Remote work while visiting Norway generally requires a permit that gives the right to work. Some emails and online meetings for overseas work may be allowed during a genuine visit. The exception does not give unrestricted permission to live and work from Norway.
Can you work from Norway for an overseas employer?
As a general rule, you need the right to work in Norway even when your employer is abroad. What matters is that you physically carry out the work while in Norway.
This guide mainly concerns nationals of countries outside the European Economic Area, abbreviated EEA. It is based on rules checked on 20 October 2026. Use it to plan a stay in 2027 and check the rules again before travelling.
Utlendingsdirektoratet, abbreviated UDI, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration, considers work from a hotel or home to be remote work. It can be work for a Norwegian or overseas employer. It can also involve your own business in Norway or abroad. See UDI's explanation of remote work.
On SamfunnPrep you can use tools for practical preparations. Start with the residence basis before booking a long period of accommodation and workspace.
What can you do during an ordinary visit?
UDI allows some remote work for an employer or your own business abroad during a visit. But the work must be secondary to the visit and meet all the conditions UDI describes.
UDI gives emails, phone calls and online meetings as examples. At the same time, it says that:
- Remote work must not be the main reason for the stay.
- The work must neither create value in Norway nor have a connection to Norway.
- You cannot work for a Norwegian employer or client through this exception.
- You cannot use the exception to run a business in Norway.
These conditions must be considered together. A client paying into an overseas bank account does not settle the question. An overseas employment contract does not automatically give permission to work here either.
UDI gives no general limit of a particular number of hours on this information page. Do not invent a rule that, for example, one working day per week is always allowed. The purpose of the stay and the connection to Norway need to be clarified.
What is the difference between a holiday with emails and a working stay?
A family visit involving occasional work queries may differ from several weeks of planned normal working hours. Giving the trip a different name does not change what you will actually do.
The table shows how to organise your questions before contacting UDI. It is a practical assessment aid, not advance approval of the examples.
| Planned activity | What you must clarify |
|---|---|
| Answer some emails during a family visit | Is the visit the main purpose, and does the work have no connection to Norway? |
| Work a normal working week from a rented flat | Which residence right or permit allows this work? |
| Carry out online assignments for a Norwegian client on holiday | The visitor exception for overseas work does not cover a Norwegian client. |
| Run an online shop from Norway | Does the activity involve your own business, and does the residence basis allow it? |
Example: You want to visit your sister for two weeks. During the visit you answer a few questions from your employer at home. Check the visitor exception conditions. If the plan is instead three months working full time from your sister's home, you should not use the same exception as your explanation.
Do not assume visa-free travel means freedom to work. The first rule concerns access to a short stay. The second concerns the activities the stay allows.
What if you already have a residence permit?
Read your decision before taking extra assignments. Permission to work does not always permit every type of work or business activity.
A skilled worker may have a permit linked to a particular type of position. UDI also says a skilled worker permit with an employer in Norway does not give the right to start your own business on the side. Read UDI's skilled worker permit questions and the guide to changing jobs.
An extra online client is therefore not just a question of your employer's consent. You must also check whether the work is permitted under your residence basis. Describe both who the client is and whether you will be employed or self-employed.
Does remote work count towards a student's working hours?
Yes. For the ordinary university or university college study permit, remote work is included in the limit of 20 hours per week alongside studies. UDI states that full-time work is allowed during holidays, but you must check your category and permit.
An overseas part-time job does not therefore automatically come on top of a Norwegian part-time job. If both involve work while you are in Norway, keep an overall record. See UDI on study permits.
Consider keeping a simple timesheet for all jobs. Record working hours, employer and where you physically worked. This makes it easier to check compliance with the conditions. Do not use the income limit for student support instead of the residence permit's hourly limit.
Can you work while a first application is being processed?
As a general rule, a first application does not give the right to start working, including online. If you believe a special exception applies, clarify it before starting work.
This is particularly relevant if you are allowed to wait in Norway for a family immigration application. The right to stay during processing is not the same as the right to work. Read the rules on working before a permit is granted and UDI's information for your case type.
What should you clarify before travelling in 2027?
Prepare a specific description of your work plan and residence basis. This makes it possible to obtain guidance on the actual circumstances.
Include citizenship, permit type, the purpose of the trip, planned hours and whom you will work for. Explain where the clients and business are based. Distinguish employment from your own assignments.
Residence, tax and social insurance must be clarified separately. A tax deduction card or tax paid does not give work permission. Ask Skatteetaten about tax and Nav, the labour and welfare administration, about social insurance affiliation where relevant.
SamfunnPrep helps you understand Norwegian terms and practical steps. Always check the work plan against UDI's rules before starting.
