Norway

New visa rules for the Schengen area

A new joint set of rules for the processing of visa applications in the Schengen countries will entail new application forms and a time guarantee for visa applicants to Norway. 

”Community Code on Visas” is the EU regulation that will become effective as from 5 April 2010, and its Norwegian designation will be ”visumforordningen”. It contains rules for the processing of applications and requirements for obtaining a visa, and entails that the Schengen countries will pursue the ongoing process towards a joint visa policy.

New form


For visa applicants to Norway, the Community Code on Visas will involve some changes:

·         new application forms common for all Schengen countries as a rule, you will be notified about the outcome of your application within 15 days from submission at a Foreign Service Mission. It is a precondition that the application is correctly completed and contains all required documentation.

Although the Foreign Service Missions process more than 95 per cent of all visa applications to Norway, some cases are submitted to the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). As a rule, processing time for these cases is 30 days.

Valid application forms will be available on the visa web pages of udi.no when the agreement becomes effective. Please note that the earliest visa application date is three months prior to the commencement of the intended stay.

A more uniform practice


The Community Code on Visas replaces the Common Consular Instructions on Visas and covers the processing of applications where the purpose is transit or stays for less than three months during a six-month period.

The main objectives of these amendments are to:

·         employ the same assessment criteria for the applications, regardless of which Schengen country the application is submitted to establish joint standards for the service to be provided, e.g. that as a rule, decisions will be made within 15 days  instruct all Schengen countries to state the reason(s) for their rejection(s) and give the applicant the opportunity to appeal the decision

·         clarify which Schengen country is responsible for handling the visa application

To ensure a generally uniform practice from country to country, a reference book / manual has been prepared, describing the processing of applications.

Looking for more information?

The Community Code on Visas in all EU languages

The EU press release regarding the Community Code on Visas 

Source: Norwegian Immigration Directorate (UDI)