Norway Schengen Visa Requirements for UK Residents: Complete 2026 Guide

Can't find clear information about Norway Schengen visa requirements for UK? You're not alone. The official checklist runs two pages, and buried in the details are critical rules that can get your application rejected at the counter.

This guide breaks down every requirement for UK residents applying for a Norway Schengen visa in 2026—from passport validity to travel insurance specifications—so you can submit a complete application the first time.

Passport Requirements: The 3-Month and 10-Year Rules

Your passport must meet two strict requirements. Miss either one, and VFS Global will refuse to accept your application.

The 3-Month Validity Rule

Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area. This is not your departure date from Norway—it's your final departure from any Schengen country.

Example: If you're leaving Oslo on 15 June but stopping in Amsterdam until 18 June, your passport must be valid until at least 18 September.

The 10-Year Issue Rule

Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years ago on the day you enter Norway. This rule catches UK passport holders who renewed before October 2018.

Before this date, the UK Passport Office added unused months from your old passport to the new one. You might have a passport that expires in 2027 but was technically "issued" in 2014. Norway will reject it.

How to check: Look at the "Date of Issue" on your passport's biodata page. Count 10 years forward from that date. If you're entering Norway after that date, you need a new passport—even if the expiry date hasn't passed.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

• At VFS: They will turn you away at the counter. No refund.

• At the airport: Airlines will deny boarding.

• At Norwegian border: Border police will deny entry and return you to the UK immediately.

Your passport must also contain at least two completely blank pages for visa stamps.

UK Travel Documents: Who Needs a Visa?

Not everyone with UK documents has the same rules.

UK Passport Holders (British Citizens)

You do not need a visa for tourism or business visits under 90 days. This guide is not for you—unless you're staying longer or applying for work/study permits.

The 90/180 rule applies: you can stay a maximum of 90 days in any rolling 180-day period across the entire Schengen area. This is not a calendar period—you must count backwards 180 days from today and check if you've used your 90-day allowance.

UK Travel Document Holders (Non-Citizens)

If you hold any of these documents, you need a Norway Schengen visa:

• Convention Travel Document (Blue): Issued to refugees under the 1951 Convention

• Stateless Person's Travel Document (Red): Issued under the 1954 Convention

• Certificate of Travel (Black): Issued to those refused a passport by their home country

EEA Family Members After Brexit

If you hold a UK-issued "Article 10" or "Article 20" residence card (issued when the UK was in the EU), it is no longer valid for visa-free travel to Norway after 01 January 2021.

You must apply for a Schengen visa. However, if you're traveling with or joining your EU spouse or family member, you qualify for a simplified process with no visa fee.

UK Residence Proof Requirements (2026)

Your UK immigration status must be valid for at least one month beyond your intended departure from the Schengen area.

Example: If you're leaving on 15 August, your immigration status must be valid until at least 15 September.

Acceptable proof of UK residence (2026 requirements):

• Share code (generated within 90 days from UKVI online portal

• eVisa screenshot showing your immigration status details

• Physical BRP cards are NO LONGER accepted as proof of UK immigration status from 2026

VFS will verify your immigration status digitally. Print the share code confirmation page and bring it to your appointment.

Travel Insurance: €30,000 Minimum Coverage

Norway requires travel medical insurance covering the entire Schengen area for your entire stay.

Minimum Coverage Amount

€30,000 (approximately £25,000–£26,000 depending on exchange rate).

What Must Be Covered

Your policy must explicitly state coverage for:

• Emergency medical treatment

• Emergency hospital treatment

• Medical repatriation (transport back to the UK for medical reasons)

• Repatriation of mortal remains (in case of death)

Schengen-Wide Coverage

The insurance must be valid in all Schengen countries, not just Norway. Check your policy document for "Schengen" or "Europe" coverage.

UK residents should purchase insurance from UK providers. Major travel insurance companies (Staysure, Post Office, Aviva) offer Schengen-compliant policies starting around £15–£30 for a 2-week trip.

