Frequently asked questions about seasonal work

You can be granted a residence permit as a seasonal worker to work in seasonal activities or to replace an employee who is on ordinary holiday leave. Seasonal activities is defined as work that can only be carried out during a limited part of the year, such as agricultural harvesting or work in forestry, fish processing, horticulture, and the restaurant and tourism industries.  

Learn more about our requirements, about how you apply, and where to hand in your application.

We aim to provide all applicants with an answer before you plan to start working, but we receive many applications at the same time and need sufficient time to assess the applications. Read more about estimated wait time for work immigration applications. 

You should not expect an answer before the estimated wait time.  

When we have several cases with the same employer or cases that are similar in other ways, it may be most effective to process these at the same time. This means that the wait time is not the same for all cases. 

If you have had a permit as a seasonal worker for six months, you must stay outside Norway for six months before you can get a new permit as a seasonal worker. As a seasonal worker, you cannot be in Norway for more than six months during a 12-month period.  

We set a quarantine period of 6 months from the expiry date of the previous seasonal worker permit. If you can document – with a stamp in your passport – that you travelled out of Norway at an earlier date, we can set the dates for your quarantine period starting the day you left Norway. 

Learn more about our requirements, about how you apply, and where to hand in your application.

Seasonal work or seasonal activities is defined as work that can only be carried out during a limited time of the year.  

Examples of seasonal work is work in the agricultural industry, the forestry industry, the fishing industry, and the horticulture industry. Work such as carpentry, painting and other maintenance or restoration work is not defined as seasonal work. Work such as barn work and general farm work, which must be carried out throughout the year, is not defined as seasonal work.  

The restaurant, hotel and tourism industry can be considered seasonal during high seasons, primarily in the period from May to September.  

Working as a holiday substitute for a permanent employee can also be considered seasonal work. To qualify as seasonal work, you must document that you are going to replace an employee who is on ordinary holiday leave. For example, you can work as a holiday replacement for a worker in the health care sector who is going on holiday leave. 

The need for seasonal workers from countries outside the EU/EEA – for seasonal work outside agriculture – must be assessed by NAV. The employer must obtain confirmation from NAV that it is not possible to find workers from Norway or the EU/EEA for the position. 

Read more about the requirements we set for seasonal work, how to apply and where you must submit the application.

The need for seasonal workers from countries outside the EU/EEA – for seasonal work outside agriculture – must be assessed by NAV. The employer must obtain confirmation from NAV that it is not possible to find workers from Norway or the EEA for the position. 

Read more about the requirements we set for seasonal work, how to apply and where you must submit the application.