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Income thresholdMay 1, 2026

Norway: skilled-worker salary reference rises

The UDI skilled-worker salary reference used to judge whether an independent contractor's pay is normal for Norway rose to NOK 624,700/year for a master's-level role and NOK 545,400 for a bachelor's-level role, effective 1 May 2026.

What changed

Norway's Independent Contractor visa has no fixed income floor: pay must "not be poorer than is normal in Norway" for the occupation. UDI's reference skilled-worker salary levels, which caseworkers judge against, rose:

  • Master's-level roles: NOK 599,200 → 624,700 per year
  • Bachelor's-level roles: NOK 522,600 → 545,400 per year

When

Effective 1 May 2026.

Who's affected

Anyone applying for the Norway Independent Contractor visa, regardless of passport. Because Norwegian pay is assessed case by case against the occupation, these are reference points rather than a hard threshold, but they are what your expected remuneration is measured against.

Action

If your contract rate is near the old reference, check it against the new figures before applying. NOK 545,400/year is roughly €4,130/month at mid-2026 rates.

Norway: skilled-worker salary reference rises | Expatlas