Norway EOR & PEO

Start hiring in Norway

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Hire in Norway

Horizons ensures day-to-day guidance to help your business navigate Norway labor laws and regulations. Horizons also ensures Norway payroll is processed on time, and that taxes are withheld as required.

As the Norway Employer of Record, Horizons is responsible for employee income tax withholding, payment of payroll taxes to state authorities, and submission of tax returns to the Norway Tax Office.

Partnering with our Norway EOR is the quickest and most cost-effective way to enter the Norway market.

Note, a Norway Employer of Record is also known as a Norway Professional Employer Organization (PEO).

Facts & Stats

stay compliant with Norway labor laws

Employment Laws

Employment contracts in Norway

Norway is famous for having some of the most comprehensive labor laws in the world. It is an excellent place for workers, which contributes to the high standard of living, but this can also make it difficult for businesses to ensure compliance with the law.

It is always important to provide your employees in Norway with a written contract of employment, including all relevant details of employment such as salary and benefits. It needs to be written in Norwegian and use the local currency of the Norwegian Krone.

By partnering with our Norway EOR, Horizons’ team of local experts can provide assistance for drafting strong employment contracts that are compliant with local regulations.

Fixed-term

Indefinite

Working hours in Norway

The normal hours of work in Norway are 40 hours per week and nine hours per day (including a one-hour lunch break). Anything over this will usually need to be paid at overtime rates, which are 140% of normal pay (or more).

Overtime limits are in place, with employees generally not allowed to work more than ten hours overtime in a week, 25 hours over a four-week period, or 200 hours over a one-year period.

Public holidays in Norway

Holiday Schedule in Norway [2024]

Norway has a range of national public holidays that are celebrated annually. In 2024 these holidays are:

Date	Holiday name
1 Jan, 2024	New Year’s Day
28 Mar, 2024	Maundy Thursday
29 Mar, 2024	Good Friday
31 Mar, 2024	Easter Sunday
1 Apr, 2024	Easter Monday
1 May, 2024	Labor Day
17 May, 2024	Constitution Day (1814)
9 May,2024	Ascension Day
19 May, 2024	Whit Sunday
20 May, 2024	Whit Monday
25 Dec, 2024	Christmas Day
26 Dec, 2024	Boxing Day

Norway vacation leave

Norwegian employees are entitled to four weeks and a day of paid vacation leave, but many employers offer five weeks of leave. This is usually covered by the employer, and is accumulated over the first 12 weeks of each year.

The pay is usually equivalent to 10.2% of the qualifying period, or 12% if the allowance is five weeks, or 12.5% if the employee is over the age of 60.

Norway sick leave

Employers in Norway will usually need to pay for the first 16 days of employee sick leave. Beyond this, the government covers payments (unless a different agreement has been made beforehand).

Sick leave payments are limited to 600% of the standard national insurance payments.

Parental leave in Norway

Women in Norway can take three weeks of paid leave before giving birth, and generally need to take a minimum of six weeks paid leave after giving birth. Men are entitled to two weeks of unpaid leave. Parental leave payments are usually made by the government, not employers. There is a salary cap beyond which parental benefits will not be paid, but employers may choose to cover the extra for their employees. Employees can take up to 47 weeks with 100% of salary, or 57 weeks (with 80% of salary) until their child turns three years old.

Terminations and severance in Norway

Notice periods of between three months and six months are usually provided to Norwegian employees prior to termination, and three months is common. The exact length depends on several factors, such as age, length in a role, and so on.

Employees in a probationary period are entitled to a shorter notice period, which is usually around two weeks. Probation generally lasts around three to six months.

Norway has particularly robust employee protections, so it’s crucial that proper procedures are followed, such as holding an official meeting about the termination where employees can bring a representative, and that employers have proper cause for termination.

Navigating employee terminations and handling severance packages can be complicated for companies expanding overseas for the first time. Horizons’ Norway EOR can mitigate risk for foreign companies and provide guidance through this process.

