A Norway visa is needed if you are planning to travel to Norway. Norway is a beautiful country located in Northern Europe. If you are planning to travel there, do not expect warm weather as Norway is mostly known for its cold and snowy weather.
If you like experiencing an amazing winter season then Norway is the country you should visit. You will get to experience the beautiful northern lights, snowy mountains, glaciers and what Norway people like to call “The midnight sun”.
What are you waiting for? It’s time to pack your bags and get going! Before that though, do not forget to check out this article which will help you learn more about a Norway visa for your trip to Norway.
Who needs a Norwegian visa?
In order to travel to Norway, citizens without a visa waiver must apply for a visa. You would certainly need to apply for a visa for various reasons, whether you are planning to fly to Norway for business meetings or perhaps you are looking to study there.
The visa application process can vary according to the type of visa you are applying for. So, for instance, you would need to apply for a business visa if you are traveling to Norway for a business meeting or conference.
To travel to Norway, you only have to apply for a visa if:
- The country you are from is part of the Schengen region. Norway is part of the Schengen Region, so the Schengen visa requirements are valid.
- You are looking to stay more than 90 days. To remain more than 90 days in Norway, anyone that is not an EU/EEA or Swiss resident requires a visa, whether it be for employment, research, etc
Norway visa types
Norway tourist visa
This is a kind of visa that is only used for tourism. This form of visa is one that you should apply for if you are planning to fly to Norway only to visit it as a tourist.
A visa of this form may be valid for a period of 90 days. However, when you cross the border, the length of your stay will be documented on your passport by the appropriate authorities. And if it expires you can always renew it.
Norway family visa
The Norwegian family visa is for those people who want to live with a close relative that resides in Norway.
It is also called reunification of families in the case where you form a family in Norway. The partner, cohabitant, or child of somebody who lives in Norway are usually those who apply for family immigration.
Norway work visa
An employment visa can be given to people who come to Norway to work for a certain amount of time. To apply for one you must first find and be accepted for a job in Norway. After that, you can begin the visa process which can be done either online or in-person at your country’s embassy or consulate.
If you meet the following conditions, you may apply for the Norwegian Work Visa:
- You have finished university
- You have done a training program regarding a subject
- You can prove that you have specific skills regarding the job even if you do not have a degree.
- You have found and have been accepted for a job
- The work does not pay less than a Norwegian citizen would pay.
- You are over 18 years of age.
- No criminal records.
Other types of Norway work visas:
- Seasonal Work Visa for Norway. If you’re going to work short-term, in a position that can only be completed at a certain time of the year.
- Job-Seeker Visa Norway. Is for those people who have finished their studies in Norway, allowing them to stay without a job offer in Norway and to search for jobs.
- Professional training and Study Visa. This visa is given to students pursuing higher education training or to self-financed scholars who are not hired.
- Working Holiday Visa. This form of visa is given to younger people, allowing them to spend up to a year working and living in Norway.
- Visa for artists. This is a type of work visa for artists such as musicians who are intending to perform in Norway for a short period of time.
Norway student visa
The student visa is only for students who are looking to study in Norway. You first must apply to one of Norway’s universities or academic institutions to get a student visa. Afterward, you can apply either online or in-person once you have been accepted by one of these institutions.
Bear in mind that such documents as a letter of approval, a valid passport, and a certificate of financial statements during your stay in Norway, will be required.
The conditions to get a student visa in Norway are as follows:
- Be accepted by an educational institution in Norway
- The educational institution you are applying for should be approved by the Norwegian Quality Assurance Agency for Education.
- Have a full-time curriculum
- Have sufficient finances to cover your living expenses. Also you need to have around EURO 10.000 kept in your bank account.
- If you have a part-time position, the money from this can be included in the sum needed.
- Evidence that you have found a place to live at.
General requirements for Norwegian visas
The papers you are expected to provide for your application for a Norwegian visa are:
- A valid passport which should have visa pages
- If you have had other visas in the past, then you should provide copies of those pages.
- Passport-size photos. The photos should be in accordance with the photographic criteria of the Schengen visa.
- Once you submit the papers online, you will be sent a cover letter in your inbox.
- You have to provide a birth certificate or if you are married, a certificate of marriage.
- Evidence that you have found lodging in Norway
- Evidence of health insurance that fulfills the criteria of Schengen visa insurance.
- Evidence of flight tickets reserved.
If you are hired:
- Evidence of jobs, including a contract for work or a company registration certificate.
- Date of when your job expires
- Financial records dating back to the past three months
If you are a student:
- Certificate of your educational institution
In the case of minors:
- A child’s birth certificate
- A passport copy of the child’s parents
- A consent letter signed by the parent or a guardian
If you’re visiting a relative or acquaintance on a trip to Norway:
- Invitation letter from your relative or acquaintance of your family.
If you plan to travel for business:
- Invitation letter from the company that is hiring you. The letter must state the length and intent of your travel.
- Evidence that the company has been registered
- The company financial statements
- The tax return of the corporations for the preceding tax year
Guidelines for documents:
- Documents must be in English. If you are in a country where documents are not issued in English then you will have to notarize and translate them.
- The Apostille Stamp is required to authorize civil documents, such as birth certificates.
- Based on the individual intent of the trip or your nationality, additional documentation may be needed.
Time for a Norway visa to be processed
A Norwegian visa application usually takes around 15 working days from the time you send the papers to the Embassy or Visa Office. It can take longer, depending on the conditions, such as whether all records are in order, the number of requests, or bank holidays.
Norway visa fees
The fees for Norway visas depend on the type of visa you apply for.
- For the Schengen visas, the fees can go around 40 to 80 Euros. As for children under the age of 6 they are free of charge.
- The Schengen visas for Azerbaijani and Russian residents go around EUR 35.
Norway visa validity
As mentioned above, a visa can have a validity of 90 days. However, the Embassy can depending on the particular conditions, decide to issue:
- A one-way visa that is only valid for the time you expect to stay in Norway.
- Several entry visas which ensure that you can enter or leave the country many times within 6 months.
How to extend a Norwegian visa?
If you have a legitimate purpose, you might be able to extend a Norwegian visa. The documents you should submit are as follows:
- A visa extension form
- A passport
- Evidence of finances to support your stay
- Evidence of travel insurance
- Evidence that you are in need of the extension
Keep in mind that the visa can not be extended to more than 90 days.
