Norway is a picturesque country, famous for its giant glaciers , winding fjords and northern lights. Despite the harsh climate and polar night, it does not cease to be popular with tourists from all over the world. In the meantime, the question of whether a visa is needed for Norway is still relevant for Russians, and what measures must be taken to obtain it.
General rules for obtaining a Norwegian visa
First of all tourists from the CIS are interested in whether it is possible to call a visa to Norway a Schengen or not. Yes, this is so: the country is a member of the Schengen community, so to get the document it is enough to apply to one of the Norwegian Visa Centers. When applying to the Norwegian Consulate in Moscow, the following documents must be present:
- passport, valid for not less than 3 months;
- medical insurance;
- receipts for payment of the visa fee ($ 37);
- receipts for payment of service charge;
- evidence of fingerprinting.
As for the requirements for a photo for a visa to Norway, it should be done on a light background and have a format of 3x4 cm. Later on these photos are glued directly to the visa application forms. The procedure for obtaining a visa to Norway is quite simple and does not require long idle time in queues. The document is prepared no longer than 3 days.
Types of Norwegian Visas
The list of documents for obtaining permission to enter this European country may vary depending on the purpose of the trip. Therefore, before you start to collect a suitcase, the tourist should decide on what kind of visa to Norway he needs. At the moment, Russian citizens can apply for the following types of Norwegian visas:
- Tourist. To obtain a tourist visa, in addition to the main list of documents, you must provide a copy of the return ticket and a certificate of registration at the hotel or camping. Tourists traveling by car must attach car insurance.
- Guest. Citizens, whose relatives or friends live in Norway, are interested in the question of which documents are needed for visa issuance at the invitation. To this end, the applicant, that is, the inviting party, must, among other things, write an invitation letter, as well as provide a financial guarantee form. Sometimes original documents are required. A guest visa to Norway is issued for no more than 90 days. Terms are stipulated in the letter-invitation.
- Student. Accessibility and high quality of education have led to the fact that student visas are now very popular in Norway. The main advantage is that it is possible to enroll in a local university immediately after receiving a school certificate. Some applicants manage to get a grant, and later a diploma, which is accepted in all European countries. But before you get a visa, the future student needs to enter the university and present a financial guarantee.
- The Pomeranian. Applicants registered in the Murmansk or Arkhangelsk region can obtain a Pomor visa to Norway. In this case, the presence of an invitation is optional. It is enough to apply to the Norwegian Consulate General in Murmansk, pay a special fee and receive a document. In the first case, the visa will be valid for a year, with repeated treatment - 2 years and so on. The maximum period of validity of the Pomor visa is 5 years. By the way, it can also be obtained from the Honorary Consulate of Norway in Arkhangelsk.
- Bride's visa. Many women in search of happiness find the groom in this far northern country. But to get the so-called bride visa, young people must live together in Norway for at least 6 months. In addition to the basic documents, the future husband must present a certificate from the employer and a report on the earned pay.
- Working. Another document that allows entry into Norwegian territory is a business visa. It is issued to those specialists whose arrival the Norwegian company or enterprise is interested in. A working visa to Norway for Ukrainians or citizens of other countries of the post-Soviet space is issued only after the inviting party takes all the related costs.
The procedure for issuing a Norwegian visa for citizens of other CIS countries
Currently, not all CIS countries have Norwegian consulates or embassies. For example, in order to issue a Norwegian visa in Minsk, you need to go to the embassy of France. It should be remembered that the order of delivery and processing of documents is carried out in accordance with the rules of the French consulate. The procedure for obtaining a visa to Norway for Belarusians is carried out in accordance with the Schengen Agreement. This means that a citizen must pass fingerprints and produce the following documents:
- a copy of the passport valid for at least 10 years;
- two recent photos 3,5х4,5 cm on a light background;
- financial guarantee;
- medical insurance;
- certificate of earned payment.
The same documents are required for citizens of Kazakhstan wishing to obtain a visa to Norway. At present, the issuance of Schengen visas to Kazakhs by the Norwegian embassy is stopped. You can get a visa to Norway at the Lithuanian Embassy in Kazakhstan, which is located in Astana.
Schengen visa allows you to freely move around all countries in Europe. That is why the answer to the question is so important for Ukrainians whether they need a visa to Norway. Yes, I do. With it you can cross not only the Norwegian border, but also visit neighboring states - Finland, Sweden or Denmark . To obtain a visa, Schengen should contact the Norwegian Embassy in Ukraine, located in Kiev. In this case, you need to show a standard package of documents, as well as European insurance and confirmation of financial security.
Addresses of Norwegian diplomatic missions in Russia
Unlike citizens of Kazakhstan and Belarus, Russians do not have problems with registration of Norwegian visas. To do this, you need to apply to the Norwegian Consulate, located in Moscow at: Povarskaya Street, Building No. 7. Near to it there is a metro station "Arbatskaya", and also a stop to which it is possible to reach trolleybuses №№ 2 and 44.
If the applicant is in St. Petersburg, he can apply to the Consulate General of Norway, located on Ligovsky Prospekt. It should be remembered that the reception is conducted from 09:30 to 12:30 and before you get on it, you need to sign up.
Residents of the Nenets Autonomous District may obtain permission from the Norwegian Embassy in Murmansk. The local visa department is open on Tuesdays and Fridays. Only those citizens who have previously registered their application form on the visa portal are allowed to attend.
In addition to the consulates and embassies located in the above-mentioned cities, there are more than twenty visa centers in Russia. They also accept documents for a Norwegian visa.
Tourists, faced with any unpleasant situation on the Norwegian territory, should contact the Russian Embassy in Norway. It has been operating since 1946 and is located at Drammensweyen, 74, Oslo. In addition to the embassy, the Norwegian city of Kirkenes has a Russian consulate in Norway. This can be used not only by Russians, but also by Norwegians who wish to obtain a Russian visa.