Visitor's visa
A visitor's visa allows you to stay in Norway or other countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days over a period of 180 days.
Citizens of China must apply for a visitor’s visa. Applicants, with a passport from Mongolia or China must apply for a visa. Applicants, with a passport from South Korea or Japan do not need a visitors visa.
Please note that only applications where Norway is the main destination of the travel may be submitted at the VFS Global Visa Application Centers. In order to apply for a visa you must either be a citizen of the country you apply from or legally reside there. Applicants who are not nationals or residents of any of the countries we are responsible for, must document that they are legally in the country where they apply from and must provide justification for lodging the application to the responsible embassy.
It is not necessary to register a new application in the application portal if a mistake is discovered in the first registration. Just correct it on the printed form and inform VFS when you submit the documents, and the Visa Section will update the information during the registration process.
If the information or documentation you have submitted changes before a decision has been made, you can send the updated information/documentation to the Visa Section to be included in your application.
If the plans change after the decision has been made, it is necessary to apply again with the new documentation to change the visa.
Visas are issued with a 15 days period of grace, which makes it possible to postpone the visit up to 2 weeks and still travel the same number of days, without applying for a new visa, but it is not possible to stay more than the number of days mentioned in the visa sticker without applying with new documentation for the prolonged visit.
A Schengen visa is generally issued for a single entry.
- If you plan to travel outside the Schengen area and return within the period of the visa, the box for “Two entries” or “Multiple entries” must be ticked off in the visa application form.
- You should also document why two or more entries are required. We will then assess if there is a genuine need for a multiple entry visa.
- If only one entry is required, and this is your first trip to Norway and/or the Schengen area, we encourage you to apply for a "single entry" visa.
Multiple entry visas with a validity from 1 to 5 years
- Frequent travellers with a positive visa history can be granted multiple-entry visa with a gradually increasing validity period from 1 year to a maximum of 5 years.
- Your fulfilment of entry conditions will be thoroughly and repeatedly verified in all cases, and only persons with a positive visa track record will be issued multiple-entry visas with a long validity.
- Provided that the applicant fulfils the entry conditions, multiple-entry visas with a long validity shall be issued for the following validity periods, unless the validity of the visa would exceed that of the travel document:
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- for a validity period of one year, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used three visas within the previous two years;
- for a validity period of two years, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used a previous multiple-entry visa valid for one year within the previous two years;
- for a validity period of five years, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used a previous multiple-entry visa valid for two years within the previous three years.
- Multiple-entry visas allow the holder to travel repeatedly to the Schengen area during the period of validity of the visa.
- Even with a multiple-entry visa with a validity from 1 to 5 years, the applicant cannot stay in the Schengen area more than 90 days within any 180 day period.
When you are going to visit Norway, you must show that you have enough money to finance your stay here and for the return journey.
You must document that you have at least NOK 500 per day during your stay in Norway and the Schengen area. If you do not have enough money yourself, you must have a financial guarantee from the person you are visiting. In this connection, the person you will be visiting will have to provide a sponsorship form.
For more information, please visit the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration website.
If you want someone to act on your behalf in connection with your application, you must authorise this person to do so. Please visit the UDI website for more information and the relevant form.
If you give a person Power of Attorney, all communication regarding your application will go to him/her and not to you, the applicant.
Before you apply
- You should apply well in advance and as a rule no later than 15 days before you plan to travel. Due to the courier sending of documents in some countries, we recommend that you apply at least 4 weeks prior to your planned departure.
- You may submit your application up to six months before your planned departure, or up to nine months for seafarers.
- We recommend that you do not buy your ticket until a visa has been granted.
- You must register your application online before you can hand in the required documentation.
- When you hand in your application, you will be asked to provide fingerprints, unless your fingerprints have been collected within the last 59 months.
- Travel to Svalbard requires you to apply for two or more entries.
You can only visit Schengen for 90 days during any period of 180 days.
You can check how many days you may stay in Schengen by using this Schengen visa calculator and entering your entry and exit dates during the last 6 months.
Parents who wish to visit their children for more than 90 days can consider the 9 months permit for parents instead of a Schengen visa.
Norway works with a global visa service provider called VFS Global. All applicants are normally required to appear in person to provide their fingerprints and have their photo taken. This biometric data is mandatory for processing your application. VFS Global collects and checks all visa applications before sending them, along with your documents and ID, to the responsible Norwegian embassy.
Norway has some embassies that are responsible for more than one country. This means one embassy may handle visa applications from several countries. When the embassy gets your application, their staff will look at it. They might approve it right away, or ask you for more information. This could include fingerprints, a DNA sample, an interview, or other details. If more information is needed to complete your applications, you will receive a request from either the embassy or VFS to continue the process.
