Visa field guide · NO
Plan your Norway application
Register and pay in the UDI portal before any embassy or VFS appointmentSee the common routes, understand the hand-offs, then confirm every requirement on the official website.01 / ROUTES
Choose the route that matches your trip
These are starting points—not an eligibility decision. Open the official route before you apply.- ↗Visitor visa (Schengen)
Visits up to 90 days when Norway is the main destination, registered through the UDI Application Portal.
- ↗Residence permit (study or work)
Longer study or employment stays, also registered and tracked through the UDI Application Portal.
02 / JOURNEY
What the application journey usually looks like
The exact order can vary by visa, nationality and application location. “If asked” steps are conditional.- 01Confirm visit or residence route
Both a short visit and a longer study or work stay start in the same UDI Application Portal, just different application types.
- 02Register in the UDI Application Portal
A user account in the portal is required before any registration can begin.
GUIDELENS HELPS HERE - 03Pay online and print Schengen.pdf
After paying online, the portal produces a document called Schengen.pdf that must be printed and signed.
- 04Book a VFS or mission appointment
The signed form, passport and evidence are handed in at a VFS Global centre or Norwegian mission for biometrics.
IF ASKED - 05Submit documents and biometrics
The receiving mission decides most visitor-visa cases directly, usually within about 15 days.
- 06Watch for a possible UDI referral
If the mission is unsure, it forwards the case to UDI itself, which can extend the decision to around 45 days.
03 / BEFORE YOU START
Four things to know before you start
- One portal, two purposes
- The UDI Application Portal (selfservice.udi.no) handles registration and payment for both visitor visas and residence permits.
- A printed cover sheet
- Online registration for a visitor visa produces a Schengen.pdf that must be printed and signed before the appointment.
- UDI referral extends timing
- Missions decide most visits in about 15 days but forward doubtful cases to UDI, adding time up to roughly 45 days.
- Study permits carry work rights
- A granted study permit automatically allows part-time work of up to 20 hours a week, and full-time during holidays.
04 / PRACTICAL GUIDE
Norway visa details that change the workflow
Norway runs both its visitor-visa and residence-permit routes through one online portal, but the in-person step and decision path still depend on the mission and, sometimes, UDI itself.- 01
Everything starts in the UDI Application Portal
Create an account, register the application type and pay the fee online before booking any in-person appointment.
Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) · Visitor's visa to Norway ↗ - 02
Print the Schengen.pdf before your appointment
Once registration and payment are complete, the portal generates a document that must be printed and signed for the VFS or mission appointment.
UDI Application Portal ↗ - 03
A doubtful case goes to UDI, not just the embassy
Most visitor-visa decisions are made by the receiving mission in around 15 days, but cases forwarded to UDI for further assessment can take up to about 45 days.
UDI · Frequently asked questions about visitor visas ↗ - 04
Keep the Schengen rule in view
For a multi-country trip, apply to the country that is the main purpose or longest stay. Use the first country only when stays are equal. The 90 days in any 180-day period are counted across the whole Schengen area.
European Commission · Applying for a Schengen visa ↗
05 / PREPARE
Information worth gathering before you open the form
Not every item applies to every route. Use the official checklist generated for your application.Passport and previous travel-document details
Travel dates, itinerary and accommodation
Travel medical insurance for the Schengen stay
Evidence of funds and the purpose of the trip
Employment, study or sponsor information where relevant
Translations and route-specific documents requested locally
06 / OFFICIAL
Continue with the official authority
You remain responsible for reviewing and submitting your application.