Table of Contents

Overview of Norway

Almost 5.4 million people live in Norway, a thinly populated Scandinavian country extending to the Arctic Circle, bordered by Sweden on the east, and Finland and Russia to the northeast. Norway’s long coastline includes the North Atlantic Ocean and the Barents Sea. Norwegian and Sami are its official languages; the Norwegian Krone (NOK) is its official currency.

Norway’s pristine landscapes and charming cities attract 8.8 million visitors yearly, largely between May and August when comfortable weather beckons. The rest of the year can be snowy with cold temperatures mitigated by warmer winds of the Gulf Stream. Outdoor enthusiasts are drawn to Norway’s geologic features of glaciers, fjords, mountains, and lakes. Those who appreciate picturesque towns and cities will also enjoy Norway. On its southern coast is Oslo, Norway’s capital city, featuring regional architecture and buildings on the cutting edge of modernism. Oslo also has cultural offerings like the Viking Ship Museum and the Vigeland Sculpture Park. For sport enthusiasts, there is the Holmenkollbakken Ski Jump, offering fjord views as well as challenging thrills. Outside the capital, the town of Bergen features colorful homes and sailing ships. In eastern Norway, the region of Lillehammer, the site of the 1994 Olympic Games, offers zip wire rides, mountain biking, and a high design art museum. Norwegian cuisine is increasingly a draw for travelers intrigued by rustic offerings of fish, mutton, wild berries, and waffles.

One of the 4 non-EU Schengen Member States, Norway signed the Schengen Agreement in 1999, becoming part of the   Schengen area  in 2001.

Norway Schengen Visa Eligibility

Schengen visa eligibility for Norway includes third country nationals from the following states, who are excluded from visa-free to Norway/the Schengen area, and are therefore eligible to apply for a Schengen visa to Norway:

1.     AFGHANISTAN

53.   LAOS

2.     ALGERIA

54.   LEBANON

3.     ANGOLA

55.   LESOTHO

4.     ARMENIA

56.   LIBERIA

5.     AZERBAIJAN

57.   LIBYA

6.     BAHRAIN

58.   MADAGASCAR

7.     BANGLADESH

59.   MALAWI

8.     BELARUS

60.   MALDIVES

9.     BELIZE

61.   MALI

10.   BENIN

62.   MAURITANIA

11.   BHUTAN

63.   MONGOLIA

12.   BOLIVIA

64.   MOROCCO

13.   BOTSWANA

65.   MOZAMBIQUE

14.   BURKINA FASO

66.   NAMIBIA

15.   BURMA/MYANMAR

67.   NAURU

16.   BURUNDI

68.   NEPAL

17.   CAMBODIA

69.   NIGER

18.   CAMEROON

70.   NIGERIA

19.   CAPE VERDE

71.   NORTH KOREA

20.   CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

72.   OMAN

21.   CHAD

73.   PAKISTAN

22.   CHINA

74.   PAPUA NEW GUINEA

23.   COMOROS

75.   PHILIPPINES

24.   CONGO

76.   QATAR

25.   COTE D’IVOIRE

77.   RUSSIA

26.   CUBA

78.   RWANDA

27.   DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

79.   SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

28.   DJIBOUTI

80.   SAUDI ARABIA

29.   DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

81.   SENEGAL

30.   ECUADOR

82.   SIERRA LEONE

31.   EGYPT

83.   SOMALIA

32.   EQUATORIAL GUINEA

84.   SOUTH AFRICA

33.   ERITREA

85.   SOUTH SUDAN

34.   ETHIOPIA

86.   SRI LANKA

35.   FIJI

87.   SUDAN

36.   GABON

88.   SURINAME

37.   GAMBIA

89.   SWAZILAND

38.   GHANA

90.   SYRIA

39.   GUINEA

91.   TAJIKISTAN

40.   GUINEA-BISSAU

92.   TANZANIA

41.   GUYANA

93.   THAILAND

42.   HAITI

94.   TOGO

43.   INDIA

95.   TUNISIA

44.   INDONESIA

96.   TURKEY

45.   IRAN

97.   TURKMENISTAN

46.   IRAQ

98.   UGANDA

47.   JAMAICA

99.   UZBEKISTAN

48.   JORDAN

100.VIETNAM

49.   KAZAKHSTAN

101.YEMEN

50.   KENYA

102.ZAMBIA

51.   KUWAIT

103.ZIMBABWE

52.   KYRGYZSTAN

 

Third party nationals from the following entities/territories are also required to apply for a Schengen visa: KOSOVO and the PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY.

Required Documents For Norway

All documents required for your Norway Schengen visa must be filled in using capital letters, completed/translated into Norwegian, Sami, or English. Applications for all Schengen visas to Norway will contain the following Basic Required Documents:

  • Valid passport
  • Passport sized photos
  • Application form
  • Fingerprints (biometric data)
  • Travel medical insurance
  • Visa Fee
  • Materials related to your trip:
    • Reason for visit
    • Where you will stay (accommodation)
    • How you will fund your trip (finances)
    • Proof that you will leave Norway before your visa becomes invalid/expires. This is often in the form of a paid roundtrip plane ticket (proof of return).
  • Cover letter from Application Portal Norway (if applying through this portal)

Note: For more information on what to include in your application, including a detailed description of required materials, please see: Basic Required Documents. Please note that you may have to submit additional Norwegian Schengen visa supporting documents related to your specific purpose for travelling.

