Norway: Norwegian Police No Longer Adjudicate Entry of Certain Onshore and Fixed Installation Workers Prior to Arrival at Border

The Norwegian police will no longer adjudicate the entry of onshore and fixed installation workers seeking to work in Stavanger (the capital of Norway’s oil industry) prior to traveling to Norway. Such workers will still need to notify the Norwegian police online of their intention to enter the country prior to arrival, and at the border (as well as any heliports) they will need to provide a copy of this notification to border officials, who will then adjudicate the worker’s right to enter or travel offshore. Failure to provide a copy of this notification could result in denial of both entry and the right to travel offshore. This change shifts the burden to employers and immigration professionals to accurately assess whether an individual qualifies for the work permit exemption or risk loss of time and money due to delayed projects if an individual is denied entry at the border. Furthermore, Stavanger-based foreign national fixed installation workers no longer need to have their passport stamped by Norwegian police at a heliport before traveling offshore to a fixed installation, which was previously required. The legal requirements for mobile/floating installation workers, however, remain unchanged.