Nursing in Norway is a profession with a documented labour shortage. For your first job, you still need to check authorisation, language, duties and residence rights. Choose a specific position matching your competence and situation.
Is there a shortage of nurses in Norway?
Yes. Nav, the labour and welfare administration, estimated a shortage of 1,850 nurses in its 2026 employer survey. The survey was published on 20 May 2026 and checked here on 4 October 2026.
The figure describes employers' difficulties finding qualified workers. It is not a list of 1,850 jobs currently vacant. Nor does it guarantee an offer in your preferred municipality.
Use Nav's national survey as an indication of demand. Then use specific job adverts to identify requirements in your area.
You can present experience clearly through a Norwegian CV and application. Before writing the application, decide which type of nursing work you actually want.
Which workplace suits a first job?
The best first job is a position where duties match your competence and training is clear. Hospitals and municipal services can both be relevant.
Utdanning.no, the public education and careers portal from Direktoratet for høyere utdanning og kompetanse, HK-dir, describes a broad profession. Nurses observe patients, provide treatment and collaborate with others. Duties vary between departments and services.
| Workplace | What to investigate | Relevant experience to describe |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital department | Patient group, procedures and training | Clinical duties in a similar department |
| Nursing home | Responsibility during shifts and support from colleagues | Care of older people and long-term illness |
| Home nursing | Independent work, travel and contact with the team | Home visits and coordination |
| Mental health or rehabilitation | Working methods and experience requirements | Conversations, follow-up and interdisciplinary collaboration |
The table is a planning aid, not a ranking of easy and difficult jobs. A nursing-home position can involve considerable responsibility. Home nursing may require substantial independent assessment.
Ask who is available when you need professional assistance. A familiar job title does not mean working methods are the same as those you know from another country.
Do you have the authorisation the position requires?
Check Norwegian authorisation before applying for a job requiring it. Helsedirektoratet is the authority assessing and granting authorisation to nurses.
As of 4 October 2026, Utdanning.no describes authorisation as necessary to work as a nurse. A foreign diploma and Norwegian authorisation are different documents. Explain your status precisely in the application.
For example, write “Norwegian authorisation granted”, “application being processed” or “additional requirements must be completed”, if that is what the decision shows. Do not write “approved nurse” if the assessment is unfinished.
A licence may have restrictions. Read any conditions and clarify whether the position fits them. An employer's interest does not replace the authorities' decision.
This guide is a plan for the first job. For the authorisation case itself, use Helsedirektoratet's guide by profession and country of education. Avoid buying a general “approval course” without knowing which requirement it should meet.
How do you plan Norwegian language and any additional requirements?
Plan language alongside the authorisation process, and read the decision before choosing courses. For education outside the EU/EEA, Helsedirektoratet describes specific additional requirements.
EU/EEA means the European Union and European Economic Area. As of 4 October 2026, the relevant additional-requirement route requires B2 in all parts of Norskprøven, or other documentation accepted by Helsedirektoratet.
Following a positive assessment of the education, additional requirements should normally be completed within three years. Helsedirektoratet describes three attempts for each course or professional test within the deadline. Read individual decisions and any exemptions carefully.
Nurses following this application route normally also need to pass national subjects, medication handling and a professional test. The source is Helsedirektoratet's guidance on additional requirements. Do not automatically apply these requirements to every country of education.
Read about Norskprøven and its component tests when making a language plan. Also practise reports, observations and asking colleagues for clarification. A test result does not replace all the communication you need at work.
How do you read a job advert?
Divide the advert's requirements into formal requirements, desired experience and practical conditions. This makes it easier to see whether the job fits now or requires a later step.
Make a short overview for each relevant position:
- Is Norwegian authorisation required when applying or when starting?
- What language requirement does the employer describe?
- Is experience with a particular patient group necessary or desirable?
- Is the position permanent, temporary, full-time or part-time?
- Which evening, night and weekend shifts are included?
- Is there a named contact person who can clarify questions?
Send specific questions to the contact person. “Can I apply with my status?” is more useful when you also describe authorisation, language and experience.
An illustrative example: you have experience in a surgical ward but apply for a job with very different procedures. Show the relevant experience you have and ask about training. Do not present unfamiliar tasks as something you already master.
Which documents strengthen the application?
A clear application shows which duties you can perform and how this can be verified. The employer needs more than a general sentence about many years of experience.
State the department, patient group, employment percentage and period. Describe observation, documentation, collaboration and procedures you have actually performed. Use clear words and distinguish independent responsibility from supervised work.
Attach documents the employer requests. Clarify language and format before ordering translations. References should know they may be contacted and which experience they should confirm.
Do not share patient names, images or records to demonstrate competence. You can describe duties without sharing personal health information. An anonymous description should also exclude details making the patient recognisable.
Does the nursing shortage give a right to a work permit?
No. A shortage of nurses does not replace residence requirements. Utlendingsdirektoratet (UDI) assesses the residence permit if you need one.
As of 4 October 2026, skilled worker residence requires, among other things, a relevant position, appropriate competence and necessary professional approvals. UDI normally requires full-time work and accepts positions of at least 80 per cent. Pay and conditions must be normal for Norway.
A small agreement for extra shifts is therefore not automatically a basis for skilled worker residence. Other residence statuses may give different work rights. Check your situation in the skilled worker residence guide.
What should you clarify before accepting?
Get duties, training, shift arrangements and pay in writing before planning a move. Also request a realistic start date taking account of authorisation and residence rights.
Investigate housing, transport and how shifts fit everyday life. A high stated salary means little without the employment percentage and an overview of supplements. Ask what support you receive initially.
SamfunnPrep's tools can help organise practical tasks around a new job. First make a plan with three clarifications: professional entitlement to the job, lawful residence and a written offer fitting your life.
