SOURCE:   //www.philembassy.no/news-item/advisory-filipino-nurses-healthcare-workers-should-be-wary-of-advertisements-consultancy

ADVISORY: FILIPINO NURSES & HEALTHCARE WORKERS SHOULD BE WARY OF ADVERTISEMENTS & CONSULTANCY FIRMS THAT PEDDLE MISLEADING INFORMATION ABOUT NURSING JOBS IN NORWAY

Published on 31 January, 2013 - 10:57

The Philippine Embassy in Oslo wishes to warn Filipino nurses and healthcare workers about misleading information currently circulating online and peddled by a growing number of “consultancy” firms about the supposed abundance and ease of finding nursing and other healthcare jobs in Norway.

Said consultancy firms make these unsuspecting Filipinos believe that getting a nursing or healthcare job in Norway is easy, advertising misleading information such as “NO IELTS and/or PRC License needed” among other gimmicks, when in truth, it is not easy to find work as a foreign nurse or healthcare worker in Norway.

While it is true that IELTS is not required by most health care employers in Norway, this is only because English is not the primary language used by the country and its healthcare sector. Instead, foreign nurses and healthcare practitioners wishing to work in Norway have to pass a different and much harder Norwegian language exam and take other exams in order to be deemed employable as a nurse or healthcare worker in Norway and to do so requires that the Filipino be ready to spend a large amount for his or her tuition for further studies, board and lodging, etc. while in Norway.
And while a PRC license may not be needed for the processing of one’s visa application, said license is still required by relevant authorities in Norway in order for a foreign healthcare worker to be properly recognized as such in Norway.

Moreover, these Filipino nurses and healthcare practitioners should be advised that authorization from SAK (Statens Autorisasjons-Kontor) or the relevant Norwegian government authority does not equal work or employment nor is it equal to a nursing license. It merely recognizes that the Filipino has the qualifications of a healthcare worker, nothing more. Authorization/Autorisasjon does not equal work. Authorization/Autorisasjon is not equal to a nursing license in Norway.
Another alarming aspect about the proliferation of these consultancy firms is that they charge these unsuspecting Filipinos with, often, large sums of money for information and services that the Filipino can actually obtain for free and do by himself or herself if the latter only consulted the appropriate websites (i.e. Norwegian Embassy, SAK, etc.).

The Embassy has reported this alarming situation to the DFA and DOLE and it has handled several cases involving victimized Filipino nurses and healthcare workers who have been duped by these unscrupulous consultancy firms. Said Filipinos usually arrive in Norway without an employer and sometimes without even a place to stay. Most are deeply in debt and have no means to fund their stay in Norway, which is one of the most expensive countries in the world. Their situation makes them vulnerable to further abuse and victimization.

It is not easy to find work as a foreign nurse or healthcare worker in Norway.
While the Philippine government is working hard to address this matter, the Philippine Embassy is enjoining the Filipino Community in Norway to help spread this advisory and warn Filipinos about these unscrupulous consultancy firms and the false information currently being spread by the latter.
Moreover, related to this matter, the Embassy also wishes to reiterate its previous warning about various unlicensed, unaccredited and informal Norwegian Language Schools/Courses proliferating in the Philippines, enticing many Filipino professionals, especially nurses, to pay unreasonable fees for language classes that are staffed by unlicensed and/or untrained teachers for the chance to land well-paying jobs that are supposedly awaiting the student in Norway upon completion of the language course.

