Practical information ¨C Working for UiO abroad

Approval

• You need to get written approval from the Head of Office before you commence work abroad for UiO.

Bringing family

• UiO generally does not cover assistance for accompanying family members. Please contact your unit for clarification. 

Changing country of work

• All employees who work abroad must clarify with their Head of Office and Head of Department before their place of work changes. 

Commuting and work travels

• A work travel (tjenestereise) is a short travel to a non-permanent place of work. For example, if you go on a seminar for a week, this is a work travel.
  • UiO covers costs on these travels according to the Special agreement on coverage of travel and subsistence expenses outside Norway. 
  • Please find information how to book a trip here.
• Commuter travel is travel between your home and commuter home in order to perform work at the permanent place of work. You are a commuter if you must stay the night somewhere that is not your home due to work: For example, you live in Sweden but work at UiO in Oslo during the weekdays and stay in a commuter flat you rent in Oslo Monday ¨C Friday.
  • UiO typically does not cover commuter expenses unless there is a prior agreement under special circumstances.
  • You may have the right to claim tax deductions for commuter costs. You may assess your commuter status and the right to claim deductions here. 

D-number inactive

• D-numbers are temporary Norwegian ID numbers, and they are often de-activated after 5 years. If this happens to you, you must re-activate the D-number by booking and showing up physically to an Id control at a designated Norwegian tax office. 
• For more information, please see the section about taxes.

Health care

• If you are a member in Norwegian social security scheme, you have the right to receive health care covered partially or entirely by the Norwegian social security system. 
• You should always hold valid documentation on social security membership. 
• For more, please see the section about social security.

Holiday pay

• UiO follows Norwegian rules on right to holiday and holiday pay.
• The right to holiday and holiday pay will be specified in your employment contract. 
• According to Norwegian rules on holiday pay, holiday pay is paid according to how much you earned the previous income year. 
• So, for example if you were hired by UiO 1st January 2025, you are entitled to holiday leave, but not to holiday pay in 2025. The reason is you had no holiday earned in 2024.

Housing

• UiO covers housing on work travels (short travels) in accordance with the Special agreement on coverage of travel and subsistence expenses outside Norway.
• As a main rule, UiO does not cover housing costs for commuters and others who are not on a work travel. Special exceptions may apply, for instance on sabbaticals. 
• You should explore accommodation options well in advance of departure. 
• For researchers going on sabbatical, you may have a look at sabbaticalhomes.com
• Please make sure to always have a written rental agreement, whether you are renting or renting out. Also ensure you have proper insurance coverage.

Insurance

• Please find information about insurance while working abroad here. 
• Always investigate if there are country specific or institution specific insurance requirements well in advance of commencing the work abroad. 

IT security

• Special requirements regarding bringing your UiO laptop, phone or other digital devices may apply, depending on the country you are going to work from. Please read the university guidelines on the use of IT equipment abroad here.  

Notification of move

• If you are planning on living outside of Norway for more than 6 months, you are required to file a notification of move. 
• Find more relevant information about filing a notification of move here. 
• Remember to register your new address in the DF? self-service portal as well. 
• If you live abroad and move to another country you must investigate the local requirements for filing a notification of move.

Parental leave

• If you plan on spending parental leave outside of Norway, you must ensure you hold valid documentation of membership in the Norwegian social security scheme and notify NAV of your plans. 
• You can find more information about parental leave abroad here.

Pension saving

• Employees who hold a 20 % or higher percentage position at UiO and who are members in Norwegian social security scheme will be enrolled in SPK pension savings scheme. 
• If you are not a member in Norwegian social security scheme, you must forward documentation of membership abroad to UiO and ask for guidance. 
• As a main rule, UiO does not enroll in pension saving schemes abroad unless it is mandatory to do so. 
• If you are not a member in Norwegian social security scheme, you are encouraged to investigate your options for private pension savings schemes. 

Renting your home

• If you would like to rent out your home during your stay abroad, we encourage you to register your apartment here. 
• Please make sure to always have a written rental agreement, whether you are renting or renting out. Also ensure you have proper insurance coverage.
• Income from renting out property may be taxable. Please find more information about tax liability on rental income here. 

Salary currency

• All salary paid by UiO is paid in NOK. UiO does not offer currency protection or guarantees.

Salary payment

• Salary is paid every 12th of the month. 
• You must register a bank account either in Norway or abroad to receive payment:
  • Fill in this form.
  • Send it to lonn-hjelp@admin.uio.no
• You will be deducted tax and social security in accordance with the tax deduction card you have applied for. 
• If you hold no tax deduction card or decision of tax exemption from the tax office, you will be deducted 50 % tax to Norway. UiO cannot refund this excess tax. 
• You may also be deducted foreign tax if UiO is required to do so according to the applicable law in the country in which you work. 
• Please contact ISA if you have questions regarding this. 

Sick leave

• You are entitled to sick leave pay if you are a member in the Norwegian social security scheme. 
• If you are not a member of the Norwegian social security scheme, please contact your unit or ISA for further guidance on what applies. 

Travel calendar

• Employees travelling from Norway to abroad for work must hold a travel calendar if the travel is to last more than 28 days.
• Employees who have a fixed place of work abroad and travel to another country for work must file a travel calendar to their unit before the 20th in the month before the month of travel. This applies regardless of the duration of travel.