Information for Job Seekers to Norway

Many people have been asking about coming to Norway on a job seekers visa, so I am writing to give you my experiences.

I have lived as an immigrant in Norway now for 7 1/2 years and these views are based on my experiences as well as the experiences of other immigrants.

1) If you want to come to Norway to work for 3-6 months just to earn money and then go back to your home country you need to make sure you have enough money before you come to be able to live here. Norway is unbelievably expensive and you will most likely not find a job for at least 1 month (it took me two months to find my first job.) Can you afford rent, food, bus passes, all of this for one month or two months without a job? (The only reason I was able to survive was because my husband had a permanent job that he got before we came to Norway. Even then it was very difficult to live off of only one income.)


2) Most jobs for immigrants are temporary. You might find work for 1 or 2 weeks, and then you will be living again without pay. This is very difficult.

3) There are several reasons it is so difficult to get a permanent job in Norway, but the main one is that any state job (jobs working for the state ... 80% of all jobs in Norway are for the state) are automatically permanent. It is very hard to fire people from a state job. Therefore employers are VERY cautious about who they hire and they will prefer to hire a Norwegian. They don't care how much expertise you have from your home country -- it is always safer for them to hire a Norwegian.

4) Norway is not the US and Canada. It is not a nation of immigrants. It is not even part of Europe. Therefore many things about Norway are still quite "backwards" when it comes to immigration. A recent newspaper article from Bergens Tidende reads: "Wanted: Fewer Immigrants".

5) You may have read about the good quality of life and good money in Norway. Remember that this is for NORWEGIANS. This is not a guarantee for immigrants. Many immigrants struggle in this country to find jobs, even though they have masters degrees and PhDs.

6) Most of my immigrant friends are qualified, educated people, yet they can only find work at McDonald's or manual labour jobs like cleaning and construction.

MOST IMPORTANT: Do NOT come to Norway unless you have a lot of money (at least 15,000 NOK or 2000 EURO) when you come to get you through the first month. If you don't I would recommend that you don't come until you find a job in Norway.

Best of luck to all.

Hello MamaPanda, thanks for sharing your experience with us.;)

Harmonie.

I am sharing few information which I found on another website. I sure its useful for new person in Norway

How to Save Money in Oslo:

Oslo, Norway is known as one of the most expensive cities in the world for good reason. Here are some money-saving tips to make a stay in this beautiful spot a little less painful on the wallet.

Instructions

1.
Avoid taking taxis. Traveling by cab is really not at all necessary in this city of great public transportation. Visit Trafikanten located outside of the Oslo Central Station for bus schedules and routes. The t-bane (or city light rail system) can also get you to all areas of the city. Buy your transport tickets in day, week, or month increments as it will save you a bundle as compared to buying a new ticket each time you use the public transport.

2.
If you are an exchange student at one of Oslo's universities, take a document on university letterhead proving that you are a student to Trafikanten along with a passport sized photo. They will make a student traffic pass for you that will allow you to buy monthly transport passes at a reduced rate.

3.
If you know you are going to be out on the town past 12:30 am when the public transport stops running, choose a watering hole that is within walking distance of where you are staying. Taxis are very expensive and can be avoided if you put some extra thought into planning your evening.

4.
Get a guide book or have a local take you to see the sights rather than paying for a tour. Vigeland Park, Karl Johans Gate, and the harbour are best enjoyed independently and at your own pace anyway.

5.
Don't eat out unless you want a bowl of soup to set you back $17 or some other ungodly amount! Cook for yourself whenever possible and pack a lunch so that if your are out and about for longer than you expect, you won't be tempted by the many restaurants available.

6.
Buy your produce at the immigrant markets in Grünerløkka, just off of Oslo City Center. This is a bustling and vibrant immigrant area with many ethnic stores and street vendors. They have a much more diverse selection of produce than any of Oslo's grocery stores, and offer them for a significantly better price.

