Part-time work as a student in Norway: explained simply
A part-time job as a student in Norway gives you your own money and good experience. But the rules are not the same for everyone. They depend on where you come from.
- Are you from a country outside the EEA and do you have a study permit: you can work up to 20 hours per week alongside your studies, and full time in the holidays.
- Are you an EEA citizen: you have no time limit.
- Everyone must have a tax card. If you earn under 100 000 kroner in 2026, you get a free tax card and pay no tax.
- You have the same rights at work as other employees.
Below we explain each part. (EEA = The European Economic Area. It is the EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.)
How many hours can you work?
This is the most important question for many. The answer depends on your stay.
Students from outside the EEA. If you get a study permit from UDI (Utlendingsdirektoratet), you also get permission to work up to 20 hours per week during your studies. This also applies to home office and freelance work on the internet. In official holidays you can work full time. All work counts together. If you work in a café and take freelance jobs, both count towards the 20-hour limit.
With holidays we mean the official study breaks, for example summer holiday, Christmas holiday and Easter holiday. In these periods the 20-hour limit falls away, and you can work full time.
The limit is important. If you break the rule about 20 hours, it can become harder to renew your study permit later. Therefore write down your hours, and ask your employer for a time sheet. Then you have proof that you have followed the rules.
EEA students. If you are a citizen of an EEA or EFTA country, no such time limit applies. You have the right to work like other EEA citizens, and you do not need a work permit. If you are going to live and study in Norway for more than three months, you only need to register with UDI. Registration is free, and you do it only once. You can go from being a student to becoming an employee without registering again. Read more in our article about EEA students in Norway.
| Topic | Student from outside EEA | EEA/EFTA student |
|---|---|---|
| Hours during studies | Up to 20 h/week | No limit |
| Work in holidays | Full time | No limit |
| Own work permit | Yes, comes with study permit | No |
| Must register with UDI | Yes (study permit) | Yes, if stay over 3 months |
Do you need your own work permit?
No, as a rule not. If you get a study permit from UDI, you get the right to work automatically. You do not apply for a separate work permit. But remember the limit of 20 hours per week. Self-employment is not allowed on a regular study permit.
EEA students do not need a work permit either. Registration with UDI is not the same as a permit. It only confirms that you are registered.
Tax card and free tax card: what do you need?
Everyone who works in Norway must have a tax card. It is an electronic card from Skatteetaten. Your employer gets it themselves from Skatteetaten. You need a Norwegian personal number or d-number to get one.
Here is how you arrange it: If you do not have a personal number, you first apply for a d-number. Then you order a tax card or free tax card on skatteetaten.no. You log in and fill in how much you expect to earn. Skatteetaten creates the card, and your employer gets it digitally. You do not need to deliver anything on paper.
If you have a low income, you get a free tax card. With a free tax card your employer does not deduct tax. In 2026 the limit is 100 000 kroner. If you earn 100 000 kroner or less in the year, you pay no tax.
Do you think you will earn more than 100 000 kroner? Then you must order a regular tax card from Skatteetaten. If you do not, your employer deducts 50 percent tax on what you earn over the limit of 100 000 kroner. Remember that holiday pay also counts in the sum. Read more about tax card and free tax card.
What rights do you have as a part-time employee?
You have the same rights as all other employees. A part-time job is a real job. This includes:
- Written employment contract. You have the right to an employment contract from the first day.
- Correct pay. In some industries there is a legally set minimum wage (universally applied wage). Arbeidstilsynet watches over the rules. From 15 June 2025 the hourly wage is for example at least 204,79 kroner in hotels and restaurants and at least 216,04 kroner in cleaning.
- Holiday pay and pay you are entitled to.
- Fixed working hours and breaks. The Working Environment Act sets limits for how much and when you can work.
- A safe working environment (HSE = Health, Safety and Environment).
- Sick pay if you become sick and meet the conditions. NAV (Arbeids- og velferdsetaten) can help you.
- Protection against unlawful dismissal.
Want to know more? See our overview of workers' rights. On snl.no (Store norske leksikon) you can read more about the Working Environment Act.
Undeclared work – work without tax and contract – gives you none of these rights. Say no to it.
What should you do first?
A part-time job as a student in Norway is fully possible when you know the rules. Do this before you start:
- Check what kind of stay you have (EEA or outside EEA).
- Get a Norwegian personal number or d-number.
- Order a tax card or free tax card from Skatteetaten.
- Ask for a written employment contract before you start.
- Follow the time limit of 20 hours if you have a study permit.
Practice working life with SamfunnPrep
The rules about work, tax and rights are also part of the Samfunnskunnskapsprøven. With SamfunnPrep you practice on exactly these topics. You get questions about working life, tax and Norwegian rules in simple language.
SamfunnPrep helps you understand both the test and your daily life in Norway. Create a free account and start practicing.
