Work in Norway or How I became a diver. Great interview about chases, deception and new hope

The fishing industry is the leading one in Norway and is being developed by the government. The country has large state-scale enterprises and small farms with their own processing equipment. Working in a fish factory in Norway constantly requires new personnel. To apply for a vacant position, you do not have to be a highly qualified specialist. Residents of the CIS countries go to the country for several reasons: to earn money, to get practice in English and Norwegian, to prepare the ground for moving.

Employment procedure in Norway in 2021

The country's legislation strictly applies to people who stay in Norway unofficially. Employers do not risk hiring such employees. Work in Norway for Russians begins with a representative office. It is impossible to enter the country without a visa and permission. The first document can be obtained from the representative office. For this you will need to provide:

• existing passports;
• 3 color photos in 3.5×4.5 format;
• health insurance;
• certificate from work;
• certificate of payment of fees;
• a self-written questionnaire.

There are several Norwegian representative offices in Russia. The Consulate General is located in Moscow. Visa documents must be submitted independently.

To begin the process of obtaining a permit, you need to go through several steps:

• find a place to work;
• enter into an agreement with the employer;
• start submitting documents for a residence permit.

Only after this can you submit a petition with the consent of the employer. So that the employer can control the process of issuing a permit, a power of attorney is issued for it. An additional advantage will be the availability of housing.

Visa and work permit in Norway

Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians and other citizens of CIS countries will need to obtain a residence permit in the state to work in Norway. This allows you to live in the country, leave it and return back (within the validity period of the permit). An application for the first permit must be submitted before the applicant enters the country. Outside the state, an application for permission must be submitted to the consulate. If the applicant is already in the country, then the document can be submitted at the police station. To obtain a work permit, the applicant must have a specific job offer. Tourist visas do not provide the right to work in Norway.

If the applicant wants to work in his specialty, he is required to provide documents on special education; they must be translated into Norwegian or English. An application for permission must also be submitted to the embassy. All residents of visa-restricted countries must have three-month or special work visas. If the Directorate for Foreigners' Affairs considers the application positively, the police will issue a temporary work permit.

The following package of your documents must be attached to your application for a work permit:

1. application form with photo;
2. copy of the passport;
3. a completed job offer form (an employment contract is also suitable);
4. documents confirming special education.

As for seasonal work, a permit is usually issued for a period not exceeding 6 months. A foreigner who is already in Norway can apply without leaving Norway.

The application for a work permit must be accompanied by:

1. application form with photo;
2. copy of the passport;
3. completed job offer form.

Depending on the country of the applicant, the set of documents may vary slightly, but this list is mandatory for any CIS country.

Features of working in Norway in the fishing industry

One of the country's main sources of income is the fishing industry. The manufacturer is responsible for the quality of the products. Sterile cleanliness reigns at the enterprises. Workers wear special uniforms, usually light colors. When applying for a job, you must present a medical certificate. Men and women work on the assembly line. Many processes are mechanized, but there is also a significant share of manual labor. Working in fish factories in Norway pays well. Employees of enterprises are offered a full benefits package. Workers quickly get used to the unpleasant fishy smell.

Specified Requirements

In order for work in Norway on fish to continue long and successfully, you must adhere to the established requirements. There are strictly designated breaks in production. During the work process, you must not leave your workplace and be distracted. On the assembly line, the final result depends on the efficiency of each person.

Late arrivals and untimely departures are not permitted. The working day lasts from 7 to 10 hours. It is required to strictly adhere to the internal regulations of the enterprise. It may differ at different factories and have features.

Working conditions

When looking for a place to work, you need to know the conditions and specifics of the industry. Working in a fish factory in Norway involves a number of responsibilities:

• manual and automatic processing of seafood;
• fish preparation;
• preparation of semi-finished products and finished products using technology;
• cleaning;
• freezing;
• conveyor;
• pickling.

The whole truth about working in Norway

About a year ago I moved to Norway. I would like to share my opinion on what difficulties visitors to the country may encounter when looking for work. I’ll tell you about my personal experience of finding a job in Norway.

I met many people eager to get to this wonderful Scandinavian Kingdom. They all pursued different goals, but mostly it was work or love. The third most popular option is to get an education, and let me tell you, it really is a great place to study. The same goes for love, life and work.

How to find a job

I live in Trondheim. It's a pretty good place to live, but it's very difficult to find a job here. There are several reasons for this, which I will introduce you to below.

Before you continue reading this article, you should know: life in Trondheim is absolutely amazing and it is, in my opinion, the most beautiful city in the world.

The nature in Trondheim is incredibly beautiful, the atmosphere is friendly, modern technologies are incredibly developed, high-quality education, strong medicine, extremely low crime, and much more. This is also a great place to start a family and raise children.

