Faq.

Nordic Location™ is owned by Frost media AS, founded in 2006.
Nordic Location is part of Production Service Network™ since 2017.
Nordic Location is a leading provider of quality production services in Norway.
We stand by our slogan “Find it. Film it.” And we love to organize it.

Getting started

What is the currency exchange rate?

How do I get there?

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.  

Do I need a VISA to work on a production in Norway?

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.

What languages do you speak?

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.

How is the Norwegian business culture?

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.

Crews

What is the crew depth in Norway?

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.

What is the crew depth in Norway?

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.

Where are the crews based?

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. 

What can I expect from a Norwegian crew?

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.

Are there any union or guild affiliations that we need to be aware of?

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

What are the working hours and overtime regulations?

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.

What are the crew rates?

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.

Production

Will you sign a FPSA before the production begins?

Yes, Nordic Location will sign a FPSA when the budget quote is agreed upon. 

We can send you a copy of our general FPSA document or we can use your FPSA if you prefer that.   

Do you issue filming permits?

Nordic Location will organize all film permits. Norway is a film friendly region, and you are met with willingness and a can-do attitude from local authorities.

The “freedom to roam” act allows for easy permit processes when filming outdoors. Permits are not required for minimal-impact shoots in public areas and on uncultivated land. Norway does not have a film ordinance, meaning you do not have to register with or provide information to any government entity. However, other permitting processes might be required depending on the impact of the shoot, such as closing off public areas, shooting on privat property, road closures, traffic management and motorized transport on uncultivated land.

To obtain permits we contact the relevant authorities, such as the municipality, port authorities, local land owners, police, road administration, national parks and so forth.

We estimate 1 weeks process time on general permits. Permits for national parks may require in person meetings and up to 4 weeks process time. 

What are the regulations for aerial filming?

Norway have excellent pilots and aerial filming specialists with the latest gyro-stabilized camera systems. Contact us for an overview of professional drone operators and aerial filming services.

The Civil Aviation Authority has a translation of Norway’s drone regulations on their website. Drones are classified in three categories – operators in the RO2 and RO3 categories are allowed to perform more complex flights in populated areas.

Safe to Fly can be a useful tool for drone operators – a map service which provides relevant data, such as restricted areas, that may affect your use of drones. Please note that national parks require a special permit for drone operations.

How do I get equipment and props into Norway?

You can use an ATA carnet for goods that are only to remain temporarily in Norway. For more information, visit Norwegian Customs.

What equipment is available locally?

There are multiple rental houses offering state-of-the-art equipment and a wide selection of cameras, lights and cranes – a complete technical pipeline. Rates are typically on par with the rest of Europe.

The main rental houses – Dagslys, Empire Media, Storyline, Krypton and Moviebird – are based in Oslo, and some also have a division in Bergen. There are also several smaller rental providers in Bergen and across Western Norway, offering RED camera packages, sound, light as well as state-of-the-art aerial equipment.

Medical personell

Nordic Location collaborates with medic personnel strategically located around Norway to ensure cost efficient travel costs for medic crew.

Some of our medic crew are trained in high mountain rescue operations, rope access, steep ascent/descent rescue.

Free of charge:

Helicopter Rescue Service ensure safety both on ground and sea. From 6 bases along the coast of Norway, the rescue helicopter is quick to respond to accidents, shipwrecks or other life threatening situations.

Norway Alpine Rescue Team is stand-by in case of emergency. This specialized group of emergency personnel will help out in extreme alpine rescue operations.

Shooting with animals

Pet handlers are possible to book in most Norwegian cities.

Wild life animals can in some cases be obtained. Example: Reindeer and deers.

Norway has strict regulations on animal welfare. All animals must be handled with care.

Taxes and VAT

Are there any withholding taxes?

No, Norway does not levy withholding tax on royalties. 

What is VAT / MVA? Can our production get a refund?

VAT exempt, but goods and services rendered to a non-Norwegian production can be invoiced without VAT.

If your company has incurred VAT in Norway for a non-Norwegian production, and your company is not registered in the Norwegian VAT register, a refund claim can be filed. The Norwegian Tax Authority has an overview of the process here.

However, this is a lengthy operation. Therefore, Nordic Location will budget the production without the VAT. Nordic Location will pay the 25% VAT on behalf of our client and retrieve it from the Tax Authority about 2 months later. 

The AUDIT provided at the end of the production will show all the costs without the VAT. All receipts will be attached to the AUDIT.