Published: 30.04.2026
Norway’s Ministry of Labour and Inclusion has established an expert committee to assess the impact of foreign labour on the economy and consider possible policy changes. Nordic and EEA citizens retain free-movement rights, while workers from outside the EEA generally need a residence permit before starting employment.
At this stage, the announcement concerns a policy review rather than new requirements for workers. The committee will assess how to attract foreign talent in response to future labour gaps while preserving the needs-based system intended to prevent displacement of Norwegian and EEA workers. This is most relevant to non-EEA nationals, for whom a residence permit generally remains a prerequisite for employment. People planning a work-based move should monitor the review, but the source does not indicate an immediate change to the current system.