Special Rule for Svalbard

If you're visiting Svalbard, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC/GHIC) is not valid. Svalbard is outside the EU/EEA health agreements.

You need private insurance that specifically covers Svalbard, including medical evacuation and search and rescue (SAR) coverage. Arctic rescue operations can cost over £50,000.

Financial Proof Requirements

You must prove you can financially support yourself during your stay.

Minimum Guideline: NOK 500 Per Day

The guideline is NOK 500 per day (approximately £36). For a 10-day trip, that's £360 in available funds.

This is not a strict rule. If you've pre-paid accommodation and transport, the embassy may accept less. If you're staying with Norwegian family who provide food and lodging, the requirement is lower.

Acceptable Forms of Financial Proof

Submit all of the following:

1. UK bank statements for the last 3 months showing current balance

2. Credit card statements showing available credit limit

3. Proof of pre-paid bookings (hotel confirmations, flight receipts)

Not acceptable: Cash declarations, traveler's cheques, or cryptocurrency wallets.

If Someone Else Is Paying

If a spouse, parent, or Norwegian sponsor is covering your costs, you need:

• Their bank statements for the last 3 months

• Proof of your relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate)

• A signed letter from them confirming they will support you financially

If sponsored by someone in Norway: They must submit UDI's official "Guarantee Form for Visits" stamped by Norwegian police, plus proof of their income/savings.

Biometric Photo Requirements

VFS is strict about photo specifications. Incorrect photos are a common cause of application rejection.

Size and Format

• 35mm width × 45mm height

• Plain white or very light background

• Taken within the last 6 months

• Head must cover 70–80% of the photo (32–36mm from chin to crown)

ICAO Standards

Photos must comply with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards:

• Neutral expression, mouth closed

• Eyes open, looking directly at the camera

• No smiling, no frowning

• Face fully visible from forehead to chin

Glasses and Head Coverings

• Glasses: Allowed if eyes are clearly visible with no glare. No tinted lenses. Heavy frames discouraged.

• Head coverings: Only allowed for religious reasons. The face (forehead to chin) must remain completely visible.

Most photo booths in Tesco, Boots, or post offices offer "Schengen visa" photo options that comply automatically. Cost: £5–£8 for 4 photos.

Application Timing: When to Apply

Earliest Application Date

You can apply 6 months before your planned travel date. For seafarers, the window extends to 9 months.

Latest Application Date

Technically, you can apply 15 calendar days before travel, but this is extremely risky.

Visa applications from the UK are sent to the Norwegian Embassy in London for processing. Physical transport of passports and high application volume often cause delays beyond the standard 15-day processing time.

Recommended: Apply at least 4 weeks before departure to account for courier times and potential processing delays.

Svalbard Travel: Multiple-Entry Visa Required

If you're visiting Svalbard, you must have a multiple-entry Schengen visa—even if you're flying directly from Oslo and returning to Oslo.

Why?

Svalbard is not part of the Schengen area. Traveling from Oslo to Longyearbyen counts as exiting Schengen. Returning to Oslo counts as re-entering Schengen.

You need a double-entry or multiple-entry visa to complete this route.

Tick the "Multiple Entries" box on your application form and state "Svalbard" in the travel purpose section.

Fee Exemptions: Who Pays Nothing?

Children Under 6 Years

Children under 6 are exempt from the €90 visa fee. However, they still pay the VFS service charge (£22.52) unless specifically exempted by the VFS center.

EU/EEA Family Members

Spouses, registered partners, and children (under 21 or dependent) of EU/EEA nationals exercising their right of free movement in Norway are exempt from both the visa fee and VFS service charge.

Documents required:

• Original marriage certificate or birth certificate proving the relationship

• The EU/EEA national's passport

• Proof the EU/EEA national is traveling to Norway (flight tickets or residence permit)

Supporting Documents by Visit Purpose

The general requirements above apply to everyone. Additional documents depend on why you're visiting.