However, despite all the advantages, the truth is that it is not so easy to immediately find a good job here, as many visitors would like.

Here are a few things you should definitely know:

1. Highly educated population

Trondheim is home to NTNU, Norway's most popular technical university. Hence, the abundance of highly educated job seekers here is a reliable fact. About 82% of the city's adult population have at least secondary specialized education, and 38% have higher education.

Most students choose science, technology and business. In addition to NTNU, the quality of education is high in other educational institutions in the city. Even regular schools are very strong.

2. Bias towards visitors

Norwegians will pretend that they are not nationalists, but in my opinion this is not true. Norwegians prefer to hire other Norwegians for many reasons. One of them is knowledge of the language, but there are others. People hire people they can relate to and get along with.

Norwegians usually stick together. As a society, they look out for each other. There is nothing wrong with this, and in my opinion it is a good thing... but it makes it much more difficult for immigrants to find work. Perhaps the problem lies in the fact that I live in a small town.

People in a small town know each other well. They grew up together, went to school together, their families knew each other. This is another obstacle you will need to overcome as a foreigner. The reputation you build for yourself starts the day you arrive here. Dress smart, be active and show everyone how much you want to live here.

3. Norwegians love stability

This is one unspoken rule regarding employers. In Norway it is almost impossible to fire someone. Therefore, when companies hire people, they look for ideal candidates for the position. Because they want to believe that you are ready to invest all your soul and effort into the development of the company.

You must be a great specialist. Prove to company managers that you are the most suitable option for them and they will be happy to take you into their company. To do this, you need to be very confident and reveal all your positive qualities.

4. Limited number of vacancies

Even for very large companies, job options are limited. First of all, because it is a small town.

Also one of the main factors is the economy. With the current oil crisis and the layoff of many skilled workers, Norway has seen its highest unemployment rate in the last decade. This only increases competition.

5. Immigration requirements

As a skilled worker, you must meet all strict requirements. If you are from a non-EU member state, you will only have 6 months to find a job (3 month tourist visa plus 3 month extension for job seekers).

Make sure you apply for this work extension as soon as possible and note that you will need to meet residency and financial independence requirements. Even after you receive a job offer, your salary must meet specific requirements.

Companies are required to pay you a minimum salary of at least CZK 412,600 if you have a master's degree, and CZK 382,900 if you have a bachelor's degree. All this was created intentionally so that absolutely the entire population of Norway, including visitors, would have equal rights.

How to increase your chances

Finding a job in Norway is very, very difficult, but possible. You must be a competitive specialist. You should also take advantage of some subtleties that can help you.

— you need to actively get to know Norwegians and try to find more good friends. Go to holidays, participate in volunteer events. Be friendly. This will also help you strengthen your Norwegian language skills.

— before you take the plunge and plunge headlong into your job search, analyze the sector of your specialty. How much is it in demand, is the competition high? Soberly assess your chances and do not be timid in the face of difficulties.

— for skilled workers (higher education), competition is high, and the choice of vacancies is quite limited. But for unskilled workers, this is a little different; you will be very happy if you just come to work in a cafe as a waiter.

— Norway is a very expensive country. You definitely need to have enough finances so as not to die of hunger while looking for work, especially since this stage of your life can drag on significantly. However, never give up!

- ask for help. Don't be shy about asking people for help in your job search. Pride will not feed you bread and at the same time you will be able to test the integrity of your friends. Don't let difficulties make you give up.

Happy employment!

• Education in Norway
• Halloween in Norway
• Polar nights in Norway
• Norway Tours to Hardangerfjord
• A little about life in Norway: part 2
• A little about life in Norway: part 1

Video: Working in agriculture in Norway: expectations and reality

All production processes are automated, do not require much physical effort, and are suitable for men and women.

Enterprises have a five-day work week. Every day, employees are on site for 8-10 hours. There is a fifty percent surcharge for overtime. Many companies provide employees with free housing. Medical insurance and food are also paid for by the company. If the contract is concluded before departure, the employer pays for the travel. At his expense, the flight to his homeland also takes place.

For beginners, the first week is educational. During this period, daily wages do not exceed 15 euros. Departure on Saturday is welcome and compensated. Earnings are paid once every 2 weeks. Sunday is a day off for everyone.

What vacancies are required?

Working in fish factories in Norway is suitable for both people with and without higher education. At enterprises, there is a need for permanent labor reserves, since production does not stand still and is constantly expanding. It must be taken into account that knowledge of languages ​​is required, at least at an elementary level. At enterprises related to the processing of fish and seafood, there is a need for:

• packers;
• prepackers;
• salters;
• loaders;
• workers on the assembly line;
• warehouse workers;
• specialists in the preparation and packaging of fillets and finished products.

