Recruitment and relocation of international staff

Relocation form

Everyone starting a job or research project at OsloMet that requires moving from another country should get the online link to the form Planning your relocation (nettskjema.no) sent as a link from HR. When the employee makes his/her registration HR will receive important information about the practical needs on issues such as visa and housing needs of the employee when planning the move to Norway and with the correct information HR can better assist and ensure a good start up. 

The following sites are useful when planning the move to Oslo: 

• Tax and pension in Norway (skatteetaten.no) - note that several countries have tax agreements with Norway.
• Information about things to see and do in Oslo (visitoslo.com) 
• Information about things to see and do in Norway (visitnorway.com)

OsloMet START

All new employees are part of the OsloMet START on-boarding program and the routines are laid out in the introduction for new employees. Additional information needed for international staff is covered in this section.

On-boarding expense coverage

Most interviews with international staff is handled digitally. It's common for the employer to cover travel expenses in case of physical interviews. On-boarding expenses will vary and there's no set amount for moving costs. Negotiations about what moving expenses will be covered are handled between the employee and manager. The HR has regulated a set of recommendations for basic and plus package to include.

Immigration and work permits

International employees and researchers will need information about the immigration and work permit rules that applies to their citizenship. Please note that it's important to send them based on citizenship and not country of residence as the immigration authorities base the application of the country the candidate is from and not residing. The UDI immigration divides applicants in EU citizen or third country citizen (outside EU). An EU citizen does not have to apply for a visa but can start working in Norway from day 1 and make the appointment with the police to get their residence and work permit. Anyone outside of EU need to apply for a visa and the right to work in Norway. If you have a new employee that will have to apply for a visa please consider that the process may take at least 3 months and if they are coming with a family they should all apply at the same time to speed up the process. The following sites should be shared with your candidates to plan their work permits to Norway: 

• UDI Norwegian immigration authorities - Application Portal (udi.no)
• The Service Centre for Foreign Workers (sua.no)
• Embassies and permanent missions of the Norwegian foreign service (norway.no)
• How to get a residence card to Norway (udi.no)

Research is global and successful on-boarding of international staff is a focus area at OsloMet. At the OsloMet work for us website (oslomet.no) you can find the information you need for applying for a job at OsloMet and planning your relocation to Norway, both for you and accompanying spouse and family members.

OsloMet has implemented the European Charter for Researchers (the Charter) and a Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (the Code) and holds the HR Excellence in Research (HRS4R) (oslomet.no) and is part of the Euraxess network (euraxess.no) where you can also find more information about relocation to Norway.

Other relevant links for information about relocation:

• The Service Centre for Foreign Workers (sua.no)
• Embassies and permanent missions of the Norwegian foreign service (norway.no)
• How to get a residence card to Norway (udi.no)
• Tax and pension (skattetaten.no)
• what to see and do in Oslo (visitoslo.com)  
• where to travel and what to see in Norway (visitnorway.com)

Norwegian language training 

OsloMet is offering Norwegian language classes for free for all international staff and spouses/partners. The courses goes up to the B2 level and you can take either Beginners, Intermediate og Advanced level classes. 

The language courses start in the beginning of each semester and you need to join from the beginning. To join sign up via the OsloMet Academy either via Feide (if you have an OsloMet e-mail) or via the ID portal if you don't. If you have questions regarding the Norwegian language courses you may contact Assistant Professor Bente Hovind at the Division for Education and Library, University Library OsloMet via e-mail Bente.Hovind@oslomet.no

Definitions

Guest researcher is an international researcher invited to OsloMet by the faculty’s/centre’s own staff for a defined period and for a specific academic purpose. Visiting researchers are normally not employed by or salaried by OsloMet.

Guest lecturer is a foreign professor, lecturer, or researcher who is temporarily employed in Norway.

International PhD candidate completes parts of their doctoral degree in Norway and stays for one or two semesters, usually as part of a scholarship scheme.

