The Seasonal Work Visa programme, which enables thousands of foreign workers to come to Norway for employment purposes, has been updated to include new rules for future applicants. 

Starting in 2025, changes in the programme will impact eligibility, application requirements and the types of jobs that are included in this scheme, as informed by a news report in Schengen News.

However, the programme will only apply to certain categories of workers and requires holders of such visas to spend at least six months outside the country before being eligible to reapply.

Although this visa scheme is available for applicants, not all types of workers can apply for one. Those in carpentry, painting, and other trades cannot apply for the seasonal work visa but applicants with roles that are related to seasonal demand, include jobs like harvesting crops and tree planting, and logging operations, in addition to tourism and construction jobs.

Once it is clear that the candidate is eligible for this visa, there are some rules that have to be followed. Securing a job with a registered Norwegian company is the first step, and after finding this employment opportunity, the candidate has to present proof of their accommodation while staying in Norway.

Showing evidence of sufficient funds to support themselves during their stay, is another requirement, in addition to health insurance coverage which is a mandatory purchase while candidates stay in Norway.

The application process involves submitting necessary documents through the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) or at a local embassy, followed by a biometrics appointment.

Authorities in Norway warn that due to the holiday rush, there could be delays, so applicants should keep in mind that their applications can take longer to be processed.

In addition, they also advised candidates to start their application as early as possible, which indicates preparing documents for applications right after securing a job. Checking your documents to ensure that all the paperwork is completed is crucial and can save applicants lots of time by avoiding delays.

The Norwegian Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion had previously stated that the country would issue up to 6,000 residence permits for workers while the number of seasonal workers would also be considerable as the demand for these workers is increasing.