To obtain a higher position, you must have appropriate education and a European diploma. We accept employees from 18 to 55 years of age of any gender.

How to find a job without intermediaries

When looking for a place to work, job seekers find a large number of agencies promising services for an additional fee. Offers are not always true, and money sent is not returned. To find vacancies for Norwegian fish factories yourself, you need to go to sites offering job advertisements:

• www.jobb.tu.no
• www.jobbsafari.no
• www.jobbnorge.no
• www.careerjet.no
• www.finn.no

Job seekers have the opportunity to contact the country's employment service directly. Information is provided free of charge. There are a number of conditions that must be met in order to obtain a work permit.

1. You must obtain an invitation from the employer, issued on a special form and in accordance with all the rules.
2. Full employment is required to obtain a permit.
3. Salary and workload correspond to the selected vacancy.

Searching for a job on your own gives you a better chance of ending up in Norway and finding a job according to your desire and capabilities.

Official employment

Working in Norway officially at a fish factory requires a permit. The document is drawn up and issued by the enterprise that employs the foreign citizen. There is a clause in the country's legislation that gives priority to Norwegians, so there is fierce competition. To hire a foreigner, the company must prove the necessity of its actions.

Permission can be of two types:

• for permanent employment;
• for seasonal work.

The first one has a period of 1 year, there is a possibility of extension. Seasonal permits have a limited duration. It cannot be extended and you must leave and re-enter to continue your stay in the country.

There is a third way to obtain a work permit: you need to come to Norway on a visitor visa and independently find a place to work. Once an employer has been found, an application for permission must be submitted. You can start work only when the approved document arrives.

Applying for a work permit to Norway

Since 3 years of residence in the country makes it possible to apply for permanent residence, the government limits the period for extending a work permit to 2 years. This makes it possible to control the level of emigration. A foreign citizen who has worked in the country for 2 years must return to his homeland and after a year, if desired, find a job again and obtain a work permit.

There are several types of document:

• for people with secondary specialized education;
• for seasonal workers;
• for Au-Pair program participants;
• for trainees.

To officially find employment for 6 months or more, the first type of permit is suitable. When submitting your application, all documents must be in order. The applicant needs to be in contact with the employer.

Finding and getting a job in Norway

Hello again! So, I came to Norway, I had to study for two years in the master's program. As I already said, I only had funding for six months, then they extended it for another six months, and then I had to finance myself. Therefore, in addition to looking for a job in the specialty, the issue of finding a job while studying was relevant. I’ll tell you about my experience of searching for various jobs.

General points

As I already wrote, in order to start working, you need to get a tax card - skattekort. The tax system in Norway is progressive, the tax increases with income and can reach 49%, without a tax card the employer will be required to pay the same 49%, you never know. Since I was absolutely sure that I would find a job in September as a last resort, I immediately after receiving my personal number went to the tax office and ordered a card, explained the situation, and a week later received a card for 36% (I don’t know, maybe I really looked like a person who will earn 500 thousand crowns 3-4 months before the end of the year, but it is what it is). So, I have free time, a personal number, a tax card and the right to work up to 20 hours a week. Let's get to work!

Work while studying

The first thing you need to do is create a resume - CV. It should include information about yourself: contacts, photographs, education, work experience and personal qualities. It is precisely the last two points that need to be emphasized. Education is worth writing only to show that you are not a fool, but personal qualities should be emphasized very strongly. The same resume is drawn up for all positions, and for each vacancy an application must be drawn up - søknad. In it you need to tell about yourself and convince that you are the right person for this particular job. I'll be honest - none of my resumes worked. I took it to warehouses, cleaning companies, hotels, even stores, but no. The main problem is the language and the size of the city. The city is actually a student city, 8-9% of the residents are students, the amount of work is very limited. As a result, you can get a job almost only through an acquaintance, with a few exceptions. One of them is sykehjemm, something between a hospice and a nursing home; most of the residents have certain diseases, including complete paralysis. But it requires language, so I was past again. Some people successfully get jobs as coaches - but this requires experience (even from Russia will do), but I flew through again. As a result, through an acquaintance, I was hired at the same hotel where I had previously submitted more than one resume. Briefly - I worked for a year and a half on a rag, no big deal, the work was irregular, but it definitely came out to 6 thousand a month, during all sorts of meetings and conferences the monthly salary reached 12 thousand crowns. That is, there was enough for life.

