Find visa optionsFind visas
Menu

Kingdom of Norway · entrepreneur

Self-employed assignment with a company abroad

By · Last reviewed:

Guidance updated 15 November 2026. Full-review date shown above.

Temporary skilled assignments for a Norwegian enterprise through an established qualifying sole proprietorship abroad.

Established foreign sole proprietorship, actual Norwegian client contract, skilled tasks and normal remunerationDoes not lead to permanent residencyUp to two years per grant and six years in total; then two years outside Norway before a new permit of this type.
Processing time
Use UDI’s current waiting-time guide for your application type and category. The estimates are updated monthly and may change during processing; appointments, document checks and residence-card delivery are separate.
Government fees
UDI currently lists NOK 6,300 for adult work-permit applications and renewals, and NOK 3,150 for applicants under 18. Actual category exemptions and separate VAC, courier, entry-visa or passport-forwarding charges can apply; check the fee for your application.
Typical duration
Up to two years per grant and six years in total; then two years outside Norway before a new permit of this type.
Required support
Established foreign sole proprietorship, actual Norwegian client contract, skilled tasks and normal remuneration
Leads to permanent residency
No
Reviewed Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) ↗

In short

Temporary skilled assignments for a Norwegian enterprise through an established qualifying sole proprietorship abroad. Guidance updated 15 November 2026. Costs, application stages and eligibility conditions are set out with their sources below.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/norway/self-employed-company-abroad#answer

What is the Self-employed assignment with a company abroad in Kingdom of Norway?

Self-employed assignment with a company abroad is an unsponsored Norway route. Indicative government fees are UDI currently lists NOK 6,300 for adult work-permit applications and renewals, and NOK 3,150 for applicants under 18. Actual category exemptions and separate VAC, courier, entry-visa or passport-forwarding charges can apply; check the fee for your application; indicative processing time is Use UDI’s current waiting-time guide for your application type and category. The estimates are updated monthly and may change during processing; appointments, document checks and residence-card delivery are separate; typical duration is Up to two years per grant and six years in total; then two years outside Norway before a new permit of this type. This route does not lead to permanent residence.

Primary guidance checked with Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) on 15 November 2026.

Overview

This is a distinct category for a self-employed person with an established company abroad and an actual assignment contract with a Norwegian enterprise. It is different from an employee sent by a foreign employer and from self-employment through a Norwegian business. The work must need the applicant’s skilled qualifications and meet normal Norwegian remuneration and business conditions. This temporary category does not count towards permanent residence.

Additional sources

Eligibility

Typical criteria

  • ✓Qualify through a corresponding vocational programme of at least three years at upper-secondary level, completed university/university-college education, or documented equivalent special qualifications. Special qualifications generally require at least six years of detailed relevant experience; this is not an automatic experience waiver. The actual work must require the qualifications you hold.Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) ↗
  • ✓Have an established business abroad, normally your own sole proprietorship. The company cannot be a limited company under this category.Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) ↗
  • ✓Have a contract to carry out an assignment for a business in Norway with a registered address. The Norwegian client cannot be a staffing company; normally there is one specific client.Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) ↗
  • ✓Pay and conditions must meet the applicable Norwegian collective agreement. Where none applies, they cannot be poorer than normal for the occupation and location; UDI currently lists NOK 545,400 a year before tax for a position requiring a bachelor’s degree and NOK 624,700 for a position requiring a master’s degree. A lower amount needs substantial evidence that it is normal. The position’s requirements, rather than simply the applicant’s highest degree, determine the branch.Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) ↗
  • ✓Your skilled qualifications must be relevant to completing the assignment, and any required professional approval/authorisation must be held.Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) ↗

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Identify the foreign self-employed basis

    Confirm the actual business form, established activity abroad, Norwegian client and qualifying skilled tasks.

  2. Prepare the exact category and evidence

    Use UDI’s actual self-employed-abroad procedure and country-specific checklist, substantiate normal remuneration and pay the applicable work fee.

  3. Obtain the required permission before work

    Do not infer work authorisation from a contract, business registration or entry visa. Follow the approved decision and actual arrival requirements.

  4. Keep to the assignment and temporary limit

    A new assignment/client needs a new residence permit. Track the two-year grants and six-year total, and do not count this period towards PR.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Self-employed assignment with a company abroad, use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Self-employed assignment with a company abroad instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to Norway

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant
    Check the official category and application procedure ↗

    Select the actual category, citizenship and application branch on the official site before preparing the application and documents.

    Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) · verified

Also explored by

Indian Filipino Nigerian

Compare Kingdom of Norway with

Related routes

Frequently asked questions

Is this the same as a posted employee?+

No. You operate your own established business abroad. An employee remains employed by a foreign company and uses the employee-assignment branch. The domestic sole-proprietor route is also a separate category.

Can my family apply?+

UDI says the spouse/cohabitant and children can apply for family immigration if the assignment lasts more than six months. They need their own eligible applications; approval is not automatic.

Can I freely change clients or work remotely for others?+

No. Another assignment or another enterprise needs a new permit, and remote work must be part of the work the permit authorises.

Does this build PR residence?+

No. UDI excludes the residence period on this category. A later qualifying basis requires its own application and qualifying residence assessment.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

Find a regulated advisor in Norway

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI)

Last checked: 15 November 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology

CompareFind visa options