As of 1 March 2009 companies are prohibited from using staffing enterprises that are not lawfully registered in accordance with this scheme in the Labour Inspection Authority register.
The scheme requires staffing enterprises engaged in activities in Norway, regardless of whether the enterprise is Norwegian or foreign-based, to have a permanent representative in the country, and this representative must be authorised to fully act on the enterprise’s behalf in all legal situations. Other requirements are also introduced, concerning organisation and finances, and the enterprise must also be lawfully registered with the Directorate of Taxes.
Who needs to register
All staffing enterprises who wish to engage in activities inNorway must register.
Requirements for becoming an accredited staffing enterprise
1. Enterprises registered in Norway (Norwegian enterprise)
Staffing enterprises must be registered as a public or private limited company in Norway, pursuant to Section 2 of the regulations. The enterprise must be registered with the Register of Business Enterprises and with Norwegian tax authorities. For an enterprise to be properly registered with Norwegian tax authorities, it needs to be registered as an employer with the tax collection authority. An enterprise can be registered as an employer by submitting a coordinated registration form to the Register of Business Enterprises, checking the appropriate box in Item 3.3, registering the enterprise as having employees. The Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority will check the information with information found in the Register of Business Enterprises.
2. Enterprises registered in another EEA country (foreign enterprises)
Staffing enterprises registered as public or private limited companies or other, similar forms of enterprises in another EEA country, will have met the requirements for operating in Norway. The enterprise needs to provide documentation of said registration. In addition to registering in the Register of Business Enterprises, the enterprise must also be registered as an employer with the tax collection authority, cf. Item 1 above.
3. Other enterprises registered outside the EEA/Norway and foreign enterprises that are not public or private limited companies
Staffing enterprises that are not registered as public or private limited companies, and enterprises registered outside the EEA, will, in order to be able to operate in Norway, have to provide security, in the form of a guarantee from a bank or insurance company, for equity in an amount equivalent to the equity requirement for public or private limited companies, as established in the Acts of 13 June 1997, no. 44 and no. 45. Currently, this amount is NOK 1 million/NOK 100,000, respectively. Documentation for said security must be enclosed with the registration form.
The enterprise must be registered in the Register of Business Enterprises, and also as an employer with the tax collection authority, cf. Item 1 above.
Permanent representative
Foreign enterprises that do not have a permanent or registered office in Norway, must also provide information on the name and address of their permanent representative in Norway.
Registration form
The registration form for staffing enterprises (order no. 595-ENG) may be ordered directly from the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority. The form is also available for download (see link in the right-hand margin). The back of the form contains brief information on the new mandatory registration as well as on the requirements for becoming an accredited staffing enterprise.
Last changed: 06/11/2009 Print