Norway Tourist Visa - Definitive Guide(2020)

This tourist visa is issued for individuals travelling to Norway for the purpose of tourism. Being a category of the Schengen, nationals from Schengen region and of other countries that have a visa-exemption agreement with Norway do not require a permit. Also known as the Norway Schengen tourist visa, this permit is issued for a maximum stay duration of up to 90 days in a 180-day period and can be granted with single-entry, double-entry, or even multiple-entries.

The application for the Norway tourist visa from India is done online. However, the submission of the application is to be done offline, in person at a Visa Application Center (VAC). Before starting the application, you must ensure that you are eligible to travel to Norway as a tourist. After this, you can proceed to make the application as follows - 

1. The first step is to gather all the documents you need for the tourist visa.
2. Visit the online portal of the Norway visa application, and create an account. 
3. Fill in the Norway tourist visa application form. You will have to mention your purpose of visit as ‘tourism’. 
4. Proceed to pay the fees online. 
5. After this, you will receive a confirmation cover letter on your registered email. Take a print out of this and sign it. 
6. You must now proceed to book an appointment for the application submission at a VAC. 
7. Visit the respective VAC for the appointment, along with your cover letter, and the documents. 
8. You will also have to submit your biometrics at the VAC as well. 

Note that if you have submitted your biometrics for a Schengen visa in the past 5 years, you do not have to submit them again. Biometric data from your previous application will be copied from the VIS (Visa Information System) and used again. Also, ensure that you submit only genuine documents and correct information. Failure to do so can lead to visa rejection. 

To be eligible to apply for this visa, you must meet the following eligibility criteria - 

• You must be living in a country where you are lodging the application. If you are residing in a residence permit in any foreign nation, you may apply it to the corresponding visa authority in that particular country.
• You must possess a valid passport meeting all the regulations.
• The only purpose of your visit must be to take part in tourism and related activities.
• You must possess sufficient funds to cover your expenses during the entire stay period.
• You must apply for the permit only if -

• Norway is your only destination, or
• Norway is one of your multiple Schengen destinations, in which case you will be spending the majority of the time here, or, 
• Norway must be your port of entry into the Schengen region.

As per the Norway tourist visa requirements for Indian citizens, the following are the list of documents you must submit in order to make a complete application. Note that these documents must be translated to English or Norwegian language. 

• A valid passport- 

• 1. It must contain at least 2 blank pages.
  2. It should not be older than 10 years.
  3. It should be valid for at least 6 months from the date of travel.
  4. Old passports, if any, are to be attached.
• Valid passport photos
• Printed out the cover letter from the online application portal
• Printed out a fully filled C category questionnaire
• Medical travel insurance coverage up to at least 30000 Euros
• Detailed travel itinerary
• Proof of occupation - 

Proof of occupation such as employment letter, Copy of business license, etc.

• Financial documents -

Financial documents such as bank statements of the past 3 months, Passbook copy, ITR, etc.

• Dimensions: 35mm X 45mm
• Colour: Coloured
• Head must occupy the central position
• Must be captured within the last 3 months
• Background: Solid, plain white or grey
• 80% face coverage
• Neutral expression
• Glasses: Non-thick framed and prescription glasses
• Headgears - only for religious reasons
• Facial hair - permitted

The time taken to process the Norwegian permit is dependent on several factors such as the number of entries, the validity of the permit, the volume of application at the embassy, as well as your previous travel history. In normal cases, it takes around 15 working days excluding the transit time. However, it may even take up to 30 days in certain cases, and even up to 60 days in extreme cases. As a result, you must apply for the permit well in advance.

The fees for the tourist permit includes the biometric charges, processing fee, as well as any other service charges. The application fee can also vary upon the foreign exchange rates. You must, therefore, check the exact amount before starting the application.

Once you have submitted the application successfully, it will be sent to the embassy for processing. Even though you have physically made the application at the VAC, the processing is totally under the control of the embassy only. The VAC has no influence whatsoever in this. If your visa is approved, you can collect it directly from the VAC, or have them deliver it to you for an extra delivery charge. 

You can perform the Norway tourist visa status tracking by visiting https://www.vfsvisaonline.com/Global-Passporttracking/Track and entering your application reference number and date of birth. You can also check your status by contacting your travel agency and have them check it for you. 

While you are on this permit, you must stick to the following points to ensure that you have a pleasant journey. 

• Keep note of the expiry date, duration of stay, as well as the number of entries mentioned on the visa sticker. You must not stay longer than the permitted duration.
• Carry all the travel documents while travelling. You will be denied entry into Norway without this. 
• Ensure that you travel to Norway within 6 months of the visa issue date, or as mentioned. After this date, your permit will become invalid and you will not be able to enter the country. 
• While you are travelling within the country, always carry a copy of your travel documents with you. 
• While you are on a tourist permit, you cannot take part in paid work for a Norwegian establishment. 
• You will not be able to extend the tourist visa under normal conditions
• You can move freely within the Schengen zone. And depending on your entry type, you may enter or exit the Schengen as permitted.