Work in specialty

It’s unlikely that the dear reader wanted to read about the floor polisher, so let’s get closer to the main topic. Since the job search process is 90% remote, you need to prepare yourself a presentation package (or, if you like, a portfolio), where you need to collect all the useful information about yourself.

Russian diploma

Many people advise you to wipe your Russian diploma and throw it away. In fact, this is not entirely true. I translated my diploma and made several copies. I sent one copy of the translation of the diploma and certificate to a special office for confirmation of foreign education - NOKUT. You need to fill out a special form in English or Norwegian and send the whole thing in a large envelope for 100 kroons (this will be more reliable), and after six months you will receive confirmation that your Russian education has been counted and converted into credits. My 5 years of specialty turned into 240 points - a bachelor's degree and a master's year. It is also a good idea to ask the translator for translations in electronic form; attaching neat text files is much better than scanned copies (better readability and less weight).

Summary

I didn’t bother and took Europass as a template.
Many will say that this is trivial, but this option has several advantages. One of them is a familiar form for personnel officers, plus many sites allow you to upload a resume in this format and sort it into different fields at once, conveniently. What to write on your resume? The most important thing is relevant work experience. No experience? Well, everyone did internships at the university, didn’t they? The language level can be written in words, or it can be written as level, A1, A2, B1 and so on. About your studies - for each place of study, write in 2-3 lines what was studied (cultural studies and the basics of library and bibliographic knowledge should not be written), better write about your diploma - the topic of what was done, and what ultimately happened (don’t be afraid to evaluate yourself — the diploma came out great, everyone gave a standing ovation). If you participated in any societies, write what you did. I wasn't that active in Russia, so I joined the student parliament in Narvik. Yes, people are not ashamed of the fact that they enter parliament purely for the sake of a beautiful line on their resume, but it’s not worth just sitting there either.

Guarantors are very important. First, I wrote down the teachers with whom I communicated well, then I wrote down the boss from the hotel. It is advisable to include those who can talk about you from a professional point of view. And you shouldn’t be afraid to replace some people with others. For example, replace a teacher from a Narvik school with a professor from the University of Trondheim NTNU. 2-3 people, no longer worth it. Hobby? Be sure to write, but briefly. Still, the resume should be no more than two pages. The Europass also contains a line indicating the position you are applying for. Since the resume is written the same for almost everyone, I wrote Electrical/Automation Engineer.

Photography, I think, is necessary. Still, in Norway, a person’s personality is very important; for many, a resume with a face is a resume from the person, and without a face, it is from the candidate. Moreover, the photo should be more lively than a passport photo, maybe with a little rotation, the background should not be edited out either. A good option is to take a photo at the computer or in front of a whiteboard; a slight natural smile will also not be superfluous.

Statement

I preferred to write in the language in which the vacancy was published. It is also worth indicating in the application the name of the company and the vacancy (such as “I saw that your company, Horns and Hooves, is looking for an engineer”), the application should indicate which skills or knowledge are suitable for this vacancy. What came as a surprise to me personally is that in Norway letters do not begin with “Dear sir or madame”, just “Hei”.

Social media

I recommend creating a profile on LinkedIn; it is better to include it as a link in your resume than Facebook or other social networks.

Publications-works

It’s clear that everything needs to be translated into English.
I uploaded what I had on LinkedIn, it's easier that way. In general, all the documents are ready, it’s time to enter the labor market. We need to do this in advance. Firstly, the more you send, the more chances you have, and secondly, with each letter the text will get better and better, some minor flaws will be corrected. Phrases will be rearranged. It was especially noticeable how my letters in Norwegian changed.

I was looking for a job simply - 1-2 sites with jobs (for example, nav.no - just a filter by profession. If the vacancy was somehow suitable, I sent a letter there. Of course, the refusals came one after another. And then it came -

Næringslivsdagen and summer work

This is something like a job fair at a school in Narvik. Many companies like ABB, Siemens, Stattkraft, Jernebane and many smaller ones. You can chat with them, get contacts, find out about summer job opportunities, or write a thesis with a company. During the whole day of conversations, my tongue almost fell off (plus my levels of English and Norwegian at that time were making themselves felt), but I still handed out the entire stack of resumes. What's funny is that a couple of weeks later I received a call from one company, Demas AS, which is located in the town of Brøstadbotn - for 487 people. I was offered a summer job as an installer at a factory producing electrical cabinets for 5 weeks. I happily agreed. I won’t dwell too much on what I did there, but I will say that I received: firstly, a good salary (about a third higher than in a hotel per hour, plus many more hours); secondly, some practice in production; thirdly, practice in the language (although the Brøstabotn dialect is still a song); and fourthly - beautiful lines in the resume in the “work” and “guarantors” sections. During the process, I hinted several times that I really liked it and would be happy to work with them later, but somehow the conversation did not go any further. Therefore, upon arrival in Narvik, I continued to look for work.

