A visa is a document showing that you have leave to enter Norway and other Schengen countries for a limited period of up to 90 days.
You can be granted a visitor's visa if you intend to travel to Norway as a tourist, on a family visit, on public business or a business trip, a study visit or other business which does not require a work or residence permit.
Australian and New Zealand passport holders do not need a visa for visits to Norway or other Schengen area for stays up to three months.
01/10/2008 ::
Schengen area:
Norway is part of the Schengen area, which includes the following countries:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- The Czech Republic
- The Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
A visa for Norway and the rest of the Schengen countries has a maximum duration of 90 days. The visa cannot be extended once the holder has entered the Schengen area. Exceptions may be made if unforeseen circumstances arise after your arrival in the Schengen area and your original visa was issued for less than 90 days. However, the total duration of your stay in the Schengen area cannot exceed 90 days in the course of the last six months. The visa you are granted for Norway is valid for all countries in Europe that are party to the Schengen agreement.
You must leave the Schengen area before your visa expires. If you do not leave when your visa expires, this may have consequences for any future entry.
Who must apply for visa to visit Norway?
In principle, everyone needs a visa to visit Norway. Exemptions are made for nationals from countries with an agreement with Norway waiving the visa requirement.
Australian and New Zealand passport holders do not need a visa for visits to the Schengen area for stays up to three months. Most nationalities from Asia, Africa and the Middle East do need a visa to enter the Schengen area. A list of visa-waiver countries is available at www.udi.no, see link on the right side.
The visa requirement is waived, for example, for
- Citizens of Nordic countries
- Foreign nationals with a valid passport from countries with which Norway has entered into an agreement waiving the visa requirement
- Persons with a valid Norwegian immigrant's passport
- Persons with a valid Norwegian travel document for refugees
- Persons with a residence or work permit in Norway and other Schengen countries
Where do I apply for a visa to Norway?
The application must be submitted in person at the nearest Norwegian foreign service mission, i.e. Embassy or Honorary Consulates. Most visa applications are processed locally by foreign service missions. In some cases, applications may be sent to Norway for processing by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration.
Application from third country citizens submitted with a Norwegian foreign mission in Australia or New Zealand will only be considered if the applicant has had a valid permit of stay in Australia or New Zealand, and if the permit is valid for three months exceeding the date of return from Norway. After the processing is completed the passport will be returned to the foreign mission where the application was submitted for collction by the applicant.
If you intend to visit another Schengen country than Norway for the majority of the time, you must apply for a visa at that country's embassy.
Fees:
The fee must be paid when the application is submitted. Se www.udi.no/fee, or the list of fee rates published on the Embassy's webpage.
How long does it take to process a visa application?
If your application is processed at a Norwegian foreign service mission, it normally takes around 2-3 weeks before you receive a reply to your application. This depend on the workload at the Norwegian foreign service mission in question. If your application is forwarded to Norway and the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI), the processing time will be longer, up to four months. See www.udi.no/caseprocessingtime for updated information on case processing time.
Documentation requirements:
Please note that all documentation must be original documents or certified copies.
- An application form (see link on the right side)
- Two passport sized photos that is approved for a visa sticker. Photo requirements are given at www.udi.no
- A valid passport/valid travel document. The passport must be valid for a minimum of three months exceeding the date of return from Norway
- Valid permit of stay in Australia or New Zealand
- Explanation and documentation of your purpose of visit to Norway. This should include one of the following:
- A written invitation from a Norwegian reference person (business partner, relative or other)
- Confirmation from employer (if travelling on a business trip)
- Documentation of family relationship (if the reference is a family member)
- Documentation of how the visit to Norway will be financed. This should include at least one of the following:
- Documentation of private means for the stay (for instance bank statements from the month prior to submission of the application)
- Guarantee declaration from your reference/host (see link on the right side)
- Guarantee letter from employer (if travelling on a business trip)
- Itinerary (return ticket) to Norway
If you are granted a visa
You must have valid travel and sickness insurance that is valid in all the Schengen countries, and the minimum coverage must be EUR 30.000 (equivalent to AUD 50,000). Documentation of the insurance must be presented when the visa is issued.
You must also have sufficient funds to cover your journey to and stay in Norway. If you are without funds, you can be stopped at the border even though you have been granted a visa. In certain cases, a financial guarantee from the person you intend to visit, covering your stay and your return, will suffice. A guarantee form must be filled in by the person in Norway you are to visit (the reference person), and it must be stamped by the Norwegian police (see link on the right side).
Can I appeal if my application is rejected?
Yes. If you appeal a decision reached by a foreign service mission, your case will be sent to the UDI for consideration. If you appeal a decision reached by the UDI, the case will be sent to the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE). No fee is charged to process appeals.
Further information:
If you have any other questions about visa, contact your nearest Norwegian foreign service mission. If you are in Norway, you can contact the UDI's applicant information service, wich answers questions in Norwegian, English and other languages by phone, (+47) 23 35 15 00, or email ots@udi.no
The Directorate of Immigration
Hausmannsgate 21
P.O. Box 8108 Dep.
N-0032 Oslo
Tel: (+47) 23 35 15 00
Fax: (+47) 23 35 15 15
Email: udi@udi.no