Taxation in Norway

Norway’s extensive social benefits are funded by relatively high rates of taxation. Income tax is a flat rate of 22%, but there is an additional ‘tax bracket rate’ which works progressively, so higher earners pay more. This bracket tax ranges from 0% to 16.2%, depending on income level.

Employees must also make national insurance contributions, which is 8.2% of gross wage/salary income, with lower contribution rates for other forms of income such as pensions. Employers must also contribute to this fund. The rates vary depending on salary, but usually are between 16% and 29% of salary.

Employers also need to pay towards employee pension funds, but the exact terms can vary depending on your circumstances and your employees’ preferences.

For companies, the tax rates differ for either resident or non-resident businesses. Resident businesses are taxed on their worldwide incomes, and non-resident businesses are taxed only on Norway-based income. The rate of corporate tax is 22% of profits.

Health coverage in Norway

Norway has a universal public healthcare system, so all healthcare is free at the point of use. Because of this, it is not the norm for employers to offer private health insurance, but some do choose to as part of their benefits packages.

hassle-free Norway compensation & benefits

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation laws in Norway

Norway does not have a legally regulated minimum wage. However, trade unions may have negotiated a minimum wage in some industries, so it’s important that you understand the relevant rules for your situation before hiring.

Minimum Wage Country Comparison Chart	(Per month in USD)
Switzerland (Geneva)	$4,000
Italy	$2,255
Australia	$1996
Algeria	$156
Uzbekistan	$22

Benefit management in Norway

Setting up your Norwegian benefits system can be a confusing process if you are not familiar with the complex labor laws, language, and cultural differences. Be prepared for a time-consuming process and potential delays.

Horizons can help you bypass this complicated part of your Norway expansion by offering benefit system outsourcing that can save you time and money. Our experts will advise you on the best course of action and take care of your benefit setup and management, helping you focus on the rest of your expansion.

Norway Employer Of Record Peo

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Hire in Norway

Employment Laws

Working hours in Norway

Public holidays in Norway

Compensation & Benefits

Frequently asked questions

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Hire in Norway in 24h without your own local entity.

With Horizons, you get quick service, transparent pricing, and expert support.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a Norway PEO and a Norway EOR?

Generally speaking, the terms “Norway PEO” and “Norway EOR” are used interchangeably.

Can an EOR in Norway hire both local and foreign nationals to work in Norway ?

An EOR in Norway can feasibly hire both local and foreign nationals to work in Norway.

However, the ability of Horizons to sponsor your foreign national employee in Norway may be limited due to visa quotas practiced in many countries.

Contact us with your requirements and our Global Mobility team with review the case and get back to you within 2 business days.

How long does Horizons' Norway EOR service take to hire an employee?

In most cases, Horizons’ Norway EOR can hire & onboard your employee within 24 hours. The actual start date of the employee will depend on their notice period obligation to their previous employer as well as any relevant hiring rules in Norway.

Is it possible to get a work visa in Norway ?

It is possible to get a work visa in Norway. Horizons’ Global Mobility team is a dedicated team of work visa experts. They assess the details of each case to determine feasibility and costs before Horizons applies for the work visa on behalf of your employee. If the Global Mobility team determines that your case is feasible, the process is smooth and transparent. Visa spots in Norway are limited, however—get started today to secure your employees’ visa spot.

Norway EOR & PEO

Start hiring in Norway

Simple, compliant hiring with Horizons EOR

Hire in Norway

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stay compliant with Norway labor laws

Employment Laws

Employment contracts in Norway

Fixed-term

Probationary period

Termination notice period

Severance

Indefinite

Probationary period

Termination notice period

Severance

Working hours in Norway

Public holidays in Norway

Norway vacation leave

Norway sick leave

Parental leave in Norway

Terminations and severance in Norway

Taxation in Norway

Health coverage in Norway

hassle-free Norway compensation & benefits

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation laws in Norway

Benefit management in Norway

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Frequently asked questions

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