Apply for authorisation as a medical practitioner (lege) – educated outside the EU/EEA
Before you apply
For applicants educated outside the EU/EEA, additional requirements must be completed before authorisation can be granted. It is important that you familiarise yourself with the requirements and associated costs before applying for authorisation.
Have previously received a decision requiring you to complete additional requirements, but were unable to do so within the deadline, you can read more about what you have to do here.
Extension of deadline for additional requirements
Have you received a decision requiring you to complete additional requirements within three years?
Read more about the criteria for obtaining an extension and how to apply here: Extension of deadline for completing additional requirements.
You must submit the following documents when applying:
- Diploma
- Transcript
- Transcript and/or an official document issued by the educational institution documenting:
- Number of teaching hours in theory and practice
- Number of hours of clinical practice
- Total workload of the study programme
- Documentation of mandatory practical training completed after obtaining the degree, if required for professional licensure in the country where you were educated.
- The duration of practice within each professional field must be clearly stated in the documentation
In some cases, you may also be required to provide documentation of the following:
- Curriculum showing the content and duration of the study program.
- It must be issued by the educational institution, apply to the period you studied, and include contact information for the institution.
- Professional license (license to practice)
- Employment Certificate(s)
To document relevant professional experience. The certificate(s) must include: - Information about the type of position held and the duties performed
- The employer’s letterhead and official stamp
- The signature of a manager/supervisor, including their name and position
- Contact information for the workplace
- Do not submit employment agreements or employment contracts. Submit only employment certificate(s)
Please note the following regarding your documents
- All documents must be scanned as PDF-copies of the original documents. If the original documents are in colour, the scanned copies attached to the application must also be in colour. Photographs of documents will not be accepted.
- If an original document has multiple pages, all scanned pages must be assemled into one document, in the correct order and correctly oriented
- All original documents that are not in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English must be translated into one of these languages by a authorised translator. The translation must be scanned/submitted in the same file as the original document
Any attempt to obtain recognition with fraudulent documents will be reported to the police.
Verification of documents
How to verify your documents
Detailed information about the verification process is available on the DataFlow website. For any questions regarding the process, please contact DataFlow’s customer service. The verification report must be attached to your application in Altinn. Please note that the report cannot be password-protected.
Failure to complete verification may result in delays or rejection of your application. We strongly recommend starting the process as early as possible.
You must verify the following documents through DataFlow Group:
- Diploma
- An official transcript and/or documentation issued by the institution that specifies the number of hours per subject.
Have your educational documents been verified through ECFMG?
If you have already initiated verification of your educational documents through ECFMG, you may continue using their service. However, starting January 1, 2027, the Norwegian Directorate of Health will no longer accept verification reports from ECFMG. All new applicants must therefore use the DataFlow verification service as described above.
If you have applied previously and verification reports have already been documented in an earlier case, you do not need to verify the same documents again.
Exception: If your transcript with an overview of hours is not included in the ECFMG verification report, this documentation must be verified through DataFlow.
Verification of documentation issued in Pakistan
Do you have internship certificates, license documents, and/or employment certificates from Pakistan? In addition to your educational documents, these must also be verified through DataFlow Group before your application can be processed. You are responsible for ensuring that your documents are verified.
We recommend selecting the verification type “Mandatory 5 Document Package” in the DataFlow portal, as verification of five documents is a mandatory requirement.
Documents Required for Verification
- Diploma
- Detailed transcript with the number of clock hours for each subject (including allied subjects)
Additionally, if applicable, you must verify:
- Internship certificate/House Job as a medical practitioner
- License/registration as a medical practitioner
- Work certificates documenting experience as a medical practitioner from Pakistan
If you have a previous report issued to another authority, you may choose the option “Reissue Existing Report” in the DataFlow portal. You must also verify any documents required by the Norwegian Directorate of Health that were not previously verified.
For more information, please refer to: Verification of Documentation Issued in Pakistan.
Exemptions from additional requirements and verification
If you have worked in an EEA country with full professional rights for at least three consecutive years, you may be exempt from additional requirements and ECFMG verification.
You must attach the following documentation when applying for authorisation:
- Certificate of Good Standing or Certificate of Current Professional Status (not older than three months)
- Proof that you have worked for at least three consecutive years with full professional rights in an EEA country
Both confirmations must be issued by the competent licensing authority in the respective EEA country.
You apply in Altinn
You must attach a scanned copy of valid passport or European ID card in your application.
First name and surname in the application form must be the same as in the passport/ID card, and be written in the same order.
You pay the processing fee when you apply
You must pay a processing fee of NOK 1.665,-
You pay the fee in Altinn when you register your application.
Processing time is 23 months
- If your application is incomplete, the processing time will be extended
- If you have obtained your education in multiple countries, the processing time will be based on the country where you completed your foundational (primary) education.
If you have practised your profession with full professional rights in an EEA country for at least three years, the processing time for your application is three (3) months. You must indicate this in the application form and provide the necessary supporting documentation.