Visitor’s visa and residence permit

A visitor's visa allows you to stay in Norway or other Schengen countries for up to 90 days over a period of 180 days. A residence permit gives you the opportunity to work in Norway and to stay for more than 90 days.

Update regarding the "10-year rule":

To enter Norway, your UK passport must:

- have been issued less than 10 years before the date you enter Norway
- be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave

Citizens of UK (holding a UK passport) do not need a visitor's visa but if you plan to stay longer than 90 days, you must apply for a residence permit.

Non-UK citizens holding UK travel documents (blue or black) must apply for a visitor’s visa to Norway.

All applications must be handed in at an VFS application centers in the United Kingdom, either at VFS London or VFS Edinburgh. From the 01.01.2024 all applicants need to book an appointmont with the VFS center. Any errors in the VFS booking portal must be addressed directly to VFS.

Please note that it is not possible to hand in your application directly at the embassy or via postal services.

Emergency travel

If you have an urgent need to travel due to strong welfare considerations, i.e. death in the family or serious illness, or you need to travel to Norway for an important event that cannot be rescheduled, please contact us in writing at emb.london.visa@mfa.no and explain and document your situation. Ordinary leisure travel will not be considered an emergency regardless of prebooked tickets for travel.

Please note that it is not possible to hand in your application directly at the embassy or via postal services.

Do you need your passport during the processing time?

All applicants must submit their passport when handing in their application. If you need your passport during the processing time, the Embassy can return your passport once the necessary document controls has been done. To request your passport send an email to the embassy at emb.london.visa@mfa.no. Please note that this may prolong your processing time, and that you will be required to re-submit your passport if you are granted a permit or a visa, and are required to have a visa to enter Norway.

Svalbard

Requirements for multiple-entry visa for visits to Svalbard

It is important that you apply for 2 or more entries when applying for your visa. This is required because Svalbard is not part of the Schengen area even though Svalbard is part of Norway. If you require a visa to enter the Schengen area, you must also have a visa to return to Norway / the Schengen area when your visit to Svalbard comes to an end.

Requirements for residence on Svalbard

You do not need a separate residence permit or visa to be allowed to stay on Svalbard. However, there are certain requirements you must satisfy to be able for residence there. You will find information about the regulations for residence on Svalbard on the Governor of Svalbard's website (external website, opens in new window).

Source: Svalbard - Visa and residence requirements - UDI

Schengen visitor visa information leaflet

Visitor's visa

Holidays, visits to family and friends, business

Residence permit

Work, studies, au pair, family immigration