UDI 2010-001 Entry visa for some students, researchers and trainees

1. Introduction

This document provides guidelines on the issuing of entry visas to some students, researchers and trainees who can submit their application from Norway under the Immigration Regulations section 10-1 second paragraph. An entry visa is issued persuant to the immigration Act section 12 and the Immigration Regulations section 3-13, fourth paragraph.

As a rule, a residence permit must have been issued before a foreign national enters Norway; see the Immigration Act section 56 first paragraph.

However, persons staying in Norway on the basis of an entry visa granted pursuant to these guidelines may apply for a residence permit from within Norway. Correspondingly, persons who have already applied for a residence permit may be granted an entry visa in order to travel to Norway while awaiting a decision on their application.

The application shall be submitted in accordance with what is stipulated in chapter 10 of UDI 2020-011 Application for and issue of entry visas (D-visas), and entry deadlines.

2. Groups of applicants who can be granted an entry

2.1. Students admitted to an educational institution, cf. the Immigration Regulations section 6-19 first paragraph

In order to be granted an entry visa, a student must either

• be mediated via FRAM Education, AFS Norway, My Education, Fulbright, Youth for Understanding (YFU), STS High School Foundation (STS), Rotary, Explorius or the Research Council of Norway (NFR),
  
  
• have received a grant from a Norwegian public body, or
  
  
• be here to study at a higher education institution under an exchange scheme organised by the EU or under a bilateral agreement between a Norwegian and foreign higher education institution.

Reference is also made to UDI 2010-101 Residence permits for students.

2.2. Researchers, cf. the Immigration Regulations section 6-20 first paragraph

It is a condition that the researcher is to stay at a university, institute or similar for research purposes. The researcher must finance his/her stay in Norway with own funds. Reference is made to UDI 2010-098 Residence permits for researchers with own funds.

2.3. Trainees, cf. the Immigration Regulations section 6-21

Trainees mediated via an organisation or who participate in an exchange programme under the auspices of the EU are entitled to apply for a residence permit from Norway.

3. Conditions for the entry visa

Foreign nationals as mentioned in chapter 2 above can be granted an entry visa (D-visa). 

Visas can be granted regardless of whether the applicant submits a residence permit application at the same time or has already submitted an application.

As a general rule, the foreign service mission shall reject the application if it has been submitted from a location other than that prescribed in chapter 10.2 of UDI 2020-011 Application for and issue of entry visas (D-visas), and entry deadlines.

The applicant shall not be granted an entry visa if:

• He or she is registered in the Schengen Information System (SIS) for the purpose of denying entry.

• He or she is expelled from Norway and had a prohibition on entry imposed on him or her.

• If experience shows that verification of documents is needed in connection with the processing of residence permit applications.

The applicant must provide the information that is necessary to substantiate that he/she is included in the group of persons who can be granted a D-visa. He/she must document that the information is correct. There must be no doubt that the conditions for applying for a permit after entry are met, see chapter 4.4 of UDI 2013-007 Applying for a residence permit from Norway.

It is also a condition that the conditions for issuing a visa are met and that, in the foreign service mission's view, processing the application will not require more resources than is normal for visa applications, for example because verification of documents is necessary. In cases of doubt, the foreign service mission shall tell the applicant to apply for a residence permit in the normal manner.

4. Power of decision and contents of the entry visa

See chapters 11 and 12 of UDI 2020-011 Application for and issue of entry visas (D-visas), and entry deadlines for information on the power of decision and the content of the entry visa.

See chapter 14 of UDI 2020‑011 for information that must be provided to the applicant when an entry visa has been granted.