Who needs to apply for a Norwegian visa?
Since Norway became a member of the Schengen Area in 2001, it is possible to apply for a Norwegian Schengen visa. But depending on the country you come from, you might not need a visa for specific travel purposes. You can check out whether you need a visa here.
In case you need to apply for a Norwegian visa before traveling to this country, this guide will help you to understand everything you will need to get it.
Necessary documents for Norway Visa Application
To apply for a Norwegian visa, you will need to fill out and gather the following documents.
- Filled application form. You can find the form here. Another option is to fill the application form online and then print it out.
- 2 passport format photos. The photo must be recent, with a light background and full face-profile.
- Valid passport (with at least two blank pages) and copies of your previous visas. The passport must be valid for at least 3 more months beyond your return date.
- Travel insurance that covers at least 30’000 EUR within Norway.
- A cover letter and travel itinerary. Cover letter must describe the reason for your visit.
- Round-way flight or travel itinerary.
- Proof of accommodation during the visit time.
- Proof of your civil status.
- Proof of financial means. The amount is usually determined based on your travel details.
Apart from the above-mentioned documents, you might need to provide more documents to get your Norwegian visa. In case you are employed, you will need to provide your employment contract, no-objection statement from your work, Income Tax Return Form, and bank statement from the past 6 months.
In case you are self-employed, you might need to provide a copy of your business license, bank statement from the past 6 months, and Income Tax Return.
If you are a student, then you need to provide proof of your enrollment and approval letter from your university or school. However, depending on your travel purpose and specific circumstances, you might get asked to provide additional documents.
Norwegian visa application process
Once you have filled out the application form and gathered all the necessary documents to apply for your visa, you can submit your application.
You can do this in one of the following establishments:
- Norwegian Embassy in your country;
- Norwegian consulate;
- Visa application center;
- Schengen country Embassy or Consulate to which Norway has outsourced visa application processing.
Once you have gathered the documents, truthfully filled the application form, and chosen the closest authorized institution, you will need to schedule a visa appointment. During your interview, you will get asked various questions about your travel purposes and other related details.
You should keep in mind that visa application process can take several days, so you should apply in a timely manner. It is recommended to apply 2 months prior to your visit. Furthermore, keep in mind that if the visa requirements are not met, your visa might not get approved.
Average duration times of allowed stay in Norway
If you applied for a visitor’s visa, the allowed time for your stay can vary. The time will be stipulated in the visa. Furthermore, visitor’s visa usually allows you to enter Norway only once.
Usually, you will be allowed to spend up to three months in Norway during a six-month period. If you stay longer than the period your visa grants, you might get deported. However, if the circumstances force you to stay longer than allowed by your visa, you will have to apply for a longer stay through local police authorities.
Norwegian visa for US citizens and residents
If you are a citizen or a resident of the United States and you are holding a Tourist passport (blue passport), you can travel to Schengen Area countries (including Norway) without applying for a visa. However, you can do so only for a period of up to 90 days.
Citizens and residents of the United States who plan to stay in Norway for more than 90 days, will have to apply for a residence permit instead of Norway Schengen visa.
Overview
Let’s recap what we discussed in this article. Depending on the country you come from, you might have to apply for a Norway Schengen visa to visit Norway. There are several types of visas available for different purposes of your visit.
The first thing you need to do is to determine what visa type would be suitable for you and which documents you will need to gather.
After you have done that, you will need to fill out the application form and submit it to one of the authorized institutions. After the evaluation process and your interview, you will be informed about the status of your application.