Administrative requirements

Invitation letter for guest researchers approved by manager

Start with contacting your manager to get the template for the invitation letter. A written invitation letter approved by the Head of Department at OsloMet is required for all visits. The letter must include information about the candidate, passport info, purpose of the stay, which department and contact person at OsloMet, academic relevance, documentation of funding covering the entire stay, and English language proficiency at C1 level. The letter needs to be archived as a new case in P360.

Please note that candidates who require a visa to Norway must also confirm the following information in the invitation letter;

• their return date and reason for return (e.g. studies, research project, or employment)
• to where they are returning (name of institution)
• UDI requires a 4-letter code for the digital application. Your guest researcher will not be able to apply for a visa to Norway without the code given by UDI. Use the Request for mobility services form to apply for the required code. OsloMet International Staff Services will retrieve the UDI code and send to the candidate.

Assignment contract and work station

When the invitation letter is approved, you send this to your Department of HR to make the assignment contract. Please note that there is a requirement to provide a workstation and access to necessary technical equipment for guest researchers, so you should check the availability before the invitation is sent. Technical equipment must be ordered through IT Services. Access rights must be limited to what is required for the assignment. 

Guest account 

A guest account can be created for stays shorter or longer than seven days through the guest account solution. The request must be approved by a personnel manager. Apply for a guest account.

Planning the stay

• Candidates from the Nordic countries and the EU/EEA

Candidates from the Nordic countries and the EU/EEA may start immediately but must book an appointment for registration with the Police through the Service Centre for Foreign Workers (sua.no).

• Candidates from outside of EU/EEA

For candidates from third countries, a longer processing time of approximately must be expected and they cannot start working until the approval is ready. UDI requires a 4-letter code for the digital application. Your guest researcher will not be able to apply for a visa to Norway without the code given by UDI. Use the Request for mobility services form to apply for the required code. OsloMet International Staff Services will retrieve the UDI code and send to the candidate.

Insurance

The candidate must have insurance coverage for the duration of the stay.

Relocation services

OsloMet International Staff Services (OMISS) provides the candidate with practical support before and upon arrival in Norway on matters of immigration, housing, family matters, language courses, Norwegian culture, and working life. Use the Request for mobility services form to get relocation assistance for the candidate. Relocation services that incur an extra cost are covered by the recruiting unit. The OMISS office has drop-in services on Mondays and Wednesdays at Pilestredet 46 room 433. You are welcome to stop by for assistance. 

International employees and researchers will need information about the immigration and work permit rules that applies to their citizenship. Please note that it's important to send them based on citizenship and not country of residence as the immigration authorities base the application of the country the candidate is from and not residing. The UDI immigration divides applicants in EU citizen or third country citizen (outside EU). An EU citizen does not have to apply for a visa but can start working in Norway from day 1 and make the appointment with the police to get their residence and work permit. Anyone outside of EU need to apply for a visa and the right to work in Norway. If you have a new employee that will have to apply for a visa please consider that the process may take at least 3 months and if they are coming with a family they should all apply at the same time to speed up the process. The following sites should be shared with your candidates to plan their work permits to Norway: 

• UDI Norwegian immigration authorities - Application Portal (udi.no)
• The Service Centre for Foreign Workers (sua.no)
• Embassies and permanent missions of the Norwegian foreign service (norway.no)
• How to get a residence card to Norway (udi.no)

Research is global and successful on-boarding of international staff is a focus area at OsloMet. At the OsloMet work for us website (oslomet.no) you can find the information you need for applying for a job at OsloMet and planning your relocation to Norway, both for you and accompanying spouse and family members.

OsloMet is offering Norwegian language classes for free for all international staff and spouses/partners. The courses goes up to the B2 level and you can take either Beginners, Intermediate og Advanced level classes. 

The language courses start in the beginning of each semester and you need to join from the beginning. To join sign up via the OsloMet Academy either via Feide (if you have an OsloMet e-mail) or via the ID portal if you don't. If you have questions regarding the Norwegian language courses you may contact Assistant Professor Bente Hovind at the Division for Education and Library, University Library OsloMet via e-mail Bente.Hovind@oslomet.no