Rules, numbers and next steps for citizens of Pakistan, with sources.
In short: Working in Norway from Pakistan: Citizen of a country outside the EU/EEA: a residence permit is normally needed. Norway counts 24,821 immigrants from Pakistan (SSB, 1 Jan 2026), +27% since 2016. Steps: check your route with UDI, find real vacancies, compare pay and rent, check recognition of your education, then tax card and rights.
By AtiveSite · Published 06/11/2026 · Updated 06/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Immigrants from Pakistan living in Norway, 1 Jan 2026
24,821
Same figure, 1 Jan 2016
19,571
Change 2016–2026
+27%
Immigrants = people born abroad to two foreign-born parents, resident in Norway. It counts people living in Norway, not job seekers.
Your route to work in Norway
Citizen of a country outside the EU/EEA: a residence permit is normally needed. The common route is the skilled worker permit: vocational training of at least three years or higher education, a concrete job offer from one specific employer, at least 80% of a full-time position, and pay and conditions not poorer than normal in Norway (UDI).
You may not start work before the permit is granted, except with a confirmation of early employment start from the police.
Fees, processing times and special schemes change: always check UDI.
AtiveSite plans to publish guides for this market in: English and Urdu. This page is in English for now.
Can you live on a Norwegian salary?
Does this salary work here? (estimate)
Type the gross monthly salary you were offered. We apply the 2026 tax rules and subtract an average rent from SSB.
Method: national insurance 7.6%, standard deduction 46% (max NOK 95,700), personal allowance NOK 114,540, ordinary income tax 22% (assumed unchanged; verify), bracket tax 1.7/4.0/13.7/16.8/17.8%. Ignores pension, union fees, deductions, municipal differences and holiday-pay timing. Rent = SSB 2025 survey average, not a current asking price. Food, energy, transport and insurance must still come out of what is left. Not advice.