First call

I decided not to bother too much and just arranged a carpet mailing.
Mainly on two points: writing a thesis in a company and a vacancy in a company (including internships - trainee). I sent 3-10 resumes a day, October came, Næringslivsdagen was held in Narvik again, where I went around again, communicated with a better level of language, collected a bunch of business cards with contacts. After talking with representatives of Demas, I did not see in them a burning desire to hire me, so I began sending out my resume with redoubled force. First of all, I sent it to those whom I met at the event, and in the letter I always wrote “Hello, remember, we met in Narvik, we had a very pleasant conversation,” then I added it to those whom I found on LinkedIn. The letter made sure to indicate that “based on the conversation with you, you have very good conditions for workers, and this is very important.” In general, at the event everyone says that they have many, many vacancies, they need everything at once, but this is not always true, such is life. In response, I received answers like “Dmitry, it was very pleasant to talk with you, I passed on your resume. Now we are forming a budget for next year and, based on this, we will inform you about the decision.” Need I say that 95% didn’t write anything else? However, just a couple of weeks later I received a call from an unfamiliar number, which was also not identified in the Norwegian phone book. When I picked up the phone, I heard the cheerful Bergen dialect, from which I understood the words “served, work, actual” and the interrogative intonation. After thinking for a second, I began to proudly report that yes, I applied (when??) to your company (which company?) for the vacancy of an electrical engineer, and this is still relevant. “Great,” I hear in response, I’ll contact you later. Then we called each other a couple more times, and I received an invitation to an interview via Skype from the company TS Group. In just a couple of days, when I had almost memorized the entire website, Stine (a personnel officer from TS) writes that if I haven’t understood yet, then they want to get me a job and then hire me out to the company Motus Technology, so like a link to a website. In a panic, I began to study what kind of Mutyus this was. Yeah, solutions for oil and gas offshore, cool, cool.

Interview

So I got ready, laid out pieces of paper with clue words, took a fully charged tablet, occupied a free classroom at school and waited for the call.
The phone rings at the appointed time, I turn on my smile and with sweaty fingers press “answer with video”. I say hello, I see the moving lips of two people, but I hear nothing. I explain the situation, they call me back a couple of times, but nothing changes, they hang up. In a panic, I’m ready to hit myself against the wall, but I see that they’re calling me again. I answer and see a picture from another camera, and as a bonus, I can also hear. We said hello again, they asked me what language I preferred, I answered “Norwegian” (I realized that it was in vain, but there was no turning back), I told a little about me, what and where I studied, they told about themselves, I even I understand. Then they started asking questions. The questions were different, for example, why am I studying in Narvik, why did I choose engineering in the first place, like on my personal front. Then they asked what I like to do in my free time - I answered that I don’t have much free time, and I need to study, and I work part-time, I’m learning Norwegian... They interrupted me - “why are you studying this?” I honestly said that we didn’t have any special courses, and without the language it was impossible. They honestly answered that this surprised them very much, and they were impressed by the fact that I myself am learning the language and can even express myself in it, at the very least. Then they asked me if I would like to visit Molde (that’s where they are located) for a personal interview, to which I replied that it would be interesting to visit the “city of roses” (the unofficial name of Molde). At the end they asked me if I had any more questions. Since panic suddenly returned, and all my vocabulary was used up, I asked what the weather was like in Molde (and in general I thought that I had successfully completed the interview). I have never seen such a surprised look in duplicate. However, then they said that today the first snow fell in Molde, and they turned the camera to the window. I said that there was also snow in Narvik today, and after that we talked for another 15 minutes about the weather in Molde, Narvik, Murmansk, and Oslo. After the conversation ended, I realized that I needed to continue looking for work. However, a week later, just after I passed my license, I received a letter in the mail that I was invited to a personal interview in January. It was probably one of the best days of my life. However, a couple of weeks later, when I was in Oslo, I received a letter that they would like to conduct another video interview with me before the personal one. At that moment everything fell apart for me. I just wrote “Did you doubt me? Should I prepare anything for this interview? What issues will be emphasized?” In response they wrote to me: “Everything is fine, we just want to conduct another interview. Be prepared - use a headset if possible for better sound."

