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Learn All About Fruit Picking Jobs In Norway!

Do you want to know how to find all the best fruit picking jobs in Norway?

Majestic fjords, the Northern Lights, Norway is a country filled with the wonders of nature. Imagine that you can explore and appreciate the wonderful outdoors in Norway and get paid for it!

When people think of fruits in Norway, the first thing that will come to mind is berries. 

Strawberries, cloudberries, blueberries, and lingonberries are some berries you can find in Norway. 

However, Norway also has apples, plums, pears and cherries growing in certain districts. 

Norway’s midnight sun does lend to some interesting results for fruits, helping Norway to produce one of the world’s best tasting strawberries.

Excited to find out how you can work in the great Norwegian outdoors? This article will help you learn about what to do to get a fruit picking job in Norway. 

Let’s get started!

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All The Best Fruit Picking Jobs In Norway

Fruit picking in Norway happens in an intense burst of time between July to October as Norway has a relatively short growing season (roughly May to September). 

A lot of farms will start looking for workers around that time, so best to check ahead and try securing a job offer in time for the harvest season.

Where To Find Vacancies? 

fruit picking jobs Norway

Most vacancies in Norway are advertised online, below are some websites that you can check out for fruit picking jobs Norway:

It is best to prepare your CV in English and/or Norwegian before you start applying for jobs. 

Here is a useful resource by the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration to guide you further on this.

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Where Can I Work In Norway?

fruit picking jobs Norway

Norway has several fruit-growing districts, which are as follows:

  • Hardangerfjord region. This region located in Fjord Norway contributes up to 40% of Norway’s annual fruit production.
  • Telemark. Telemark is famous for its apples, and Gvarv village in Telemark is the biggest producer of apples in Norway.
  • Valldal, Fjord Norway. Valldal is renowned for its juicy and succulent strawberries, thanks to Norway’s midnight sun, exposing them to 24-hours sunlight.
  • Sognefjord region. Sogn is known as one of the oldest fruit-growing regions in Norway.
  • Oslofjord region. This region is one of the biggest fruit-producing regions in Norway, with many fruit farms situated here. One of the more renowned farms is the Knatten Farm, famous for its apples.

How Much Is The Salary Of A Fruit Picker In Norway?

Norway does not have a national minimum wage. However, thanks to a strong trade union movement in Norway, there is a set minimum wage for workers in the agricultural industry. 

Workers are guaranteed a minimum hourly wage of 134.90 NOK (15.49 USD) for those who are working between 3 to 6 months. 

Workers who are employed for more than 6 months enjoy an hourly wage of 149.30 NOK (17.14 USD).

On average, expect to earn an average of 21,584 NOK (2,478.78 USD) per month for fruit picking jobs Norway.

Do I Need A Working Visa?

If you are from a country that is part of the European Union or the European Economic Area, you don’t need a working visa to do fruit picking jobs in Norway. 

Countries that are part of the European Union or the European Economic Area are:

  • Belgium
  • Spain
  • Hungary
  • Slovakia
  • Bulgaria
  • France
  • Malta
  • Finland
  • Czech Republic
  • Croatia
  • Netherlands
  • Sweden
  • Denmark
  • Italy
  • Austria
  • Germany
  • Cyprus
  • Poland
  • Iceland
  • Estonia
  • Latvia
  • Portugal
  • Liechtenstein
  • Ireland
  • Lithuania
  • Romania
  • Norway
  • Greece
  • Luxembourg
  • Slovenia

If you have secured a job offer before coming to Norway, all you have to do is register with the nearest police station within 3 months of your arrival. You would need to bring your employment contract and employment certificate which will be provided to you by your employer.

You don’t even have to have a job offer before going to Norway, which means you can start looking for job opportunities once you are in Norway. 

However, you must register as a job seeker on your arrival and you have 6 months to look for employment.

If you couldn’t secure a job offer within 6 months of your arrival, you will have to leave Norway. However, you could still come back to Norway to begin the process again.

For non-EU citizens, you need a work visa in order to work in Norway. Norway has strict immigration laws, so you will definitely be in trouble if you are found working on a tourist visa in Norway.

There are two types of visa that you can apply for in Norway, which are:

  • Seasonal Work Visa. This visa is only for seasonal workers for jobs which can only be done in a specific time of the year or for workers who are acting as a replacement for holiday seasons. 

You must receive an employment offer before applying. You can work for more than one employer but you must have a concrete job offer from the employers. Your employers must get confirmation from the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) that it is not possible to recruit enough workers from Norway or the EEA to perform the job. However, this approval is not necessary for the forestry and agriculture sectors. 

  • Working Holiday Visa. This visa is issued to people between the ages of 18 to 31 years old from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand, which allows them to work and live in Norway for up to a year.
  • Working Guests in Agriculture Visa. This visa is for those who participate in an exchange programme through Biologisk-Dynamisk Forening (the Biological-Dynamic Association, site in Norwegian) or Atlantis‘ ‘Working Guest’ scheme. This visa is tied closely to farm work and part of the employment requirement is for you to learn about Norwegian agriculture and culture through your work. This visa allows you to work and live in Norway for up to three months.

Your employers can apply for visas on your behalf, all you have to do is to give them a written power of attorney document to enable them to proceed with the visa application on your behalf. 

