Work in Norway
With its thriving economy, low unemployment rate, as well as famously high living standards, and good welfare system, Norway is one of the most popular destinations among those who want to work abroad.
Our guide on “How to work in Norway” will explain how you can register for a work permit, what tax fines you must be aware of and how Cool Company could give you a hassle-free start to a life in Norway.
Are you more interested in starting your contractor career in Sweden? Read our guide “Work in Sweden“.
How Cool Company will help you
Cool Company provide an Employer of record service in Norway, and we support contractors by processing payments, deducting taxes, and submitting these to the Norwegian Tax Administration.
As a self-employed person in Norway, you will have to register for a work permit, take care of all bookkeeping, advance tax payments and yearly tax returns. This can be quite a lot to figure out in a short time! So, let us give you an overview of how Cool Company could make your life easier:
- We handle all client payments.
- We take care of tax payments and social contributions.
- We issue a paycheck to you every month.
- We will help set up contracts and support you 24/7.
Salary Calculator (in NOK)
Hva du får
11 148 NOK
Din godtgjørelse
11 148 NOK
Skatter, avgifter & pensjon
4 148 NOK
Cool Companys avgift 5,98%
1 196 NOK
Mandatory steps:
- Ensure that you are entitled to work in Norway (see Section 1).
- Ensure that you have a valid passport and/or national ID card with a photograph of you and information about your citizenship and gender.
- Fill in the form for a tax deduction card document (see Section 2).
- Book a physical appointment with the Tax Administration (see Section 2) and bring all documents outlined in Section 2 to the appointment.
- Inform your contact person at Cool Company that you have completed all the steps above.
- Register yourself in Norway no later than 3 months after you arrive in Norway (see Section 3).
Below you will find some information regarding being a contractor in Norway.
1. Ensure you are allowed to work in Norway
Note: All EU/EEA nationals are allowed to work in Norway
Firstly, to work legally in Norway, you will need a valid work permit. The process of obtaining a work permit can vary depending on your nationality and the type of work you will be doing. We recommend that you visit the Norwegian Migration Agency’s website for more information on how to apply for a work permit.
2. Apply for a tax deduction card and Norwegian identification number
Everyone who works in Norway must have a Norwegian identification number (D-number or national identity number) and tax deduction card.
The tax deduction card shows your employer how much tax to deduct from your salary. If you do not have a tax deduction card, your employer must deduct at least 50 percent of your income. Please note that Cool Company does not apply for the tax deduction card on your behalf. You’ll find the application here
Remember to bring the following to the meeting with the Taxation authority:
a) printed version of the assignment agreement provided by Cool Company with physical signatures. If you only have a digitally signed copy, please request a physical signature from us before the meeting.
b) passport and/or national ID card with a photograph of you and information about your citizenship and gender.
c) the filled out form RF-1209 Application for tax deduction card for foreign citizens
Employer you’re employed by/receive salary from:
Cool Company Norge AS (orgnr.: 915 326 099)
Please note that when you apply for a tax deduction card, the Tax Administration will issue a Norwegian identification number for you.
If you don’t have a Norwegian Identity Number or D-number, then you will need to obtain one. In Norway, we use identification numbers to identify inhabitants. Many public and private sector organizations require you to have a Norwegian identification number for you to gain access to their services. There are two different types of identity numbers: a D-number and a national identity number.
Please note that salaries cannot be processed until you have obtained a Norwegian identity number or D-Number. When you apply for a tax deduction card, the Tax Administration may issue a Norwegian identification number for you. You can see whether they do it or not during the application process, and/or when you speak to the Norwegian tax administration.You’ll find more information about Norwegian identification numbers here
3. Register yourself in Norway
You must register no later than three months after your arrival in Norway, but this may vary depending on your nationality. As your employer during the assignment, we highly encourage you to do this upon arrival.
Please find the guidelines for your specific country here
4. General information about Norwegian taxation
If you live in another country and work in Norway, you are subject to regular taxation in Norway for income from work. This means employer’s National Insurance contributions, mandatory pension (OTP), and regular income tax. Regular income tax in Norway is on an average rate of 30%.
Cool Company Norge AS cannot be used for you to avoid paying taxes. It is important that you apply for a tax deduction card, as mentioned in the section above, as the Norwegian tax rule states that your employer must deduct at least 50 percent of your income if no application has been sent it.
While we are happy to provide general information about working and living in Norway, we regret to inform you that we are unable to offer specific taxation advice. This is due to regulatory rules that prohibit us from providing such advice without proper licensing and authorization.
As a foreign worker in Norway, you can choose between two different ways of paying taxes. You must yourself check which way is most profitable for you.
Please be aware that the application for a taxation scheme occurs during the submission of your tax card application, as outlined in step 2 on this page. This information is provided for your guidance.