I had the second interview when I was in Murmansk, and three people were already talking to me - the director of Mutyus was included as a bonus. After talking for an hour about all sorts of bullshit, we said goodbye. I would like to note a couple of points. “Doesn’t it bother you to move to such a small town as Molde?” - “Have you been to Narvik?” - "It's clear". “Isn’t it difficult for you to understand us?” - “Of course it’s difficult, you speak three different dialects, my brain is melting, but what to do?” - (after a pause) “well, yes, I speak the Bergen dialect - and I speak the Western dialect - and I generally speak Ninoshka.” That is, there were a couple of poignant moments that were turned into jokes. I won’t say that it was right, but in any stressful situation my mind begins to laugh stupidly.

Job offer and contract

A couple of days later, Stine asked me to send me the written work that I had.
I sent all my work at the Narvik school and a partially translated Russian diploma (I explained that the translation was in progress). A week later she called me to make an official proposal. To the question “what about a personal interview?” I received the answer “everything is clear to us.” Well, I accepted the offer and congratulations. A week later, I received the documents by email, printed out the contract, the proposal, signed it and sent it back by email. According to the agreement, from June 1, I began working as an engineer at TS Group with simultaneous leasing to Mutyus and a probationary period of 6 months. If after a year Mutyus and I are satisfied with each other, I will move to them on a permanent basis. So in mid-February I got a job and stopped looking for another one. It is worth noting that I received positive responses from other places until mid-June - in this case, most Norwegians will wait until the last minute. Perhaps I would have gotten a better and more interesting option, but at that time I wanted to get out of Narvik as quickly as possible, and who knows, I would have had another chance.

In March, I applied for a work residence permit, and at the end of May I already had another card for a period of one year. On May 28th, I somehow handed in my master's thesis, loaded my things into the car and, having had a farewell dinner with a couple of friends, drove to Molde - 1100 km with two ferries.

I will write about how an engineer works in Norway and what money is spent on in the final article of the series. This article is only about how the job was looked for. If dear readers have questions about finding a job as an engineer, I will answer with great pleasure in the comments.

Video: Reviews of working in Norway: personal experience

List of required documents

As a result of changes in the country's legislation, since 2015, an application can be submitted either on a special form, filled out independently, or electronically on the official website. To obtain a work permit, you must provide the following documents:

• passport size photographs;
• an employment contract with bilateral signatures;
• documentation confirming the provision of housing;
• photocopies of the applicant's passports;
• information about the employer from the official website of the Unified Register;
• optional, but desirable is a power of attorney in the name of the employer.

The package of papers must be collected according to the register. Passports require a translation into English or Norwegian and a notary visa. The employment contract must specify the place of work, payment, time, additional social benefits and validity period.

Procedure for official employment in Norway

The official employment procedure includes obtaining a work visa and a work permit in the country.

Work visa to Norway

A work visa application submitted through a Norwegian mission must be registered on the UDI visa portal https://selfservice.udi.no/, where you can also reserve a time to provide additional documents. The application must be submitted at the appointed time, otherwise the application procedure may be delayed indefinitely. The deadline for reviewing documents will be communicated to the applicant by the representatives of the representative office. Among the requirements for the applicant is the presence of valid medical insurance.

Documents required to obtain a work visa

The package of documents required to obtain a work visa to Norway includes:

• valid international passport;
• internal passport;
• three color photographs 3.5x4.5 cm;
• health insurance;
• certificate from the place of work;
• receipts for payment of consular and visa fees;
• completed visa application form.

In addition to the Consulate General in Moscow, citizens of the Russian Federation can apply for a work visa to the consulate offices in St. Petersburg, Arkhangelsk or Murmansk. In addition, visa centers are located in many cities of Russia, detailed information about the work of which can be found on the VFS website https://www.norwayvisa-russia.com/.

a work visa for a qualified specialist is issued for a period of 1 to 3 years with the possibility of extension

Work permit in Norway

Obtaining a work permit is preceded by the procedure for obtaining a residence permit in the country. The application for a residence permit is submitted together with the application for a work visa to the Directorate of Foreigners UDI. Details of the procedure for obtaining a residence permit can be found on the Directorate’s website https://www.udi.no/Norwegian-Directorate-of-Immigration/. Thus, the employment procedure in Norway includes:

• job search;
• concluding an employment contract with the employer;
• obtaining a residence permit;
• obtaining a work permit;
• obtaining a work visa and moving to Norway.

Procedure for submitting an application and accompanying documents

In accordance with the new rules for applying for a work permit adopted in 2015, such an application can be submitted either on paper or electronically by registering on the updated visa portal of the Norwegian Embassy in Moscow. Moreover, portal users will be given priority when considering applications. The application is accompanied by a package of documents that must meet the following requirements:

• the package must contain high-quality copies of all documents in A4 format;
• the use of formats other than A4 is excluded, the presence of tape, glue, and folds on copies of documents is unacceptable;
• It is not permitted to provide torn or wrinkled copies of documents.