Norway Schengen Visa Fees

The standard Norwegian Schengen visa fee for an adult is 80 Euros. Certain types of applicants (most students, children under 6) are exempt from all visa fees. To get a Schengen visa for Norway, you will likely have to submit a service payment with your visa application-this is a separate cost from the visa fee. Please note that these fees are non-refundable in the case of visa rejection. If applying via Apply Norway, you must print out your receipt indicating payment, and include this in your application.

Norway Schengen Visa

How to Apply for a Norway visa: Steps

  • Step 1: Determine your Purpose for travelling to Norway, which will determine the Type of visa you should apply for.
  • Step 2: Determine how many Entries to Norway/the Schengen area you need.
  • Step 3: Gather your Required Documents.
  • Step 4: Fill out your application.
    • Different Norwegian Consulates/visa processing centers may provide different ways of accessing applications. Depending on where you are applying from, you can apply through Norway’s UDI online application portal. Access the online portal here and follow the below steps:
      1. Enter your nationality, location, and answer questions about the type and purpose of visa you are applying for, in order to create an online account.
      2. Pay the application fee.
      3. After you receive an email saying that you have successfully registered and paid, you can start filling out your application for your Schengen visa to Norway.
    • Those who are not eligible to use the online Norway portal must print out, sign, and submit the application form available online here.
  • Step 5: Schedule a Norwegian Schengen visa appointment (if applicable).
    • You will likely have to schedule an appointment in order to submit your application. Alternatively, you may be able to drop off your application without prior arrangement, so long as you do so during normal operating hours.
    • If you are applying through Norway’s UDI online visa portal, you will likely be asked to schedule an appointment after you submit your application. You can do this online, through this link.
    • If you’re not applying through the UDI portal, you can contact your consulate/visa center directly to find out if you need to schedule an appointment in order to submit your application.
  • Step 6: Submit your Norwegian Schengen visa application (at least 15 days prior to travelling, not before 6 months).
    • Different Norwegian Consulates/processing centers have different procedures for submitting applications. In almost all cases, applications must be submitted in person to the consulate/center you are applying through.
    • When you submit your application, you will likely also be asked to submit biometric data (fingerprints). Children younger than 12 years are likely exempt from having their fingerprints collected. However, facial photo capture is required for all applicants nevertheless of their age.
    • Please note, after submitting your application, you may be asked to return at a later date for a personal interview to provide further information/materials related to your trip.

When to Apply

Submit your application at least 20 days prior to the day you intend to travel, and no earlier than 6 months before you leave.

Where to Apply

Applications for Schengen visas to Norway should be submitted at either a Norwegian Consulate/Embassy or a visa application center that has a relationship with Norway.

Ideally, you will lodge your application in the country where you legally reside/are a citizen.

If you must apply through a consulate/center located in a country where you are currently legally present, but where you do not legally reside, you must first receive permission from the Norwegian Embassy located in that country.

In countries where there is no Norwegian consular presence, applications may be lodged via the consulate of a Schengen state representing Norwegian consular interests.

Processing Time for Norway Schengen Visa

The Norwegian Schengen visa processing time is generally 15 days, although it can take up to 45 days in certain cases.

If your Norway visa was approved:

Collect your visa and make sure the information it contains is valid and complete.

If your Norway visa was denied:

  • If you receive a Schengen visa rejection for Norway, you (or your legal representative) have the right to an appeal within 3 weeks after receiving the rejection.
  • Please note that your appeal will probably be rejected if you do not include new documents/materials.
  • Please note there is no fee for an appeal.
  • You should send your appeal either to the UDI or the Embassy.
    • If appealing from the UDI:
      • As the applicant, you can appeal the decision yourself or you may authorize someone to submit your appeal for you by extending them power of attorney.
      • Your appeal should be in the form of a letter, written in either English or Norwegian (or officially translated into either language) and it must explain why you are appealing (i.e. why you think an incorrect decision was reached on your visa request).
      • Sign your letter
      • Upload a photo of your signed letter and any new materials you wish to include to the UDI website
      • You will receipt an email or text indicating receipt of your appeal
      • UDI will consider your appeal. If it does not reverse its rejection, it will forward your appeal to the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE).
      • If the UNE upholds your rejection, you have exhausted your ability to appeal.
    • If appealing to an embassy:
      • You should follow the same steps as above, except you should send the letter and any additional relevant materials to the embassy’s respective address.

Finally, once you obtain your Schengen Visa for Norway, please note the following:

Your visa may be revoked if you do not notify the Norwegian Consulate/visa application center of any changes to your trip itinerary that occur after you have submitted your application.

Being approved for a Norwegian visa does not guarantee you entry to either Norway or the general Schengen area-you can still be refused entry to both places upon arrival.

Alternatively, you may have to show additional documents regarding your finances or accommodation in order to enter Norway/the Schengen area.

FAQ about Norway Schengen Visa

Is Norway a Schengen visa destination?

Norway is a Schengen state because it is an official member of the European Schengen area.

Who needs a Norway Schengen visa?

The need for a Norway Schengen visa is determined by a would-be traveler’s citizenship. A foreign traveler who has a passport from a country that has visa free access to the Schengen area will not need a Schengen visa to Norway. Foreigners with passports from countries which do not have visa free access to the Schengen area will need a visa to enter Norway. If you fall into the latter category of passport holder and you wish to visit Norway, you should consider applying for a Schengen visa (if you want to visit Norway for 90 days or fewer).

How long is Norway Schengen visa valid for?

90 days is the duration of a Norway Schengen visa. To avoid violating your visa validity period, you must leave Norway (and the entire Schengen area) on what would be your 91st day in the zone.