

Work that can only be done at a particular time of year, or work as a holiday stand-in for a permanent employee. UDI gives forestry, agriculture, fish processing, restaurants and tourism as examples. Carpentry, painting and other trades are not seasonal work.

Does the employer need confirmation from NAV?

Yes, unless the work is in agriculture or forestry. The employer must get confirmation from NAV that enough workers cannot be recruited from Norway or the EEA.

How long can I stay as a seasonal worker?

Up to six months out of twelve. After a six-month permit, you must stay outside Norway for six months before you can get a new one. After a three-month permit, a new three-month permit can be granted at once.

Can my family come with me?

No. Family members have no right to a residence permit to live with a seasonal worker, and the time as a seasonal worker does not count towards permanent residence.

What is the minimum pay for seasonal workers?

You must be guaranteed a minimum hourly wage, and your pay and working conditions must not be worse than normal in Norway. In agriculture and horticulture, the generalised collective agreement sets, for example, NOK 162.90 an hour for holiday and harvest help over 18 in the first 12 weeks. In hotels, restaurants and catering, the minimum is NOK 166.34 an hour at age 18. These rates apply from 15 June 2025 until a new decision.

How long does processing take?

For a first application handed in at a Service Centre for Foreign Workers (SUA) that the police send on to UDI, it can take up to 4 months before UDI looks at the case (UDI, updated 29 October 2026). Apply as early as possible before the season.

Can I work for more than one employer?

Yes. You can have job offers from several employers, as long as each of them is a concrete offer and the work is full-time throughout your stay.

Plan your seasonal recruitment

A seasonal worker permit depends on the right job offer, NAV's confirmation where it is needed and an application in good time before the season. We help employers and workers prepare complete applications and plan the arrival.