If the applicant fails to comply with these requirements, the documents may be returned for re-registration.

Types of work permits and documents required to obtain them

There are several types of work permits in Norway, including:

• for persons who have received secondary specialized education;
• for seasonal workers;
• under the Au-Pair program;
• for internship.

  
  Seasonal workers often find employment in fish processing enterprises

Table: types of work permits in Norway and documents required to obtain them

Who does not need a work permit in Norway

The following are exempt from obtaining a work permit in Norway (provided they stay in the country for no more than 90 days):

• entrepreneurs who have a joint business in the country;
• lecturers, scientists;
• engineers and technicians who arrived to carry out preventive work on equipment and have unique knowledge (before entering, they must inform the police about the purpose of the visit in writing);
• foreign workers employed by private individuals who come to the country for a short period of time;
• professional athletes;
• officials;
• journalists;
• guides, tour guides;
• crew members of foreign trains, planes, trucks, buses;
• employees who arrived for preventive maintenance on ships.

Requirements for an applicant to obtain a work permit

If the applicant is a qualified worker, he must meet the following requirements:

• have a job offer from a Norwegian employer;
• have a diploma of higher or secondary specialized education;
• the diploma must correspond to the vacancy for which the applicant is applying;
• must undergo a qualification confirmation procedure;
• working conditions and remuneration must comply with Norwegian standards.

A contract with a qualified employee is usually concluded for a period of 1 to 3 years with the possibility of extension. After three years, the employee has the right to apply for permanent residence. If a migrant worker arrived in Norway to perform seasonal work, i.e. for a period not exceeding 6 months, then the following requirements are imposed on him:

• availability of a full-time job offer from a Norwegian employer;
• stay in the country should not exceed 6 months;
• confirmation of the hourly wage, which must not be lower than the official minimum;
• confirmation from local authorities of the shortage of labor resources in the industry in which the applicant plans to work (except forestry and agriculture);
• After 6 months, you must leave Norway, and the next contract can be concluded after another 6 months.

Seasonal workers are usually employed in tourism companies, the restaurant industry, fish factories, as well as forestry and agricultural enterprises. Unlike qualified workers, seasonal workers do not have the right to invite family and apply for permanent residence.

Salary rates in 2021

Unskilled professionals cannot expect to earn the highest wages, but workers in the fishing industry earn more in Norway than at home. With free housing, food and travel per month, that’s 3,000 euros.

The average salary in Norway in the fish processing industry ranges from 2,500 to 7,000 euros. This depends on the qualifications and professionalism of the specialist. At enterprises, hourly wages prevail. On average it comes out to 12-15 euros. Overtime on Saturday is paid additionally by agreement. Earnings are credited to the card every 2 weeks.

Common vacancies and salaries

The average working day in Norway is 7.5 hours on a 5-day work schedule. There is no minimum wage in the country and is determined by labor agreements between the employer and trade unions. The average salary in the country in 2021 is about 4.5 thousand euros per month, which is one of the highest in Europe. Women earn on average 15% less than men.

Table: wages in Norway in 2021

Among the most common vacancies for recruitment agencies in 2016:

• worker at a fish factory;
• builder;
• electrician;
• driver;
• farm worker;
• mechanic;
• home assistant;
• worker at a furniture factory;
• shipbuilder;
• nanny;
• modular house assembler;
• hairdresser;
• worker on an oil platform;
• IT specialist;
• cook;
• plumber.

On oil platforms, employees earn from 4.5 thousand euros per month, at a fish factory - up to 3 thousand euros, unskilled workers earn about 2 thousand euros per month. Knowledge of the Norwegian language is a mandatory requirement when considering the application of any qualified employee; as an exception, knowledge of English is sometimes allowed.

Employment is possible for Russians, Ukrainians, Kazakhstanis and Belarusians on the polar archipelago of Spitsbergen, but mainly as miners.

Video: a few facts about working in Norway

Information about life in Norway

The country has a very high standard of living. Employers do not distinguish between local residents and visitors, so the level of wages is several times higher than in their homeland. It is enough to rent an apartment, eat and save. The country complies with social requirements that ensure timely provision of assistance.

Weather

The country, located on the ocean, is subject to severe storms. Heavy rainfall continues throughout the year. Summers in Oslo are warm and sunny. At the same time, the temperature remains at +15°C. Winter is warm and the thermometer does not drop above 0°C. There are many fish processing plants in Oslo. When coming to Norway to work, you must take into account that the weather will not please you with warmth, but will greet you with rain and overcast clouds.

The country has many mineral resources. Oil, natural gas and minerals are extracted. Hydropower complexes are functioning. The main natural resource is fish. Norway is the world's largest producer and exporter of these products.

