If you have acquired your professional qualifications abroad, you must obtain recognition of your qualifications from the Norwegian authorities in order to practice the profession in Norway. The competent authority will assess whether you meet the requirements to practice the profession and use the professional title in Norway. You will find information about documentation requirements, the application process and regulations here.
Please submit the application electronically via the service Application form for specialist with specialist approval from abroad. If you do not already have a Norwegian national ID-number, please contact the Norwegian Directorate of Health for alternative log in.
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Applications can only be submitted electronically by the professional/individual through the Altinn application form for specialist with specialist approval from abroad. You need a Norwegian authorization as a doctor and you need a Norwegian ID or D-number. Please contact The Norwegian Directorate of Health if you do not have a Norwegian ID. You can find the contact information for the compenent authority on the bottom of this page.
- Register for Health Personnel (HPR) number (seven digits) / applicants who do not hold Norwegian authorisation, must apply for authorisation before applying for specialist approval.
- Evidence of specialist qualifications from another country (country of education and any other countries that have approved the specialty) A coloured scanned copy of the original qualificationdocument must be uploaded in the original language, accompanied by a Norwegian or English certified translation.
- Certificate of Current Professional Status/Certificate of Good Standing from the country where the applicants worked for the past three months may be enclosed. If not enclosed, this will be obtained in connection with the case processing. Please provide information about the country you worked for the last three months prior to the application.
- If relevant, documentation of change of name.
Comments - All original documents and diplomas not issued in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English must be translated by a state authorised translator
- Original translations must be scanned in color and uploaded as a PDF file.
- Original documents sent by post will not be returned.
- If your specialist approval has already been converted to and from another EU/EEA country, you must inform about this in the application.
- If you apply with a personal ID number or D number, you do not have to submit a copy of your ID or HPR number.
- You need a Norwegian authorization as a doctor and you need a Norwegian ID or D-number. Please contact The Norwegian Directorate of Health if you do not have a Norwegian ID. The contactinformation is available at the bottom of this page.
Language requirements:
No.
Criteria/conditions for recognition:
The statutory requirements for being entitled to authorization are stipulated in the Regulation relating to specialist approval, Section 29 c, and the Norwegian Health Personnel Act, Section 48 a.
Case processing deadlines:
The competent authority must acknowledge receipt of your application within 1 month of receipt and inform you of any missing documents.
The competent authority shall take a justified decision no later than 3 months following the submission of your complete application.
Fees:
Everyone who applies for specialist approval must pay a fee. The amount differs depending on the type of application.
Specialist registration (doctor) : NOK 4,500.
The fee is paid via Altinn when you register your application for specialist approval.
Right of appeal:
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the decision, you may appeal in writing, pursuant to Chapter VI of the Public Administration Act. If your application is processed in accordance with the Professional Qualifications Act, the right of appeal also applies if the recognition authority has exceeded the case processing deadlines (see Case processing deadlines above).
Competent authority
The Norwegian Directorate of Health
Postboks 220, Skøyen,
0213 Oslo
E-mail: godkjenning@helsedir.no
Tlf: (+47) 21 52 97 00
