Regulations on part-time work

Are you planning on working part-time while studying in Norway? Check out the regulations on part-time work for international students.

If you are granted a study permit in Norway, you are automatically also granted permission:

• To work part-time for up to 20 hours per week.
• You can also work full-time during holidays. 
• EU/EEA/EFTA nationals have the right to take up to 50% employment.
• You can apply for a permit to work full-time for parts of the academic year if the work is relevant to your studies. 
• You have to request this in writing when you apply, or later. 
• Remember that you can lose your permit if you work more than your permit entitles you to.

The permit is not specified with respect to the type of employment and you are allowed to have several employers. You don´t need to document that you have a contract. When you apply for a renewal of your student permit, the part-time work permit is not automatically renewed. In order to get it renewed, you need to enclose a statement from your education provider stating whether work will inhibit the progress of your studies.

Any accompanying family member is granted a general permit for employment.

Follow these steps:

• If you are planning to stay in Norway for more than 6 months, you will be given a personal identification number (fødselsnummer in Norwegian) by the Norwegian Tax Administration. Show up in person at your local tax office (Skatteetaten) where they will register you as a resident in Norway.
• If your stay is shorter than 6 months, you will be given a D-number. 
• Once you have received your ID-number, you can open a bank account. Meanwhile you can apply for jobs.
• When you receive a job offer, the next step is to apply for a tax card (tax deduction card) from the Norwegian Tax Administration. When you receive it, your employer can electronically obtain your tax card or tax exemption card from the Tax Administration.
• Tax excemption card: apply for this card if you will not earn more than 60 000 NOK per year (information updated 2021).

Follow these steps in the right order. Don’t start the process of opening a bank account and applying for a tax card at the same time. You will then end up with two ID-numbers.