Recruiting and on-boarding international staff and guest researchers

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

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