Welcome to the web-site of
The Norwegian Registration Authority for Health Personnel (SAFH)

In pursuance of the Health Personnel Act, the authority to give authorisation and licences to health care personnel lies in SAFH.

SAFH is responsible for granting the professional authorisation which is required for practising the applicants' profession within the legally regulated health personnel categories. Authorisation represents full and permanent approval, while licences impose one or more limitations with respect to duration, independent or supervised practise, etc. More specific information is presented under Professions, Legislation, Forms, Processing and Links.

SAFH will not be able to assist in finding jobs within the Norwegian health care system. Information about vacancies in the health sector may be found on the English website of Arbeids- og velferdsetaten (The Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration), or on the websites of the professional organisations, e.g. www.fysio.no (physiotherapists), www.legeforeningen.no (medical practitioners) www.farmaceutene.no (pharmacists), www.nosf.no (general nurses).

Information on how to obtain permits for work and residence in Norway may be found on the website of Utlendingsdirektoratet (UDI) (The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration). Foreigners who are not citizens of an EEA country must have a particular reason for living or working in Norway, for instance if their professional competence satisfies a specific need in the Norwegian labour market which cannot be met by the domestic work force. Norwegian foreign service missions (list here) handle applications for work and residence permits initially.

The website of The Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT) gives information about general requirements for authorisation of professional education and training obtained in countries other than Norway, and about equivalents to Norwegian degrees in respect of both level and content.

If you wish to continue your education at a Norwegian university or university college you need to get in touch with the university or college in question. A list of institutions and their websites may be found at Study Norway. You also need to get in touch with the relevant institution if you want the degree obtained from them to be approved at any other institution. In order to obtain professional authorisation, you will need to document the contents of your education, which is generally given in course descriptions and curriculum.

Regarding foreign medical practitioners or dentists: Norway is introducing an electronic prescription system. To be able to sign prescriptions and sicklines electronically, medical practitioners must be registered with their Norwegian 11 digits ID number. Alternatively, a temporary ID number called a D-number can be used. It is important that the Norwegian ID number or D-number is stated on the application form. If the ID number or D-number is not known at the time of application, the applicant must inform SAFH as soon as they receive an ID number.
5. June 2008

SAFH's postal adress is:
P.O. Box 8053 Dep
NO-0031 Oslo, Norway
Telephone: +47 21 52 97 00, Fax: +47 21 52 97 03
Street adress: Calmeyers gate 1, Oslo.
E-mail: postmottak@safh.no