Mentality of local residents

A country with European foundations and a tolerant attitude towards representatives of other nationalities. Local residents are friendly towards visitors. More than five million people live in the country, including 14% migrants. The flow of visitors has increased since 2005. The first settlers were Poles and other citizens of Eastern Europe.

Children born in Norway become Norwegian citizens. Thus, the number of Vietnamese and Somalis has increased. Mostly Lithuanians, Swedes and Poles come to work in Norway. Recently, the flow of migrants from the CIS countries has increased.

Life in Norway

Like many European countries, life is expensive in Norway. Everything is expensive here:

• Food;
• housing;
• cloth;
• essentials;
• medicine.

The result of high prices was really high salaries. However, no matter how high the salary, sometimes it is not enough to pay for life in the country.

Reviews from people

Marina, 36 years old: “I worked at a fishing company for a year. I know one thing: having an EU citizen passport is mandatory for an employer to hire a foreign specialist. Without knowledge of basic English or Norwegian, it will be difficult to communicate, and no farmer will be willing to hire. Norway is a quiet and cultural country with plenty to see when it's not raining."

Stas, 42 years old: “It’s true that they pay well for working in Norway, leave feedback, who worked? I want to go for the first time, but I’m not sure it’s worth it.”

Elena, 31 years old: “They pay really well, if you don’t fall for scammers, on average it comes out to 3000-4000 euros. Under no circumstances should you succumb to provocations and send them money. It’s easier to find a job yourself through advertisements. If something doesn’t work out, there will be no one to blame.”

Features of working on Norwegian oil platforms

04 Apr 2011 It is worth mentioning right away that the oil platform is a very technically complex structure, because it operates on the open sea. Its maintenance requires the services of specialists in a variety of fields. In addition, it is important to understand that electrical and drilling rigs require not only regular operational maintenance, but also repairs, because repairmen, mechanics, welders, technicians, mechanics, electricians, operators, turners, mechanics, etc., regularly work in oil fields. platforms. On Norwegian platforms, people work in very difficult, indeed extreme, conditions, often at very low temperatures. This circumstance explains the fact that staff turnover is very high. Physically strong and healthy men up to 45 years old and women up to 36 years old are constantly required here. Thus, before getting a job, each applicant undergoes an in-depth medical examination. Naturally, auxiliary workers, cooks, waitresses and cleaners are also required.

It is known that many people from the CIS and Baltic countries regularly work on Norwegian oil platforms. The reason that motivates people to strive for this job is quite banal. The fact is that a person can receive about $300 per day, which is a very large salary for citizens of post-Soviet republics. The Norwegians themselves receive 50% more for similar work, but even this circumstance does not make working on oil platforms prestigious. However, not many people can endure such work for long, since, as mentioned above, its extreme conditions do not contribute to the comfort of work. Despite the fact that they have to work four hours every eight hours on a shift, it is still very hard for the workers. Household staff work eight hours a day. Interestingly, the platform itself does not provide any opportunities for long-term leisure, which means it is impossible to get proper rest during the shift. By the way, there are no days off during a shift. Work is carried out around the clock, in shifts. The duration of one watch on different platforms varies, but generally ranges from 105 to 180 days. After completing the shift, workers receive the right to rest on the mainland, which is from 15 to 45 days.

Specialists wishing to work on Norwegian oil platforms must receive, fill out and submit a strictly defined package of documents. First of all, the job applicant must submit an Application for Employment (if we are talking about an applicant from the CIS countries, then in English and Russian). The package of documents also includes such papers as Guidelines for filling out the application form, List of general civil documents required by the employer company from a candidate for a job, Conditions of employer companies for admission and work on offshore oil platforms, Legal addresses of the largest oil producing companies in Norway (including foreigners working in the country). If everything goes well, then on site each employee undergoes a special in-depth safety briefing, after which the relevant documentary evidence is attached to their personal file.

It is worth noting that companies engaged in recruiting personnel for offshore oil platforms in Norway may well send the required package of documents to fill out. Naturally, such a service cannot be called cheap, since it costs an average of 75 euros. Payment is made at the post office upon receipt. Moreover, payment in national currency is quite possible. Thus, it can be stated that there can be no deception in such a scheme.

Most often, work on Norwegian oil platforms is carried out near the Spitsbergen archipelago.
Thus, companies engaged in the recruitment and employment of specialists on oil platforms, as a rule, provide detailed information about Svalbard and other oil production sites, as well as about various nuances of life on the oil platform. In addition to online information, job seekers receive color brochures by mail detailing possible job opportunities in Norway. Booklets are attached to the list of required documents. Jobs Norway oil platforms