7.
Go vegetarian all together. If you can stand it, cutting meat out of your diet or reducing your intake is one of the surest ways to save money. Meat in Norway is highly expensive as farmers are subsidized by the government. In fact, Norwegians often go to Sweden to buy their meat and save money themselves. There are many other ways to get the protein you need, such as through beans, eggs (which are actually relatively inexpensive), and nuts. Even peanut butter can give you the protein boost you need.

8.
Buy your booze at the airport. Along with meat, the price of alcoholic beverages is set by the government and is set mighty high. Get used to drinking Tuborg, Ringness, and other cheap Scandinavian beers and stock up on liquors in the duty free shop at the airport. The city has many Vinmonopolets (literally translated as "wine monopoly") where the government regulates the sale of wine and other alcohol. If you look hard, you can find some reasonably priced wines there, although still more expensive than what you are used to.

9.
Get a membership at a student bar. Each faculty at the University of Oslo has its own bar within its building that is run by student volunteers. The faculty bars are the single cheapest place in Oslo to enjoy a drink. You will be able to drink there for an entire school year with a 30-40NOK membership and enjoy the lively Friday night gatherings of students to drink, dance, and meet new people. Each faculty has its own theme and vibe and hosts many parties throughout the year above and beyond the usual Friday night festivities.

10.
Shop at H&M. It's your new Target. Get used to it.

11.
If you are in Oslo for a semester or year on a student visa, the stipulations of your visa allow you to work up to 20 hours a week. Part time work is easy to find in Oslo where there is a shortage of labor, even for people who don't speak Norwegian. Holiday employment is also readily available as stores take on extra staff to help with gift wrapping and the general holiday rush. You generally can't find a job in Oslo that pays less than 120NOK an hour.

Read more: How to Save Money in Oslo | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4769377_save-mo … z1pAMokHaO

Thanks for the information ( Mama Panda & Nimit). Infact, these information will help people those who reach norway. In addition to this, Could you please help us by providing some information about the different ways to get a job  apart from the site NAV.
Information such as the website links or the list of job consultancy that are more active in Oslo or Bergen. Those information will really help for job seekers.

hai,

my name is vinoop.cv .am from India...am applied for Norway job search visa..am an IT - professional (WINDOWS), am working as system administrator.i have 2 years experience . my qualifications are degree in economics ,integrated diploma in computer hardware & networking , MCP (microsoft certified professional )in windows 2003,MCITP (microsoft certified IT professional)in windows 2008.And am completed CCNA........""is any hope to get a job there with my experience ""...if i came Norway which area i can search for a job as i am qualified......please replay me.............

Hi,
I am from India have completed Masters in Computer Application wanting a job in IT. Soon I will be applying for skilled job seeker visa.As I read that getting job in Norway is a very difficult .
So my question is that can we opt for any other job other than IT for extending the work permit after 6 months.
Its important as many of them are finding hard to get job in their specific field.
Please make it clear.

Thanks!

Nimit Bhai :: Good Work boss... mani gaya yar!!!! Norway ne change kari nakso tame yar!!!!!

These days Norway are working hard on getting people out of the contry. So good luck getting in.
Also, I cant express this enough, Yes Norway is a rich contry, BUT every this is overly EXPENCIVE!!! So really, you dont have much money.

Hi MamaPanda ,

Well I really appreciate your knowledge and experience sharing effort regarding Norway Immigration.I am sure this definately help the a lot of people who wants to come to Norway.

Myself Wasim from India.I am also looking forward to apply for a job seekers visa for Norway.
Want to clear below clarification :
1.After the period of six months how we can extend the visa ?
2.How difficult and easy is to get an employer for the work permit if we know basic level Norwegian language.


Regards.

Hello MamaPanda ,

Thanks for your valuable inputs.I atill have some doubts regarding the same :

1.You have wrote that most od your immigrant friends are qualified, educated people, yet they can only find work at McDonald's or manual labour jobs like cleaning and construction.
But are we allowed to work anywhere while on a Job seekers visa ?

