Visitor’s visa and residence permit

Please be aware that some nationals are required to be in possession of an Airport Transit Visa (ATV) when passing through the international transit area of Oslo airport. Starting 15^th of December 2019, Syrian nationals will be required to obtain a transit visa for transits/layovers at Oslo airport (OSL Gardermoen).

If you are arriving at Oslo airport from a non-Schengen country and travelling onward to a non-Schengen country, you may stay within the premises of the transit area at the airport. Most travelers will in this case not need a visa, as they will not cross the external Schengen border. However, some nationals are required to be in possession of an airport transit visa (ATV). This applies to nationals of the following countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Turkey and from 15^th December 2019 also nationals of Syria.

How to apply for a transit visa:

Apply for a normal Schengen visitor’s visa and hand in documentation of your tickets, the purpose of your stay in your final destination and visa or residence permit in your final destination country or next transit country.

Airport transit visa or Schengen visa?

Travelers who arrive at Oslo airport for transit only, have to be aware that the transit area at the airport is closed between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. If your arrival and the time of departure of your connecting flight makes it necessary to stay at the airport between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., you cannot use the transit area as it is closed during this time. Instead, all travelers will be required to go through the border control in order to stay at the airport’s non-transit area or a nearby hotel. This means that nationals who must be in possession of a visa when crossing the external Schengen border according to Annex 1 of the Visa Handbook, will need a Schengen visa even if they are only transiting Schengen in Norway. This will also apply to persons of those nationalities as listed in Annex 1 and who need to collect and check in their luggage at the airport during layover (i.e. when using different airlines), as you will need to go through the border control.

Starting 2nd February 2020, the Regulation (EU) 2019/1155 amending the current Community Visa Code will enter into force.
The visa reform aims to facilitate travel for legitimate travellers whilst maintaining security standards and reducing irregular migration risks.

What is new?

• Flexible procedures: As of 2nd February 2020 travellers will be able to submit their visa applications up to 6 months ahead of the scheduled departure date (instead of the previous 3 months), however no later than 15 days before the travel. Seafarers can apply up to 9 months in advance.

• Facilitating for frequent travellers: The new visa rules introduce a harmonized approach to the issuing of multiple entry visas to regular travellers with a positive visa history for a period, which increases gradually from 1 to 5 years.

• Increased fees: To better cover the costs of visa processing, the visa fees will be increased from EUR 60 to EUR 80. For children between 6 and 12 years old, the visa fee will be increased from EUR 35 to EUR 40.

• Efficient processing: Visa applications shall be decided on within 15 calendar days after the embassy or consulate has received the application. The decision period may be extended to 45 days in individual cases and when further scrutiny of the application is needed.