Is Fruit Picking A Hard Job? 

fruit picking jobs in Norway

Fruit picking is after all a physical task, so do expect a lot of moving, bending, kneeling, and using your strength a lot throughout the day.

You would also be required to start your day early as farm work begins before the sun rises. It does help to be a fit and active person or at least be comfortable with having your body move the whole day.

You will also have to consider the weather conditions. Norway can be quite cold, so expect having to brave the cold while you are working outside.

Getting yourself an outdoor picnic floor mat can help you quickly and easily rest on your breaks.

fruit picking jobs in norway floor mat

However, as far as fruit picking go, it is not that hard once you get used to the physical aspects of it! It will definitely challenge you, but it will open new experiences and you will get to learn a lot about yourself.

In addition, the working conditions in Norway are considered to be one of the best in the world, so do not worry about overstraining yourself as your rights as a worker is guaranteed under the law.

You will definitely need comfortable and sturdy clothes to work in, so here are some recommendations on the best budget hiking pants for you to check out.

What Are The Tasks I Have To Do As A Fruit Picker?

fruit picking jobs Norway

As a farmworker, your tasks are not just limited to picking fruits alone. 

Fruit picking jobs in Norway also involves planting, weeding, and trimming plants in addition to harvesting fruits and berries. 

Some farms might also require you to pack fruits in addition to picking fruits and doing farm work.

What Qualifications Do I Need?

For permanent work, many employers will require good speaking and writing skills in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language. 

In some cases, good English skills are sufficient for fruit picking jobs Norway. However, knowing how to speak Norwegian will most definitely increase your chances to secure a job.

Relevant experience and education for seasonal work is not required but is preferred.

Do I Have To Be Fluent In Norwegian?

All Norwegians speak English, but to increase your chances of being employed, it’s best to learn a bit of Norwegian. Having Scandinavian language skills will be a great advantage for you to secure employment easier. 

It will also make it easier for you to communicate with your employers and local people as the legal documents and daily communication will most definitely be in Norwegian.

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Where Would I Stay During Fruit Picking Season?

fruit picking jobs Norway

Since most farms will be in rural areas, many employers can provide accommodation. 

However, it will mainly be communal housing, so you may have to share the living space, kitchen and bathroom with other tenants. 

Some employers also have rooms available to let on their premises. The rent can vary considerably, ranging from 60 to 1700 NOK (7 to 200 USD), but usually around 350 to 780 NOK (40 to 90 USD) depending on the standard of accommodation.

If accommodation is provided, basic furniture and a kitchen will be made available by your employer as part of the accommodation arrangement as stated in Norwegian law. 

There is also the option of staying in hostels which will cost you in a range of 260 to 520 NOK (30 to 60 USD) for a single dorm bed per night. 

You could even go rough camping near your workplace if you are feeling adventurous! 

In Norway, you can camp anywhere in open areas as long as you are at least 150m away from any houses or cabins. You also must ask the landowner for permission to camp on their land as a courtesy.

Be mindful that public transportation in rural areas can be very limited; you may need your own transportation to get around.

Tips For Success At Fruit Picking Jobs in Norway

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Are There Fruit Pickers Groups In Norway?

There are no particular fruit pickers groups in Norway, but it is always great to find a community where you are going so that you won’t feel so alone.

Here are some groups that you can join before you go to Norway to find out first-hand experiences of living in Norway.

fruit picking jobs in Norway

How To Make Sure The Employer Is Legitimate?

Before hiring you as an employee, you would have to go through an employment interview and sign a contract with your employer.

 Make sure to check details regarding the job such as:

  • Contract period
  • Job location and responsibilities
  • What are the working hours? Will there be any overtime work? 
  • Break, holidays
  • Wages, social insurance, other expenditures

Fruit picking jobs Norway are bound by the same employment standards, regardless if you are not a Norwegian. 

If you have any concerns regarding your employment, you can contact the Service Centre for Foreign Workers office.

fruit picking jobs in Norway
Service Centre for Foreign Workers -SUA

How Can I Get Seasonal Jobs In Norway?

Seasonal work and casual jobs are widely available for international employees in sectors including agriculture and horticulture. 

Most vacancies will be posted online so here are some websites you can check out to find seasonal jobs:

Alternatively, you can reach out directly to the farms in Norway to ask whether they are in need of seasonal workers.

 Here is a list of farms that you can reach out to:

What Jobs Are In Demand In Norway?

fruit picking jobs in Norway

Jobs that are in demand in Norway are seasonal jobs that require manpower. Some of the sectors that require workers are as follows:

  • Tourism
  • Fisheries
  • Food processing
  • Forestry
  • Agricultural and horticultural (farm work)

Farmworkers are in high demand in Norway as the harvesting season is short and the farmers will need all the help they can get to properly harvest the bounties of the land.

I hope that this article has helped you understand more about fruit picking jobs Norway. 

To recap, it is important for you to make sure that you follow the immigration requirements and it is worthwhile to consider learning a bit of Norwegian to give yourself an advantage. 

If you have any information regarding fruit picking jobs Norway, feel free to comment below! Please share this article if you found it helpful.

Learn All About Fruit Picking Jobs In Norway!