The Nordic country of AMERICAN VISA FOR NORWEGIAN CITIZENS, officially known as the Kingdom of Norway, is located in Northwestern Europe. Its core territories compromise of:
- the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula
- the island of Jan Mayen
- the archipelago of Svalbard
- Queen Maud Land in Antarctica
Norway has an area of 385,252 in the continent of Europe and a population of 5,434,319. It is known for its fairytale fjords, coastline, skiing, and as the land of the midnight sun (along with the other Nordic countries). The country has the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund and has the fourth-highest per capita income in the world according to World Bank.
It is a member of the European Free Trade Association, the Council of Europe, the European Economic Area, as well as of the Schengen Zone. Norway started the implementation of the Schengen agreement on 25 March 2001. Since then, travelers can apply for a Norwegian Schengen Visa.
As per 2017, Norway has issued a total of 182,062 uniform Schengen visas from 196,082 visa applications received at Norwegian consulates and embassies around the world. The visa rejection rate was 5.7%.
Norway Entry Requirements
If you are an EU/EEA national traveling to AMERICAN VISA FOR JAPANESE CITIZENS, all you need to enter the country is an identification document or passport.
Whereas, if you are a non-EU/EEA national wishing to visit Norway, you will need to present the following, when you show up at the Norwegian port of entry:
- A valid passport or travel document. Valid for at least three more months beyond your planned date of exit from Schengen, and issued within the last 10 years.
- A visa – if you are subject to Norwegian visa regime.
- 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 round trip ticket – if you are visiting the Schengen area for tourist purposes or private reasons.
Aside of these documents, the Norwegian border officer may ask you a few questions related to your trip to Norway, as:
- What is your purpose of visiting Norway?
- How long do you intend to stay in Norway?
- Where are you going to stay in Norway? Etc.
The Norwegian border police holds the final decision if you shall be permitted to enter Norway or not. If you are permitted to enter Norway, make sure that the Norwegian border officer stamps your passport when you enter. Without a stamp, you could be fined or detained from Norway.
Who Needs a Schengen Visa to Enter Norway?
All nationals of EU / EEA member states can enter Norway and travel the whole Schengen Area without a visa. Still, there are some categories of third-country nationals who need to obtain a visa prior to their trip to Norway.
You will need a short-stay visa to enter Norway and any other member country of the Schengen zone, if:
- You are a citizen of a developing nation with which the Schengen member states have not yet concluded a visa liberalization agreement.
- You are the national of a third-world country that has signed a visa liberalization agreement with the Schengen states, but you were previously rejected from entering Norway or any other Schengen country.
What Documents Are Required for a Norway Schengen Visa Application?
In order to prove to the Norwegian Embassy/Consulate that you fulfill the criteria to be permitted to enter Norway, you will have to submit some required documents for a Norwegian short-stay visa.
The statutory Norway visa requirements are as follows:
- Norwegian visa application form. Fulfill the form with your computer, print it and the sign it at the end.
- Two passport photos. The photos should be identical and comply with the photo requirements for Norwegian Schengen visa application.
- Your valid passport. Make sure your passport is not older than 10 years, and that it has a validity of at least three more months beyond the date you plan to leave Norway and the whole territory of Schengen.
- Copies of your previous visas (if applicable). If you have ever held a visa to Norway, the Schengen territory or another country in the world, provide the embassy/consulate with copies of those visas.
- Norway Travel Health Insurance. Purchase travel health insurance valid for the territory of Norway and all of the other Schengen countries. Provide a document that confirms your insurance covers medical emergencies in this zone with a minimum coverage of 30,000€.
- Round-trip Flight Itinerary. A document that shows you have a booked flight, to enter and leave Norway. This document should specify flight numbers, dates, and your details. Learn how to make flight itinerary for visa application!
- Proof of accommodation. I.e. a hotel reservation. Learn how to get hotel reservation for visa application!
- Proof of sufficient financial means for the period of stay in Norway. You will need to prove to the Norwegian embassy/consulate in your country of residence that you own a minimum of around €53.34. However, this number is not officially fixed and typically the amount is decided on a case-by-case basis.
- Proof of civil status. This could be a marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, death certificate of spouse, etc.
- A cover letter. A personal letter in which you explain why you are applying to visit Norway, how long you plan to stay, when will you leave and other details.