OFWs bound for Norway warned against unlicensed language schools

DFA Public Advisory
December 12, 2011

The Philippine Embassy in Oslo reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) that it has received complaints that various unlicensed, unaccredited and informal Norwegian Language Schools/Courses are proliferating in the Philippines.

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 embassy wishes to warn the public of the pitfalls of falling prey to these unaccredited schools and agents.

These organizations and groups have enticed 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 Norwegian Embassy has released several warnings about said schools and agents and encourages visa applicants to go to the Norwegian Embassy website directly.

The embassy stated that while there are indeed some job opportunities in Norway, its laws and regulations require professionals wishing to practice their profession in the country to take and pass Norway’s rigorous Bergenstest, among other requirements, and would require the foreign professional to finish at least Norskprøve Level 3 from a certified Norwegian school or university in the country.

Filipinos who have fallen victim to these 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 six-month Jobseeker Permit issued to them by the Norwegian Embassy will not give them enough time to finish the needed language courses and find a job. This makes them vulnerable to abuse and human trafficking.

For skilled professionals with basic or no Norwegian language skills, particularly those wishing to work in the medical sector where Norwegian language proficiency is a prerequisite, the Norwegian Embassy does not recommend coming to the country on a “Jobseeker Permit” but rather on a Residence Permit to Learn Norwegian.

For more information on this, please visit the following link: 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 like the Norwegian Embassy in Manila, Norwegian Labor & Welfare Organization (NAV) and Norwegian Registration Authority for Health Personnel (SAFH) to avoid falling prey 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 the following links:

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

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