Norway’s Service Centres for Foreign Workers (SUA)

Norway’s Service Centres for Foreign Workers (Servicesenter for utenlandske arbeidstakere, or SUA) exist to solve a specific problem: arriving in Norway to work normally means separate visits to the police, the Tax Administration and the Labour Inspection Authority. At an SUA centre those agencies sit under one roof, so most of it happens in a single appointment.

What are Service Centres for Foreign Workers?

SUA centres are joint public offices staffed by the police, Skatteetaten (the Tax Administration), Arbeidstilsynet (the Labour Inspection Authority) and, at some locations, the UDI. They are located in Oslo, Stavanger, Bergen, Trondheim and Kirkenes.

Services Provided

SUA centres handle the arrival paperwork for foreign workers, including:

1. Residence card registration: booking and completing the in-person ID check after your residence permit application, and EU/EEA registration.
2. Tax card and D-number: applying for a skattekort and, where needed, a D-number or national identity number so you can legally be paid. See how Norwegian tax works.
3. Guidance from Arbeidstilsynet: information on pay, working hours and your rights under Norwegian law, including sector minimum wage rates.
4. Employer guidance: help for companies bringing in foreign or posted workers, including reporting obligations.

Note that SUA centres are an administrative one-stop shop. They do not run language courses or provide job placement — for those, see learning Norwegian and finding a job in Norway.

Who Can Use Service Centres for Foreign Workers?

SUA centres serve foreign workers coming to Norway and the employers who hire them, whether from inside the EEA or outside it. They are particularly useful for those who are new to Norway and unfamiliar with which agency handles what.

How to Use Service Centres for Foreign Workers

Most services require an appointment booked in advance online, so turning up unannounced is rarely productive. Bring your passport, your employment contract and any permit documentation. Staff work in English as well as Norwegian.

Conclusion

Norway’s Service Centres for Foreign Workers are the single most useful address in the country during your first fortnight. Getting your ID check, D-number and tax card done in one visit is the difference between being paid correctly in your first month and chasing three agencies separately. For the wider process, see the Norway work visa guide and the UDI.