Norway job seeker visa after graduation

You must hold, and apply before the expiry of, one of these permits: a study permit at a university college, university, vocational school or upper secondary school, with the education completed in Norway; a permit for additional education needed for recognition, where the education has been or is about to be recognised; a researcher-with-own-funds permit; or a skilled worker permit as a researcher at a university, college or research institute. Apply at least one month before your permit expires. If the diploma is not issued yet, a confirmation that the thesis is submitted and all other credits completed is accepted.

UDI also has a job-seeker permit for skilled workers with a visa-free nationality. If your nationality needs a visa for Norway, you cannot use it and must first obtain a job offer and a work permit.

You must be looking for work as a skilled worker, not as a religious leader or teacher, and must have a completed three-year vocational programme with a Norwegian equivalent, a completed university or college degree, or special qualifications from about six years of documented experience.

The amount depends on how long the permit is for: at least NOK 28,448 per month, which is NOK 341,373 for a full year. It must be your own money and is usually required to be in a Norwegian bank account; income from a job you already have in Norway while searching can be included. If you were a PhD candidate on a skilled worker permit, NOK 85,344 is enough regardless of length. UDI asks for statements of all your Norwegian accounts for the last six months.

Family members who already live with you in Norway on family immigration permits can apply to renew them, and joint applications are answered together.

You may work full-time or part-time in any job, including jobs that do not need skilled qualifications, while you look for relevant work, but you may not be self-employed. The permit lasts at most one year and does not count towards permanent residence. If you get a job offer before UDI decides, you can change the application to a skilled worker application free of charge in the portal without losing your place in the queue.

If UDI refuses, you can appeal within three weeks of receiving the decision letter. The appeal is free, must be signed and written in English or Norwegian, name the decision and explain what should change, and should contain new information; it can be uploaded through udi.no. If you cannot gather all documents in time, appeal anyway and explain, and you get up to two more weeks. UDI reconsiders the case and sends it to the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) if it maintains the refusal.