Independent Contractor Permit

1. Visa24 months
2. Renewup to 72 months

• Leads to residency
• Leads to citizenship

Country

Norway

Visa name

Independent Contractor Permit

Local name

Selvstendig næringsdrivende med firma i utlandet

Program type

Freelancer visa

Status

Active

Initial duration

24 months

Max duration

72 months

Income requirement

$4,744/month ($56,927/year)

Application fee

$658

Tax status

Standard

Application method

online, embassy, in country

Can apply in-country

Yes

Multiple entry

Yes

Schengen access

Yes

Can open bank account

No

Renewable

Yes (24 mo cooldown)

Norway has no digital nomad visa. This is UDI's residence permit for a skilled self-employed person whose sole proprietorship is abroad and who has one assignment for a business in Norway. It is not a remote-work permit. Remote work is forbidden unless it is part of that assignment, and a new permit is required for a different assignment or a different Norwegian client. The Norwegian client cannot be a staffing agency, and the foreign business cannot be a limited company. Pay must not be poorer than what is normal in Norway. Where no collective agreement sets the rate, UDI's published floors are NOK 545,400 a year pre-tax if the assignment requires a bachelor's degree and NOK 624,700 if it requires a master's degree. A lower rate needs substantial evidence that it is normal for the occupation and place. Vocational work follows the collective wage where one applies, so NOK 545,400 is not a universal minimum. The stored income fields use the bachelor floor. The permit is granted for up to two years at a time and for six years in total. After that the holder must live outside Norway for two years before applying again. Time on this permit does not count toward permanent residence. A spouse, cohabitant and children can apply for family immigration only if the assignment lasts more than six months. The adult family-immigration fee is NOK 11,900 and the child fee is NOK 5,950. The reference person must have future income of at least NOK 436,957 a year pre-tax (3.2 times the 1 May 2026 basic amount) and previous income of at least NOK 409,972 for income year 2025 when the application is decided after 1 February 2026. The work-permit fee is NOK 6,300 for applicants over 18 (NOK 3,150 under 18), including renewals. USD figures use Norges Bank's 8 October 2026 rate of 9.5807 kroner per US dollar, the latest fixing available on 9 October 2026. EU/EEA nationals do not use this permit. They register under the EEA rules. Svalbard is not a nomad visa: the Immigration Act does not apply there, and residence on Svalbard does not give mainland residence or citizenship.

1. Oct 10, 2026
   • Name Independent Contractor Visa Independent Contractor Permit
   • Official page https://www.udi.no/ https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/work-immigration/skilled-workers/self-employed-persons...
   • Max duration months 48 72
   • Income monthly (USD) 3300 4744
   • Income annual (USD) 38600 56927
   • Application fee (USD) 648 658
   • Income monthly (local currency) 35000 45450
   • Income annual (local currency) 420000 545400

   the permit does not count toward permanent residence and does not itself lead to citizenship. A degree is not the only route to skilled competence (https://www.udi.no/en/want-to-apply/work-immigration/skilled-workers/self-employed-persons-with-a-company-abroad).