When the embassy finishes your applications—whether your visa is approved or not—they send the result back to the same VFS office where you applied.
A Schengen visa is generally issued for a single entry.
- If you plan to travel outside the Schengen area and return within the period of the visa, the box for “Two entries” or “Multiple entries” must be ticked off in the visa application form.
- You should also document why two or more entries are required. We will then assess if there is a genuine need for a multiple entry visa.
- If only one entry is required, and this is your first trip to Norway and/or the Schengen area, we encourage you to apply for a "single entry" visa.
Multiple entry visas with a validity from 1 to 5 years
- Frequent travellers with a positive visa history can be granted multiple-entry visa with a gradually increasing validity period from 1 year to a maximum of 5 years.
- Your fulfilment of entry conditions will be thoroughly and repeatedly verified in all cases, and only persons with a positive visa track record will be issued multiple-entry visas with a long validity.
- Provided that the applicant fulfils the entry conditions, multiple-entry visas with a long validity shall be issued for the following validity periods, unless the validity of the visa would exceed that of the travel document:
-
- for a validity period of one year, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used three visas within the previous two years;
- for a validity period of two years, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used a previous multiple-entry visa valid for one year within the previous two years;
- for a validity period of five years, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used a previous multiple-entry visa valid for two years within the previous three years.
- Multiple-entry visas allow the holder to travel repeatedly to the Schengen area during the period of validity of the visa.
- Even with a multiple-entry visa with a validity from 1 to 5 years, the applicant cannot stay in the Schengen area more than 90 days within any 180 day period.
All questions regarding your application must be directed towards the VFS GLOBAL office where you applied. You should only direct your questions toward the responsible embassy if VFS requests it, or if they cannot answer your question.
Gather the necessary documentation
The checklist gives an overview of the documents you need to hand in to start the application process.
Please follow the links below, read the information carefully and make sure you have all the documents you are going to submit before coming to the Visa Application Centre.
Visa applicants must ensure that certain documents, according to the relevant checklist are in English or Norwegian. Applicants who do not submit translated documents will risk longer processing time or a rejection of the application. Missing documents may delay the application process. Bring all the documents to your appointment with VFS.
Family members of EU/EEA nationals may be entitled to an accelerated visa procedure free of charge if you meet the following criteria:
- You are a family member of an European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) citizen;
- and that EU/EEA citizen is travelling to or is residing in a member state other than that of which he/she is a citizen;
- and you are accompanying the EU/EEA citizen or planning to join him/her in the Schengen State of destination.
- If you think you are entitled to an accelerated visa procedure you will need to show proof that you meet these criteria when you submit your visa application. For more information, please click here.
- Family members of EU citizens can submit their short-term Schengen visa application directly at the Embassy, after making an appointment. you can also submitt your visa application at a VFS application centre.
A Schengen visa is generally issued for a single entry.
- If you plan to travel outside the Schengen area and return within the period of the visa, the box for “Two entries” or “Multiple entries” must be ticked off in the visa application form.
- You should also document why two or more entries are required. We will then assess if there is a genuine need for a multiple entry visa.
- If only one entry is required, and this is your first trip to Norway and/or the Schengen area, we encourage you to apply for a "single entry" visa.
Multiple entry visas with a validity from 1 to 5 years
- Frequent travellers with a positive visa history can be granted multiple-entry visa with a gradually increasing validity period from 1 year to a maximum of 5 years.
- Your fulfilment of entry conditions will be thoroughly and repeatedly verified in all cases, and only persons with a positive visa track record will be issued multiple-entry visas with a long validity.
- Provided that the applicant fulfils the entry conditions, multiple-entry visas with a long validity shall be issued for the following validity periods, unless the validity of the visa would exceed that of the travel document:
-
- for a validity period of one year, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used three visas within the previous two years;
- for a validity period of two years, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used a previous multiple-entry visa valid for one year within the previous two years;
- for a validity period of five years, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used a previous multiple-entry visa valid for two years within the previous three years.
- Multiple-entry visas allow the holder to travel repeatedly to the Schengen area during the period of validity of the visa.
- Even with a multiple-entry visa with a validity from 1 to 5 years, the applicant cannot stay in the Schengen area more than 90 days within any 180 day period.
If you want someone to act on your behalf in connection with your application, you must authorise this person to do so. Please visit the UDI website for more information and the relevant form.
If you give a person Power of Attorney, all communication regarding your application will go to him/her and not to you, the applicant.
When you are going to visit Norway, you must show that you have enough money to finance your stay here and for the return journey.
You must document that you have at least NOK 500 per day during your stay in Norway and the Schengen area. If you do not have enough money yourself, you must have a financial guarantee from the person you are visiting. In this connection, the person you will be visiting will have to provide a sponsorship form.
