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Oslo airport is our main hub for international flights. 

Western Norway has 9 commercial airports. Bergen Airport has connections to all the major hubs in Europe, and is less than 2 hours from London and Amsterdam. Oslo is a 45 minute flight, with departures every hour. Also Ålesund Vigra Airport has international connections.

The airports in Molde, Kristiansund, Ørsta-Volda, Sandane, Sogndal, Florø and Førde service domestic routes, mainly to Oslo Gardermoen and Bergen.

Tromsø Airport is the main hub for flights to the northern parts of Norway. Tromsø connects to all the domestic routes, like Svalbard or the Lofoten islands.  

Norway is a member of Schengen and the European Economic Area. Norway has VISA exemption agreements with all EU/EEA countries as well as 65 countries outside of the EU, including the United States. You do not need a visa to come to Norway for shoots under 90 days, if you are being paid by a non-Norwegian company and from a VISA free country.

Visit the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration for further information, and for a complete list of VISA exempt countries.

The official language in Norway is Norwegian, and Sami – used by the indigenous Sami people.

Norway consistently ranks at the top of the English proficiency index, so you can expect to manoeuvre through society and business without any difficulties.

Many Norwegians also speak a second foreign language, such as German, French and Spanish, and can also understand Swedes and Danes.

Some key features of the Norwegian business culture are:

Flat structures, little hierarchy: First-name basis

Empowered employees

Informal communication

Punctuality and direct approach

Focus on cooperation

Trust among people

Gender equality

Risk willingness

Balance of work- and private life

Norwegians can have a direct approach and move ahead quickly – many Norwegians do not need long-standing personal relationships in order to conduct business. However, they prefer to do business with those they trust, and punctuality is highly appreciated.

Norwegians in general do not expect a lot of bargaining, neither in their private affairs or in business life, and aggressive bargaining can challenge trust relationships.

The Norwegian industry can service several international projects in addition to local production. The Norwegian Film Workers Union have north of 1200 members, and there are also crews outside of the union.

The Norwegian industry can service several international projects in addition to local production. The Norwegian Film Workers Union have north of 1200 members, and there are also crews outside of the union.

In Western Norway, there are crews based in Bergen and Ålesund. The vast majority of Norwegian crew and rental houses are based in and around Oslo, but are used to servicing projects shooting in the regions.

There are experienced fixers/line producers, production managers, location managers/scouts, drone operators and photographers based in smaller towns across Western Norway. Depending on the requirements of your project, you may find everything you need local to the area you are filming in. Using a local crew will make a big difference in your budget. 

Norwegian crews are renowned for high on-set efficiency, have a well-established reputation, and are accustomed to working on international sets. Norwegian crews speak fluent English, as do Norwegians in general.

The majority of crews are engaged as employees, while some are independent contractors. Union rules do not apply to contractors, but in practice they are treated on par with employees.

Norwegian crews are committed, flexible, well organised and highly qualified – also on assistant level. Budget-conscious productions can plan for a smaller crew compared to international standards.

For feature films, Norwegian crews are used to a general assembly for all crew (and cast) before principal photography, where a crew representative is elected. A mid and wrap party is expected, and crew members who are engaged on the entire shoot also expect to be invited to the opening / premiere screening in Norway.

Norwegian Film Workers Union covers all departments and has about 1200 members.

In addition you have:

Norwegian Actors Association

Writer’s Guild Norway

Directors Guild of Norway

for a feature film shooting day is often extended to 10 hours: 7,5 normal hours, 0,5 hours for lunch and 2 hours at 50% overtime.

The normal work period goes from 6AM to 9PM when working on location. Working night hours, the time between 9PM and midnight is compensated with 50%, and nighttime between midnight and 6AM is compensated with 100%.

Overtime should be compensated as follows:

3 first hours: + 50%

3 next hours: + 100%

For more than 6 hours of overtime: + 200%

Saturdays the first 10 hours is 50%, and the next hours 200%

Sundays the first 10 hours 100%, and the next hours 200%

The turnaround is 10 hours of rest, but less when compensated 200% overtime.

Rates are daily and vary depending on the experience of the crew (depending on 0, 3, 6 and 10 years experience). Fringes are set at 26% if the crew member is employed, and at 20% if the crew member has her/his own company. Crew members that are members of the Norwegian Film Union will receive an additional 2% pension plan on their fringes.

The Norwegian Film Workers Union sets the recommended minimum wage, which varies from approx NOK 1800 / day to NOK 4200 / day depending on role and experience. Contact us to receive the current rate sheet. We also recommend that you check the current rates!

A 2020-comparison by a major production showed that Norwegian crew rates, including fringes and incentives, are significantly lower than for instance the UK. But note that this will, of course, fluctuate with currency movements.

Allowances are set as follows:

When staying at a hotel: NOK 589,-

“Soda money”: NOK 80,-

Mileage: NOK 3,5,- per km.