The Monolith in Frognerparken, a tall granite sculpture pillar and sculptures of people sorrounding it.

Moving to Norway

Are you thinking of moving to Norway to join OsloMet? We have one campus in the city centre of Oslo and one right outside of Oslo.

Norway is known for its welfare system, equality and a good work life balance. Oslo is a diverse and inclusive city with many opportunities. The capital of Norway offers a vibrant city life and with nature on its doorsteps.

OsloMet is one of Norway's largest universities. Working at OsloMet might be the experience you are looking for.

Once you decide you are coming to OsloMet, use this list to prepare your arrival.

  • Visa and work permits

    • EU/EEA nationality

      If you intend to stay in Norway for less than 90 days, you can just travel to Norway. You have to have a passport that is valid at least three months after the date you are planning to leave Norway.

      Staying longer than 90 days

      If you are an EU/EEA national and intend to stay in Norway for more than 90 days, you need to register with the Norwegian authorities no later than three months after your arrival in Norway.

      You will have to register online. We recommend you do that as soon as possible, preferably before arriving. Then you will have to register within three months of arrival.

      Make sure you have a valid ID-card or passport and a UDI employment certificate. The needed document will be provided by our International Staff Services.

      The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) gives you the necessary information related to work immigration (udi.no).

      OsloMet is working with mobility of researchers in cooperation with Euraxess, the European Commission's job portal.

      Get the full overview of work permit regulations in Norway (euraxess.no).

    • Non-EU/EEA nationality

      If you intend to stay in Norway for less than 90 days, you do not need to apply for a residence permit. However, depending on your nationality, you might need a visitor's visa to enter Norway (udi.no).

      Please note that if you come from a visa country to visit OsloMet, your visa application must be supported by a written invitation from your host department at OsloMet.

      Staying longer than 90 days

      The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) gives you the necessary information related to work immigration (udi.no).

      OsloMet is working with mobility of researchers in cooperation with Euraxess, the European Commission's job portal.

      Get the full overview of work permit regulations in Norway (euraxess.no).

      If you are a non-EU/EEA national formally employed by OsloMet and you intend to stay in Norway for more than 90 days, you need a residence permit.

      The application includes an online registration and a meeting in person with the immigration authorities upon arrival to finalise the registration.

      Start the process early. Please note that you, as a rule, are not allowed to start working in Norway before the residence permit has been granted.

      Therefore, you must apply for a residence permit well in advance of your planned arrival in Norway.

      If you are bringing family members, any forms of identification or official documents such as marriage certificates must carry an apostille stamp from the issuing country (udi.no).

      Registration of family members is dependent on the reference person's registration.

      Non-EU/EEA guest researcher

      OsloMet receives many requests from researchers wanting to visit us for a period of time. The best way for you to begin planning a research stay at OsloMet is to establish direct contact with the researchers in your field.

      Visit our research pages for an overview of OsloMet's research.

      Start the residence permit application process early. Please note that, as a rule, you are not allowed to start working in Norway before the residence permit has been granted.

      You must therefore apply for a residence permit well in advance of your planned arrival in Norway.

      If you need a Schengen visa or a residence permit in order to visit us, an official invitation letter is required.

      Please contact the host department to provide you with an invitation letter.

      The letter must include your full name, nationality, passport number, position, contact information for the department you will be visiting, funding of your stay via scholarship or salary, housing guarantee and planned day of arrival and departure.

      The letter must be signed by the head of your host department at OsloMet.

  • Accommodation

    Housing is relatively expensive in Oslo and the surrounding areas compared to other cities in Europe. At the same time, the cost of rent is lower than you might expect, particularly when you take into account what you will be earning in Norway.

    The standard of housing is by and large very high, and landlords tend to keep the apartments they rent out in good condition. The tenant-landlord relationship, moreover, is regulated by law as a way of protecting tenants’ rights.

    Below is a list of resources we recommend you make use of as you look for a place to live. We encourage you to contact us as soon as you know you will be taking up a position at OsloMet. If you send us a short description of your housing needs, we will do our best to assist you.

    Long-Term Housing in Oslo

    Short-Term Housing in Oslo

    There are many short term housing opportunities in Oslo.

    OsloMet has an agreement with Frogner House Apartments and the Apartments Company. Contact us to get a ten per cent discount.

  • Norwegian identification number

    Everyone living in Norway has a unique identification number (skatteetaten.no). You will use this number when interacting with government agencies, and you will need one to open a Norwegian bank account. You can apply for an identification number at the Service Centre for Foreign Workers (sua.no) located in central Oslo.

    Before you get your identification number, there are a few services that are not available to you, these include a general practitioner and Norwegian bank services.

    Identification while living in Norway

    Norwegians commonly use their driver's license as proof of identification in situations where they need to show ID. You may also be able to use your Norwegian debit card as a form of ID, as long as it includes your Norwegian identification number, your signature and your photograph.

    European citizens living and working in Norway can use their European driver's license as identification.

    The most reliable form of identification for citizens of non-European countries is their passport. Your residence permit, issued as a card, does not constitute an official form of identification.

  • Taxes and pension

    Salaries are quite high in Norway when compared to many other countries. As a result, the cost of living is also quite high.

    Calculate your cost of living in Norway.

    The Norwegian welfare system is based on the taxes we pay, which means that a lot of services, like public health care and education, are free. 

    The tax deduction is based on what you earn.

    Euraxess Norway offers extensive information about taxation and salaries (euraxess.no).

    Being a state-owned institution, OsloMet enrolls its employees in  the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund  (spk.no) (Statens pensjonskasse in Norwegian). Members of the Fund are entitled to a retirement pension of up to 66 percent of their contribution to the institution, dependent on the years they have worked in the public sector. Read more about welfare and benefits at Working at OsloMet.

  • Transportation

    Our two campuses

    OsloMet offers a free shuttle bus for employees that runs between our two campuses, Pilestredet and Kjeller. Information about shuttle schedules and pick up locations (ansatt.oslomet.no).

    • Pilestredet Campus is OsloMet’s largest campus and located in the centre of Oslo.
    • Kjeller Campus is OsloMet’s second-largest campus and lies 20 kilometres outside of Oslo in the fast-growing Romerike region.

    Useful maps and directions

  • Banking

    For new employees who will be in Norway more than six months, it is recommended to open a bank account. In order to get a bank account, you must have either a D-number or a Norwegian ID number.

    We recommend that you keep your bank account and credit cards from your home country until all practicalities have been settled.

    If you are staying in Norway for less than six months, we recommend that you rather keep your account and credit card from your home country.

    Getting a bank account

    Getting a bank account takes three to eight weeks. These are the documents you need:

    • D number or Norwegian ID number
    • valid passport
    • tax card
    • residence permit (must be valid for more than 3 months)
    • employment contract

    Some banks also require a recommendation letter from your current / former bank.

    Recommended banks

    There are many banks to choose from. These are the ones we recommend, and they do not charge you for opening an account.