The Embassy wishes to warn the public of the pitfalls of falling prey to these unaccredited schools and agents. The Norwegian Government has not accredited, licensed or recognized any Norwegian Language School/Course operating in the Philippines for profit nor does it deal or cooperate with any agent or agency. The Norwegian Embassy has released several warnings about said schools and agents such as the link below and encourages visa applicants to go to the Norwegian Embassy directly.

http://www.norway.ph/embassy/visainfo/news/agents/
Filipinos who have fallen victim to these Philippine Norwegian Language schools arrive in Norway expecting to immediately find work only to discover that further Norwegian language courses are needed at additional expense and that the visa issued to them by the Norwegian Embassy is not enough time for them to finish the needed language courses and find a job. This makes them vulnerable to abuse and human trafficking.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.norway.ph/embassy/visainfo/permits/language/
Filipino professionals wishing to practice their profession in Norway should equip themselves with the proper information by visiting trusted information sources such as Norwegian government websites (Norwegian Embassy in Manila, Norwegian Labor & Welfare Organization or NAV, Norwegian Registration Authority for Health Personnel or SAK, etc.) to avoid falling victims to human trafficking and so as to be in full control of their professional future.
For more information about Norwegian visas and permits, please visit:
http://www.norway.ph/embassy/visainfo/
http://www.norway.ph/embassy/visainfo/visas/
http://www.norway.ph/embassy/visainfo/visas/schengen/
http://www.norway.ph/embassy/visainfo/permits/
http://www.norway.ph/embassy/visainfo/permits/language/
http://www.norway.ph/embassy/visainfo/permits/jobseeker/
For more information about accreditation as a healthcare worker, please visit:
http://www.sak.no

WORKING IN NORWAY - INFORMATION

The past couple of weeks, I have been on constant thought about how much people will go in order for them to  grab an opportunity and see where chance can lead them to.

There had been a couple of readers who sent me PMs asking how to apply working here in Norway. I think it's great there are those who take interest and time on sending me emails/PM's and in return, I try my best to reply and shed light on their inquiries.

DISCLAIMER: I am not related to any government office/ agency or institute related to immigration and working niether in Norway and Philippines. I am just a humble "norsk sykepleier" (Norwegian R.N.) who wishes to help and share the steps I did back then. 

NOTE: YOU CAN APPLY BY YOURSELF.


1. APPLY FOR AN "AUTORISASJON" (license) at SAK.

Statens Autorisasjonskontor for helsepersonell (SAK), formerly known as SAFH (Statens Autorisasjonskontor for Helsepersonell)  - SAK is the Norwegian Registration Authority for Health Personnel, which 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.

For the step by step on applying in SAK, please click this LINK.


NOTE: The Autorisasjon does not cost that much, you will receive a bill of statement from SAK and pay a certain amount to their bank account. I have heard stories from victims who paid almost 3500USD (17500NOK) to a "MIDDLE MAN" to get an autorisasjon.  Beware of swindlers, there are many out there! Also, WHENEVER YOU PAY for something, ALWAYS ASK FOR A RECEIPT stating exactly what was the paid amount for.  

Ok, now you've got your autorisasjon, what's next? 

2. APPLY FOR A Permanent Resident Permit for Learning Norwegian at the NORWEGIAN EMBASSY

UPDATE # 1: As of the 15th January 2013, it will no longer be possible to apply for a residence permit for specialists or a residence permit for skilled jobseekers. Those who applied before 15th January, will have their application fee refunded. See link here.

UPDATE #2: As of May 15th 2014, it is no longer possible to apply for a residence permit for Norwegian studies for skilled workers.

If you applied before May 15th, the UDI will continue to process your application as normal. The application will be considered according to the rules described on this page.

If you apply for a residence permit for skilled workers who are going to study Norwegian after May 14th, your application will be rejected.

 To apply for a Visa (for Philippines), visit the official website of the Norwegian Embassy in the Philippines for information on working  and visa in Norway or you go visit www.udi.no, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration’s (UDI).

 The steps and requirements are found on their website and from there you can start applying for a visa to work in Norway. Should you have questions, it is always better to email directly to the embassy or UDI.


***Kindly email me ( my contact details on the right side of the site) if you have more questions. :) It is  my intention to spread information to my fellow nurses who wish to work here in Norway, as to avoid landing in the hands of swindlers with false promises. I know, when an opportunity knocks at your door, we answer to its call right away without taking caution and researching first about it. We all dream of greener pastures. I, however, urge my fellow Filipino nurses, to be careful and be vigilant. Seek for information first and do your homework. :)