Self-Employed Permit (sole proprietorship)
🇳🇴 Norway visas · Business
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Self-Employed Permit (sole proprietorship)
Self-Employed Permit (sole proprietorship)
Norway · Business
What it is
Norway allows non-EU nationals to work as self-employed, but the permit is difficult to obtain without an existing contract or established client base in Norway. The business must be viable and generate sufficient income.
Key facts
- Category
- Business
- Duration
- 1 year at a time, renewable. Permanent residence after 3 years.
- Processing time
- 6 months
- Maximum validity
- 1 year
- Extendable
- Yes
- Path to permanent residence
- Direct route
- Dependants
- Conditional
- How to apply
- Online
Standard figures for this route. Some applicants pay a reduced fee or none at all, so confirm your own case on the official page.
Fees
- Application fee (age 18+)
- NOK 6,300
- Application fee (under 18 (half fee))
- NOK 3,150
Key requirements
- Completed vocational training or at least 3 years of higher education
- Viable business plan with existing clients or contracts in Norway
- Sufficient starting capital and income prospects
- The business must be genuine and full-time
Working on this visa
Work is restricted to your own business, which must normally be a sole proprietorship and cannot be a limited company; no other work, including remote work. The business must be likely to yield a profit of at least NOK 341 373 per year…
Facts checked against the official source. Last updated 30 July 2026.