Residence permit

Citizens of the Republic of Korea need a residence permit in order to work or to take up residence for longer than 90 days.

For nationals of other countries:

Nationals of EU/EEA countries do not need a residence permit to stay or work in Norway. However, all nationals of EU/EEA countries who want to stay for longer than three months must register with the police.
Nationals of non-EU/EEA countries who want to work in Norway or to stay for longer than 90 days need a residence permit.

The Directorate of Immigration (UDI) normally processes applications for a residence permit.

The responsibility for receiving applications for residence permits is outsourced to VFS Global. All applications are to be submitted to VFS Global: http://www.vfsglobal.com/norway/southkorea/

Applications for residence permit to Denmark can also be submitted to the VFS Norway application center in Seoul. The applications are processed by the Danish Immigration Service.

Once completed, VFS Global will send the applications by courier mail to the Norwegian Embassy in Beijing for further examination.

Before you apply

Find out what type of residence permit you need, e.g. in connection with work, studies, family immigration or to stay in Norway as an au pair. You will find information on the different types of residence permit on UDI’s website.

In order to apply for a residence permit from the Republic of Korea you must either be a citizen of the Republic of Korea or have a residence permit in the Republic of Korea. You must have had the residence permit for at least six months before you apply for the Schengen residence permit.

Gather the necessary documentation

Online registration and payment

Before you can hand in your passport and other documentation at a VFS application centre or a Norwegian diplomatic or consular mission, 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 summary, a signature letter (cover letter) and payment receipt attached. You need to print the signature letter, sign it, and submit it together with the other required documentation.

Go to online application

Once you have registered, you will receive confirmation by email, with a cover letter attached. The cover letter will confirm that you have filled in the application form and paid the fee. You need to print this letter and submit it together with the other required documentation.

Application fees

In the Republic of Korea applications are received by VFS Global, which charge a service fee. Please note that an additional courier fee will also be added.

For further information, please refer to their website.

Handing in the documents

You must bring your passport and all the documents listed in the checklist with you. You will find the relevant checklist when you register your application online. You can also find it on www.udi.no/en (checklists).

We will contact you if we need more information.

Norway Visa Application Centre, 5 Floor, Danam Building, Sowol Ro 10, Jung Gu, Seoul (100 704).

Call Centre: 070 4044 0599 (+82 07 4044 0599).

Email inquiry: info.norkr@vfshelpline.com

http://www.vfsglobal.com/norway/southkorea/

You need to book an appointment. You can book by phone -
070 4044 0599 (+82 07 4044 0599), or through email:
info.norkr@vfshelpline.com

Processing time

Result

You will be notified by email when your application has been processed.

The result can be picked up at the VFS Norway application center in Seoul.

If your application has been granted, you will be informed of when you can travel to Norway.

If your application has been rejected, you will receive a written explanation as to why it was rejected. You may appeal the decision. The appeal must be forwarded to the Directorate of Immigration by uploading the documents on their website. Alternatively, the appeal can be submitted to the Embassy in Beijing by e-mail or letter/courier.

See here for more information about the appeal process and processing times

On arrival

When you cross the border into the Schengen area, you will have to present:

your passport with the entry visa sticker (if you need an entry visa)
documentation showing the purpose of your stay

Once you know when you will be arriving in Norway, you need to make an appointment with the police in order to obtain a residence card. You must pre-book this appointment, normally through the Application Portal, and the appointment has to be either during the first seven days you are in Norway, or the first available appointment you can find.

More information on residence cards, including how to book an appointment