PAYE scheme when you pay tax. Under this scheme, you are taxed at a fixed percentage that your employer deducts from your salary. If you do not wish to pay tax according to the PAYE scheme, you can opt out of the scheme and instead pay tax according to general rules. You cannot rejoin the scheme in that same year.
Under the PAYE scheme, the tax rate is fixed currently at 25% but you are unable to claim any deductions. If your anticipated earnings for 2024 exceed NOK 670,000, you must choose to be taxed under the general tax rules when you apply for a tax deduction card.
Read more here
Please be aware that the application for a taxation scheme occurs during the submission of your tax card application, as outlined in step 2 on this page. This information is provided for your guidance.
General tax in Norway is calculated according to a tax rate that varies based on how much you earn during the year. If you pay tax according to the general rules, you’ll receive a tax return in March/April of the year after the income year. The tax return is an overview of, among other things, your income.
If you’re an online user, you’ll receive your tax return online. You’ll be notified via text message or e-mail when it’s available. If you’re not an online user, you’ll receive the tax return by post. To make sure you do not pay too much, or too little tax, you must check that the information in the tax return is correct and submit the tax return to the Norwegian tax administration.
Social security (social contribution) is currently 14.1% of your income, which is mandatory to pay for when working in Norway. If an employee earns a total salary and other work-related remuneration exceeding NOK 850,000 in a year, an additional 5 percent will be deducted on the amount exceeding NOK 850,000.
You can pay for social security in your home country with an A1 form, which is applied for in your home country, and unfortunately not something that Cool Company can assist you with.
Please be aware that the agency/authority responsible for issuing the A1 certificate in your home country is also required to send a copy directly to the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV). It’s advisable to highlight this requirement when applying for an A1 certificate in your home country. This is because, unlike other procedures, Norway does not accept A1 certificates submitted by either the employer or the employee. Instead, the document must be sent directly to NAV by the issuing authority in your home country.
Once you have received an approved A1 certificate back, also submit the document to info@coolcompany.com to ensure that no Social Contributions are deducted from your salary.
OTP – Mandatory occupational pension scheme is a pension scheme for your employees. As an employer, you’re required to pay an amount corresponding to at least two percent of the employees’ salaries for their pension.
5. Billing & Time reporting
If your client requires an invoice from your umbrella company, these are created inside our online platform. Details of your client invoice requirements should be provided in the agreement you have with them along with the payment frequency or payment terms.
If your client or agency operates a self-billing process, please send remittances or timesheets to Partner@coolcompany.se
Cool Company account
If you need to log into your Cool Company account
How to get a job in Norway
Many job vacancies as well as contract opportunities in Norway can be found online. The Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration’s job database “Arbeidsplassen” provides one of the country’s most complete and up-to-date listings. Here you can also register your CV as well as job searches (service only in Norwegian).
Working hours limit
Please note that there are limits for how much you may work per 24-hour day and per week. As per the Working Environment Act, there are defined limits for daily and weekly working hours to safeguard the well-being of employees. The specified limits are 9 hours per 24 hours or 40 hours per 7 days. These regulations generally apply to all employees. It’s important to note that the Norwegian Working Environment Act does make exceptions for certain positions, specifically: Individuals in managerial roles and Employees in positions characterized by a high level of independence. We wanted to highlight this to ensure that we adhere to the legal requirements set forward by Norwegian law.
Norway’s most in-demand skills
Foreign workers will face a tough competition on the Norwegian job market, with fluency in English not being a decisive advantage. Occupations that are in high demand and where you might find a chance to work in Norway as a contractor are:
- Healthcare and nursing
- Engineering
- IT
- Construction
- Tourism
Contact us!
If you have any further questions, please contact Anna Lindqvist:
FAQ
1. Can I work in Norway after Brexit?
Yes, you can work in Norway after Brexit. However, as a non-EEA national you must most likely apply for a work permit in Norway. For more information, read the UK government’s guide on “Travel to Norway for work” or go to the official site of the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI).
2. Can I work in Norway as a British citizen?
Yes, you can work in Norway as a British citizen. As a non-EEA national you most probably need to apply for a work permit in Norway, though. For more information, have a look at the UK government’s guide on “Travel to Norway for work” or check out the official site of the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI).
3. Do I need a Norwegian work permit as a contractor?
To work in Norway coming from the UK, you may need a work permit. Please check all changes due to Brexit on the Norwegian authorities’ official sites.
4. Can I work in the country without speaking Norwegian?
English is widely spoken in Norway. However, being fluent in Norwegian will provide you with better chances in your job search.
5. What are Norway’s most in demand jobs?
Skilled workers in IT, construction or healthcare are in high demand in Norway. For more information see above (“Skills in demand in Norway”).