Norway digital nomad visa: Complete guide for UK expats

Norway is a popular choice for remote workers, thanks to its stunning natural scenery and high quality of life.

If you’re a digital nomad from the UK and you have Norway on your must-visit list, you’ll need to get your paperwork sorted - and this means applying for the right visa.

We’re here to help, with a complete guide to getting a digital nomad visa for Norway. This includes what visa options are available, who is eligible, how to apply and how much it costs.

We’ll also show you a cost-effective way to manage your money across borders. With the Wise account from the money services provider Wise, you can send, spend and convert money in 40+ currencies at great mid-market exchange rates and low, transparent fees. It’s not a bank account but offers some similar features, and your money is safeguarded.

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Norway digital nomad visa: requirements and eligibility

Norway isn’t quite like other countries which have a dedicated digital nomad visa. It doesn’t have a special category of visa just for remote workers, but instead has something called a Skilled Worker Residence Permit that covers all kinds of work in Norway.

This permit allows non-EU nationals to live and work in the country for up to two years at a time.¹ There are a few different categories of this permit, but the one that fits digital nomads best is the ‘Self employed persons with a company abroad’ category.

This is designed for people who have a sole proprietorship and are established overseas, but will have at least one Norwegian client during their stay in the country. It’s also useful to know that this permit isn’t designed for remote working, unless it’s part of the contract with your client.¹

As long as your work contract lasts at least 6 months, you can bring your family members with you, which includes spouses/partners and dependent children. However, they’ll need to apply separately.¹

To meet the Norway digital nomad visa requirements, you must have a contract with a Norwegian business and receive pay that is not poorer than is normal in Norway.¹ More details on this can be found here.

You’ll also need to meet the requirements of a skilled worker, which means:¹

• A degree from a university, or a completed vocational training programme at upper secondary school level
• At least six years of work experience in your field.

The bar for acceptance in this category is quite high, and many applications are rejected. So, you’ll need to have extensive documentation to prove you meet the requirements - more on that later.

How much does it cost?

The Norway digital nomad visa (Skilled Worker Residence Permit) costs 6,300 NOK (approx. £467.55 GBP) in application processing fees.² There’s also a service fee at the Visa Application Centre - this is €27 EUR (approx. £23.65 GBP).³

Both fees need to be paid by debit/credit card, so you won’t be able to make a bank transfer in advance. You could use the Wise card to pay for these costs and save money on currency conversion.

Aside from the upfront application fees, there may be other costs to factor in. For example, the cost of getting travel/health insurance, or having documents translated.

What documents do you need?

You’ll need the following documents to apply for a skilled worker visa for Norway:⁴

• A valid passport, plus copies of all used pages (including pages featuring your personal information, photo and biometrics)
• One recent passport-sized photograph of yourself
• A completed application form, or a signed signature form from the online application portal
• Proof of accommodation in Norway - this could be a rental contract or a hotel booking
• The contract between you and your Norwegian client
• Documents proving that you are a self-employed contractor with a business established abroad
• Proof of your qualifications, such as degree certificates, and/or documentation for your work experience
• A copy of your CV
• A filled out and signed checklist, confirming you’ve provided all required documents.

How to apply for the digital nomad visa in Norway

To apply for the Norway skilled worker visa, you’ll need to complete an online application form at the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) website. Then, you’ll need to make an appointment at a VFS Visa Application Centre in the UK to hand in your documents and have your biometrics taken.

Here’s what you need to do, step-by-step:

1. Check your eligibility
2. Get your documents together
3. Go to the UDI website, select your country and visa type, and click ‘how to apply’
4. Select ‘Go to the application form’ and then create an account using your email address
5. Complete the online application form and pay your visa application fee when prompted
6. Go to the VFS Global website and book an appointment at your local Visa Application Centre
7. Attend your appointment, taking along your supporting documents. You’ll also need to pay the service fee on the day.
8. Wait for your application to be processed.

While you’re waiting for your visa to be issued, you can get on with other important pre-move preparations.

For example, looking into opening a Norwegian bank account, finding somewhere to live and getting some Norwegian krone to cover your first few days and weeks there.

How long can you stay in Norway as a digital nomad?

The skilled worker permit for Norway lets you stay for up to 2 years, and it can be renewed twice. This means a total stay of up to 6 years.¹

Taxes for digital nomads in Norway

While you’re living and working in Norway, you’ll need to check whether you’ll have to pay taxes on your income.

There’s no specific Norway digital nomad visa tax, just income tax rules that apply to anyone considered a tax resident of the country.

If you stay in Norway for more than 183 days, you may be deemed to be a tax resident.³ This means that your worldwide income can be subject to income tax.⁵

This is likely to happen if you stay for the whole 2-6 year period this permit allows.

If not though, it’s likely that UK income tax will apply. There’s also the issue of avoiding double taxation.

Tax between countries can be really complicated though, so it’s best to get professional advice to make sure you understand your obligations.

Save on your relocation costs with Wise

That’s everything you need to know about the digital nomad visa in Norway. Make sure you check for any updates to the application process or the requirements ahead of applying.

Before moving to Norway, you’re likely to have lots of costs to cover. Some of these, such as real estate costs, visa application fees and rental deposits, will need to cross borders and can get expensive because of the transfer fees and exchange rate markups.

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FAQs

Is it possible to extend the Norway digital nomad visa?

Yes, you can renew the Norway skilled worker permit twice, which means a potential total stay of up to 6 years. After that, you’ll need to have been out of the country for 2 years before you can reapply.¹

Does a Norway digital nomad visa lead to citizenship?

There isn’t a direct route to citizenship with the Norway skilled worker permit but it could be the first step.

Once you’ve been in the country for 3 years on a temporary residence permit, you may be eligible to apply for a permanent residence permit.⁶ After that, you’ll need to have been in Norway for at least 8 of the last 11 years in order to apply for citizenship.⁷

Bear in mind though that there are very strict eligibility criteria for both permanent residency and citizenship.

If you’re able to meet these requirements, this could be a good route if you’re looking to move to Norway permanently or set down roots there, such as starting a business.

How long does it take to get a digital nomad visa for Norway?

The processing time for Norway skilled worker permit applications is at least 2 months,⁸ although it could be longer. So, it’s sensible to get your application in as early as possible.

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 27-Nov-2025