2.I have read in UDI that if we opt to learn Norwegian through some institute there then in that case we can get an visa extension till the period of that course held.Please clarify.

Thanks and Regards.

1. Yes, you are allowed to work anywhere, but the problem is that Norwegians are very hesitant to hire foreigners. The majority don't feel comfortable with foreigners -- not that they are racist, but that they just don't feel comfortable. I have spoken with many Norwegians about this. They tell me that they like to hire people that they know -- or that someone else has recommended to them. So it takes a long time to find a job in Norway and I think many foreigners cannot live here with no money because it is so expensive, so they get low-paying temporary jobs just to be able to buy food!

2) I don't know about this. But if you don't have a job you won't be able to live in Norway for more than a few weeks anyway. If you DO have a permanent job then you can get a visa extension. It is very hard for me to explain clearly how impossible it is to live here without a job because it is SO expensive. I spend about 6000 NOk ($1100) a month on groceries for a family of 4 and we are NOT eating fancy food! That is just basics! The bus pass is 660 NOK ($116) per month ... all of this is possible with a job, but without a job, even if you don't have work for 1 or 2 weeks, it is REALLY tough.

Good luck.

Hravn wrote:

These days Norway are working hard on getting people out of the contry. So good luck getting in.
Also, I cant express this enough, Yes Norway is a rich contry, BUT every this is overly EXPENCIVE!!! So really, you dont have much money.


Yes - this is all true. Norway is trying to reduce immigration and on top of that, it is so expensive. Everyone comes here knowing that Norway is expensive, but they are still in shock when they see it with their own eyes.

Thanks for your valuable inputs.I atill have some doubts regarding the same :

1.You have wrote that most od your immigrant friends are qualified, educated people, yet they can only find work at McDonald's or manual labour jobs like cleaning and construction.
But are we allowed to work anywhere while on a Job seekers visa ?
2.I have read in UDI that if we opt to learn Norwegian through some institute there then in that case we can get an visa extension till the period of that course held.Please clarify.

Yes Leoin, I have your 2nd quetions answer but for that you have to confirm with UDI.

2.I have read in UDI that if we opt to learn Norwegian through some institute there then in that case we can get an visa extension till the period of that course held.Please clarify.
Ans : Check below URL
http://www.udi.no/Norwegian-Directorate-of-Immigration/News/2010/Skilled-workers-can-learn-Norwegian-while-finding-employment/

Dear MAMA Panda,

If you want to stay for 1 year you can take norwagian language course and your visa can extend.

Pls reffer below URL :

http://www.udi.no/Norwegian-Directorate-of-Immigration/News/2010/Skilled-workers-can-learn-Norwegian-while-finding-employment/

As I read on UDI on JOB Seekers visa you can't work so that means pepole are doing illigle work or low payment work ?



Regards
Nimit Gajjar
[email protected]

Dear MAMA PANDA,

Can you tell me is their IT market(technical work) is also required
language ?

I find a loots of things but I dnt find about IT information.

I am also planning to move with my wife so I want to know this information.

Regards
Nimit Gajjar

Wow! you are right -- I didn't realize the job seeker visa didn't grant you a right to work. I'm really surprised by this and hope people realize this before they come, because that means it will be even more difficult to get a job. Because a Norwegian employer will just hire the person who already has all the paperwork (like another Norwegian or European.)

I think it is more clear in the Norwegian version (which I have translated):

A residence permit is valid for applying for work as a skilled worker or a specialist in Norway, but it gives no right to work. If you are offered work as a skilled worker or a specialist, you must apply for and obtain a residence permit before you can begin to work.

So that is very tricky indeed!

Please spread the word about this to people wanting job seeker visas!

I don't know how much illegal work is going on, but I am sure that it is.

@nimit.gajjar

I don't know about this -- I mean, if you are working in Oslo it is probably easier. But English is not an official language in Norway. Yes, people may know and understand English, but by and large people are speaking Norwegian at work and documents are in Norwegian.