For more information, please visit the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration website.
Online registration and payment
Before you can hand in your passport and other documentation, you must register your application online and pay the fee. If this is the first time you are registering an application in the portal, you will need to create a user account first.
Once you have completed the application form online and paid the fee, you will receive confirmation by email with a copy of your application form (schengen.pdf), application summary and payment receipt attached. You need to print the application form (schengen.pdf) and submit it together with the other required documentation
Application fee
The visa fee is EUR 90. Children under six years do not pay a fee. Children from the age of six years and below the age of 12 years shall pay a visa fee of EUR 45. Please visit the UDI website for information about other groups exempted from the visa fee.
Please note that you pay the fee when registering the application in the portal. Applicants exempted from the visa fee requirement will have the fee refunded.
If you are a applying for a visa as a family member to an EU/EEA citizen you are not required to pay the application fee.
Please be aware that applications are received by the external service provider VFS Global, which charges an additional service fee.
Refund of the application fee
Refunds are only possible before the application has been submitted to VFS.
Requests for a refund should be directed to the Embassy in Beijing with a copy of the receipt from the application portal.
The Embassy in Beijing can only refund fees that have been paid to the Embassy. If the fee was paid to another mission or to the police in Norway, the applicant needs to ask that office for the refund.
Hand in your documents
You must bring with you:
- a printout of the application form (schengen.pdf) received by email;
- the checklist and the documents listed.
- Your passport (must be valid for at least three months after your planned departure from the Schengen area)
- Photograph (must comply with international standards)
- Your travel health insurance policy
- You should be covered for at least EUR 30 000, including expenses in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, treatment in medical emergencies and/or emergency hospital treatment, and death
- Your insurance should be valid in all Schengen countries
- It should cover the whole of your planned stay in the Schengen area
- It should as a rule be purchased in your home country. If this is not possible it may be purchased in another country.
The application process will start once all the required documents have been submitted.
- List of application centers in Mainland China
- Application center in Hong Kong for Schengen visa applications
- Application center in Hong Kong for residence permits
- Application center in Japan
- Application center in Korea (Republic) - including residence permits for Denmark
- Website of the Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang
Applicants with passports that do not require a visa to travel to Schengen, will get their passport returned immediately after the Embassy has registered the application.
If a visa is required, the Embassy will keep the passport until the application has been processed.
Applicants may request that the passport be returned during the processing, but in such cases, the applicant must pay both a courier fee to return the passport to the Embassy in Beijing when a visa is to be issued and a courier fee back to the applicant.
Applicants in need of a visa who know at the time of submission that they need the passport back sooner than the visa or residence permit processing time, should notify VFS staff about the date they need their passport back.
Applicants who did not inform VFS about the early return of their passport, should send an e-mail to the visa section to get the passport returned before the processing is finalized.
To find out where the passport is, please use the VFS tracking
Previously a stamp was placed in passports at the time of accepting the application as admissible. This stamp is no longer in use and does not have any legal implications.
When applying for a visa, you need travel insurance.
The travel medical insurance must cover the days of your intended stay in the Schengen area. Failure to hold an insurance that covers the actual stay may lead to problems at the airport or entering the Schengen area. The travel medical insurance must meet the following criteria:
- valid throughout the Schengen area;
- valid during the entire period that you will be in the Schengen area;
- the coverage is at least Euro 30 000,-;
The coverage includes repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical care and/or emergency treatment in a hospital and assistance in case of death.
All questions regarding your application must be directed towards the VFS GLOBAL office where you applied. You should only direct your questions toward the responsible embassy if VFS requests it, or if they cannot answer your question.
If you want someone to act on your behalf in connection with your application, you must authorise this person to do so. Please visit the UDI website for more information and the relevant form.
If you give a person Power of Attorney, all communication regarding your application will go to him/her and not to you, the applicant.
A Schengen visa is generally issued for a single entry.
- If you plan to travel outside the Schengen area and return within the period of the visa, the box for “Two entries” or “Multiple entries” must be ticked off in the visa application form.
- You should also document why two or more entries are required. We will then assess if there is a genuine need for a multiple entry visa.
- If only one entry is required, and this is your first trip to Norway and/or the Schengen area, we encourage you to apply for a "single entry" visa.
Multiple entry visas with a validity from 1 to 5 years
- Frequent travellers with a positive visa history can be granted multiple-entry visa with a gradually increasing validity period from 1 year to a maximum of 5 years.
- Your fulfilment of entry conditions will be thoroughly and repeatedly verified in all cases, and only persons with a positive visa track record will be issued multiple-entry visas with a long validity.
