Fees, processing times, decisions and appeals

Fees

Section 2. Fee for Processing Applications for Authorization and License. 

Applications for student licences, internship licences and practice licences are exempt from fees.

Processing time

Case processing time is the total time from when the Norwegian Directorate of Health receives an application until a decision is made. This time does not consist solely of active processing. A large portion of the period is waiting time.

Waiting time may occur because:

• the application is in a queue due to a high number of applications under processing
• it may take time to verify documents
• we may need to obtain additional information and the applicant may need to submit further documentation

Although applications are generally processed in the order they are received, processing times may vary. The Norwegian Directorate of Health aims to ensure that all applicants receive a decision within the stated processing time, but the exact timing may vary from one applicant to another within this period.

Other factors that may affect processing times include differences in case complexity, the need to obtain and assess additional documentation, the need for clarification with other authorities or educational institutions, and periods of high application volumes. As a result, some applications may require more time than others before a decision can be made. 

The stated processing time is therefore a total time frame, where only part of the time involves active processing, and the rest is necessary waiting time in the process

The following do not provide grounds for prioritisation: 

• Applications for visas/residence permits with UDI 
• Admission to courses in national subjects 
• Admission to the professional test 
• Concrete job offers 
• Personal reasons 

If the application is missing documentation, the processing time will be longer. In such cases, additional time is calculated from when we notify you until we receive the required documents.

Processing Times for Applicants Educated in:

• Norway, manual processing: 3 months
• Norway, automated processing via the applicant portal: Immediate decision
• EU/EEA: 3 months
• Outside the EU/EEA: 23 months (this also applies to applications already received)
• United Kingdom: 3 months

If you completed your education in more than one country, the processing time will be based on the country where you completed your primary qualification.

If you have worked in another EEA country with full professional rights for at least three years, your application will be assessed under the rules applicable to EEA-qualified applicants. The normal processing time is 3 months from the date we receive the required documentation.

Processing Times for Applications for:

• Specialist field licence (fagområdelisens): 4 months
• CCPS: 8 weeks
• Licence for healthcare professionals over 80 years of age: 8 weeks
• Student licence: 3 months
• Restoration of registration in the Health Personnel Register (HPR): 8 weeks
• Additional qualifications for physiotherapists: 3 months
• Authorisation following completion of an adaptation period for EEA-qualified applicants and supplementary education for dentists and nurses: 3 months
• Exemption from additional requirements: processed together with the application for authorisation
• Extension of the deadline for completing additional requirements: 3 months

We prioritise applicants who have been informed that they must complete additional requirements in order to obtain authorisation and who provide evidence that these requirements have been completed within the three-year deadline. Applications are processed on an ongoing basis and within three months.

If your application is incomplete and we need to request additional documentation, the processing time will be extended.

Confirmation of Receipt of Application

When you submit your application, you will receive confirmation through Altinn that the Norwegian Directorate of Health has received it. The applicable processing times will then apply.

All case processing is conducted in writing. Enquiries by telephone or email will not result in faster processing. Enquiries made solely to follow up an application, without providing any new information and before the stated processing time has expired, will not be answered. This is because we wish to process applications as efficiently as possible rather than spending time responding to enquiries that do not concern the content of the application itself.

Power of Attorney - Primary source verification

In addition to the consent of the authorisation in the application form, in some cases the educational institution requires a signed authorisation from the applicant for verification of educational documents. Applicant is then contacted and requested to fill out the form Power of Attorney - Primary source verification

Verification of Documents

In some cases, the Norwegian Directorate of Health may require you to verify certain documents. If so, we will contact you and inform you which documents must be verified.

We may ask you to complete verification through a verification agency, or request documentation directly from your employer and/or educational institution.

The Norwegian Directorate of Health uses the verification service DataFlow Group. Please note that verifying documents through the DataFlow Group may incur additional costs.

If you have a previous report issued to another authority, you can select the option “Reissue Existing Report” in the DataFlow portal. You must also verify any documents required by the Norwegian Directorate of Health that you have not previously verified.

How to verify your documents with DataFlow

To complete verification, you must create a user account and upload your documents by visiting the DataFlow application portal here: DataFlow Group

For a new application, attach the report as an attachment in the application form in Altinn.
Note: Remember to submit the report without password protection.

You have received a decision

Authorisation granted

Authorisation grants full rights to practise your profession until the age of 80.

The Directorate of Health do not issue documentation of authorisation in paper. Please check the Health Personnel Registry if you are registered or not in Helsepersonellregisteret (HPR). Here you will find your HPR number, and you can take a print at your convenience.

Licence granted

A licence gives you limited rights to practise your profession. The restrictions can be related to time, where/how you can practise your profession or both.

A licence can be granted for:

• Healthcare professionals over 80 years of age. Must be renewed yearly.
• Medical practitioners or pharmacists who are studying (student licence)
• Physiotherapists who are required to complete a supervised internship (turnustjeneste) or period of practical training

Have you received a decision with information that you must complete additional requirements within three years before you can be granted a Norwegian authorisation?

Refusal of an application

A refusal means that the Norwegian Directorate of Health has concluded that you do not meet the requirements for authorisation under Section 48 of the Health Personnel Act. The decision will include the reasons for the refusal.

If the application contains deficiencies that can be remedied through supplementary measures, you will be informed accordingly. You may submit a new application for authorisation once these measures have been completed.

Appeal against decision

The deadline for submitting an appeal is three weeks from the date you receive the decision from the Norwegian Directorate of Health. The decision letter contains information about the right to appeal, together with a link to the appeal form. If this link was not included in your decision, please contact godkjenning@helsedir.no.

Appeals must be submitted via Altinn. In your appeal, you must:

• provide the reference number of the decision you are appealing
• describe what you are appealing
• explain why you are appealing and
• provide documentation of any new information relevant to the case

Representation by another person

You may authorise another person to submit an appeal on your behalf. If that person is not a solicitor, barrister, or authorised legal representative, you must provide written authorisation allowing them to represent you.

The appeals process

When we receive your appeal, we will reconsider your case. The processing time is up to 4 months.

If you have additional information or comments relating to an appeal you have already submitted, please do not submit a new appeal form. Instead, send the information to godkjenning@helsedir.no, and include the appeal case reference number in your email.

If, after reconsidering the case, we uphold our original decision, we will forward your appeal to the National Office for Health Service Appeals (Nasjonalt klageorgan for helsetjenesten) for further consideration.