Yes that things can you also get in english version too dear .

The content of the permit

  1.The residence permit allows you to seek employment as a skilled worker or specialist in Norway, but it does not entitle you to work.
   2.The permit can be granted for six months.
   3.The permit entitles you to repeated entry into Norway for the duration of the permit.
   4.The permit does not form the basis for a permanent residence permit.
   5.The permit does not form the basis for family immigration.


This the content of the permit.

Rgds
Nimit Gajjar

@Nimit Gajjar

I know it is in English, but it is more clear what "entitle" means in part 1 in the Norwegian version -- which is why I gave my own translation.

Dear MAMA,

I agree with you. I want to share and want to understand this clause of residency permit convert.

I heard about to while you convert your job seekers visa in to residency permit.

You have to move 1 month out side of the Norway  ?

So do you have idea about this ?

Agree !!

Regards
Nimit Gajjar

I'm sorry I don't know. But you can contact UDI directly and ask them:

http://www.udi.no/Norwegian-Directorate … ntact-UDI/

I have sent them emails before with questions and they do get back to you within a week.

Dear Mama Panda & Our Users in Group At least Get the job and successful converted visa in to residency permit ?

Cause here is few another interesting things which I need to share with you.
For residency permit this is requirement so I want know what is the clause.

You must have sufficient funds for the period for which you intend to stay in Norway. This must at a minimum correspond to salary grade 1 in the pay scale for Norwegian state employees, currently NOK 207.900 per year.


Regards
Nimit Gajjar

Thanks for posting this, Nimit. I am always trying to explain to people how much money they need to live in Norway -- and it is a lot! Some people spend the money on an airline ticket to fly to Norway and are immediately sent back because they cannot prove they have enough money to be in the country for 3 or 6 months while looking for a job. This happens a lot.

Yes Mama Panda,

You are right. norway is not cheap for live. But here is this things for that If you find a job in norway so your basic salary would atlest NOK 207.900 per year

Otherwise UDI will not Convert you Job seekers visa in to Residency Visa which is 3 years as they said.

So I want to know anybody who had convert their visa ? after getting job.

Because I search nowadays without Norwegian Language Job search is very difficult and even you need to survive 2 months to 3 months..

So If you know pls share with me.

[moderated]

Dear Nimit,

If you find a job on job seekeer visa then your salary must correspond to minimum grade 42 which is 348600 kr. per annum if you are graduate and minimum grade 45 which is 365300 if you have done your masters. This is the information i got. Please correct me if i am wrong.

Also u have mentioned about the norwegian language courses in which we can take admission to convert our visa from job seeker to student. Can u please suggest me any institute in or near Oslo area where we can take admission.

Thanks,
Ankit

Maybe the difference is after taxes? (at the usual 36% tax rate)

Hi mamapanda , Can u plz inform me I need to rent house to apply for job seeker visa coz udi website written I need secured housing . i am not clear . plz help me what kind of documents I need to apply for job seeker visa coz I want to apply myself .
Thanks . Syed . [email protected]

Hey !
I'm Moroccan man and i want to apply for Skilled jobseekers visa, i have Master degree in human rights and international humanitarian law, and i have experience of work for 6 months in one organization.., please does 6 months of experience it's enough ?

Thanks.

hi madam pada i'm simeon by name 4rm nigeria. Pls ma i would like to kwn how much it wil cost me to get a visa 4 job seekers?

Norwegian immigration stopped offering this type of visa in January! No more job seeker visas are being given.

OMG! I've been thinking about moving to Norway, but after reading some the comments here, I'm not so sure anymore...and being a mixed person, it seems that it will be almost "virtually impossible" for me to find a job!!

Hi, I want to know how is ship building or ship design field in Norway. so i can get some idea about my job search. I have done my degree as Naval Architecture And Offshore Engineering. Could you assist me.

As explained by ECS :

Norwegian immigration stopped offering this type of visa in January! No more job seeker visas are being given.


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