- Provided that the applicant fulfils the entry conditions, multiple-entry visas with a long validity shall be issued for the following validity periods, unless the validity of the visa would exceed that of the travel document:
-
- for a validity period of one year, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used three visas within the previous two years;
- for a validity period of two years, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used a previous multiple-entry visa valid for one year within the previous two years;
- for a validity period of five years, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used a previous multiple-entry visa valid for two years within the previous three years.
- Multiple-entry visas allow the holder to travel repeatedly to the Schengen area during the period of validity of the visa.
- Even with a multiple-entry visa with a validity from 1 to 5 years, the applicant cannot stay in the Schengen area more than 90 days within any 180 day period.
When you are going to visit Norway, you must show that you have enough money to finance your stay here and for the return journey.
You must document that you have at least NOK 500 per day during your stay in Norway and the Schengen area. If you do not have enough money yourself, you must have a financial guarantee from the person you are visiting. In this connection, the person you will be visiting will have to provide a sponsorship form.
For more information, please visit the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration website.
Waiting Time
The processing time for applications is normally up to 15 calendar days after the embassy or consulate has received the application. In some cases, applications are sent to the Directorate of Immigration (UDI), and the processing time in these cases may be up to 45 calendar days.
Please remember that the courier time to and from the Embassy may be between 1 and 5 days in each direction.
For urgent cases, inform VFS of this at the time of submission and provide documentation why the case is urgent and the Embassy will take this into consideration when processing the case.
Applicants who are citizens of the following countries are subject to a week long prior consultation with other Schengen states before a visa can be issued.
We strongly recommend that applications are submitted to VFS at least 4 weeks prior to departure in order for the Embassy to be able to process the case in time for the intended departure.
We also recommend submitting all required documentation, as missing documentation and needs for clarification will lead to delays in the processing.
Genuinely urgent cases will be handled urgently, but tourist applications are not considered as urgent. Tourist applicants are advised to apply well in advance and should not pay for any bookings before a visa has been approved.
Where is my passport?
You can track your case through the VFS tracking system
The result of your application
If the applicants choose to pay for cargo, VFS will send the passport by cargo to the applicant address.
If you have been granted a visa, a sticker will be placed in your passport. Please check the duration of stay specified on the sticker. The duration of stay indicates how many days you are allowed to stay in the Schengen area. When you are granted a single-entry visa, an extra 15 (45) days will be added to the visa period.
If your application has been rejected, you will receive a written explanation as to why it was rejected. You can appeal the decision.
On arrival
When you cross the border into the Schengen area, you will have to present:
- your passport with the visa sticker
- proof that you have enough money to support yourself during your stay (e.g. cash or a credit card). If you have a guarantee form, you should also bring a copy of this with you.
- documentation showing the purpose of your visit, such as an invitation, hotel reservation, etc.
- a return or round trip ticket if you are visiting the Schengen area for tourist purposes or private reasons
You may be asked to provide fingerprints by the border control officer, in which case these will be compared with the fingerprints provided when you applied for your visa.
As long as your visa is valid, you can travel around freely in the Schengen area, or in the specific Schengen countries covered by the visa. If you leave the Schengen area, for example to visit the UK or Svalbard, you will need a multiple entry visa.
Be aware that even if you have been granted a visa, the border control officer may refuse you entry into Schengen if you at the time of travelling no longer fulfil the conditions for having a visa, for example having a visa issued by a member state that is not your main destination.
As stated above, you should apply for a Schengen visa to the country that is your main destination.
If you are travelling only to Norway, Norway is responsible for your application.
If you are travelling to several Member States, the country that is the main destination either because of the purpose or because of the length is the responsible for your application. Purpose is more important than length.
Business travel and visits to family are more important purposes than visits to friends or a tourist visit, so the Member State where either business or family/friend visit takes place is responsible.
If you are travelling to several Member States for the same purpose, then the length of each visit decides which country is responsible.
If you are travelling for the same purpose and the same number of days in each Member State, the country where you go through passport control to enter Schengen is responsible for the application – and this can be a completely different country that the ones you are visiting, for example if you fly with Lufthansa, you always enter Schengen through Germany etc.
Norway is only responsible for processing visa applications from applicants going mainly to Norway or a country that Norway is representing in the country where you reside.
According to Visa Code article 34 2nd paragraph a visa shall be revoked where it becomes evident that the conditions for issuing it are no longer met.
In addition to creating doubts about the application, wilfully or through gross negligence providing materially false or manifestly misleading information in a case could lead to expulsion from all of Schengen.
Remember to bring with you relevant documents to show at the passport control:
- Proof of accommodation
- A valid travel medical insurance for your whole stay in Schengen
Your return ticket should be within the period of validity of your visa