For Tourism

• Confirmed hotel bookings for the full stay in Norway, or

• Tour booking confirmation with the full itinerary

For Family/Friend Visits

• Copy of your host's passport or Norwegian residence permit biodata page

• Invitation letter from your host (if no sponsorship form submitted)

• Proof of relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate) if applicable

For Business Visits

• Invitation letter from the Norwegian company or organization

• Conference registration or entry tickets to trade fairs/events

For Study/Training

• Certificate of enrollment at a Norwegian educational institution

• Student card or course confirmation letter

Minors Under 18: Additional Requirements

All children under 18 traveling to Norway need:

• Birth certificate (original or certified copy)

If Traveling Alone or With Only One Parent

• Original passports of both parents (or certified copies of biodata pages)

• Signed consent letter from the non-traveling parent(s)

• British school certificate

If Only One Parent Has Custody

• Birth certificate listing only one parent, or

• Death certificate of the absent parent, or

• Court ruling granting sole custody

Document Submission Format

All documents must be submitted in A4 format only. No staples or pins.

If not specified otherwise, photocopies are accepted. You must bring originals to the VFS appointment for verification, but you submit copies.

Exception: The signed harmonized application form printed from the UDI portal must be the original printout, not a photocopy.

Translation Requirements

Any document not in English or Norwegian must be translated by a certified translator. The translation and original must both be submitted.

What "Recent" Means

Several requirements use the term "recent." This means:

• Employment letters: Within the last 3 months

• Bank statements: Within the last 3 months

• Photos: Within the last 6 months

A letter dated 4 months ago is not recent. VFS will reject it.

Common Application Mistakes

These are the most frequent errors that lead to rejection or delays:

1. Passport issued more than 10 years ago: Check the issue date, not the expiry date

2. Insurance doesn't cover repatriation: Many basic policies only cover treatment, not transport home

3. Bank statements printed from online banking without bank logo: VFS may request a stamp from your branch

4. Lump-sum deposits without explanation: If £5,000 suddenly appears in your account, attach a letter explaining the source (e.g., "Gift from parents—see attached signed letter")

5. Unclear travel itinerary: Book refundable hotels if you're not certain, but show the embassy a complete plan

Can Visard Help Speed Up the Appointment Process?

Our Telegram visa bot can't help with document preparation, but we can solve the appointment availability problem.

The Appointment Bottleneck

Norway visa appointments at VFS Global centers book out weeks in advance. Manual checking takes hours and often fails—slots disappear within seconds of appearing.

How Visard Monitors Appointments

• Checks VFS Global every 3 seconds (28,800 times/day)

• Auto-booking option: We book your slot automatically when one appears—you pay only after we successfully secure your appointment

• Notification service: Get instant Telegram alerts when slots open

Pricing (UK to Norway)

• Auto-booking: £100 for first applicant, £50 for each additional family member

  • VFS service fee: £22.52 per person (paid separately at appointment)

  • You only pay Visard's fee AFTER we book your appointment

• Notifications: £35 for Norway only, £65 for all Schengen countries

Average Booking Time

4-7 days from starting monitoring to secured appointment.

Learn more: Norway Schengen visa appointments from UK

Important: Visard is a private technology service and is not affiliated with the Norwegian government, VFS Global, or TLScontact.

Final Checklist

Print this list and tick off each item before your VFS appointment:

• Passport valid 3+ months after departure, issued less than 10 years ago, 2 blank pages

• UK immigration status valid 1+ month beyond departure (share code or eVisa proof)

• One ICAO-compliant photo (6 months old or newer)

• Travel insurance €30,000 minimum, Schengen-wide, full trip coverage

• UK bank statements (3 months)

• Credit card statements

• Proof of accommodation

• Return flight booking confirmation

• Signed UDI application form printout

• UDI payment confirmation

• Purpose-specific documents (invitation letter, hotel bookings, etc.)

• For minors: birth certificate + parental consent if applicable

Missing any of these? VFS will reject your application at the counter. No refund.