UDI 2010-004 Entry visa for foreign nationals affiliated to diplomatic or consular missions etc.

1. Introduction

This guideline regulates the processing of applications for entry visas (D visas) pursuant to section 1-8 second paragraph of the Immigration Regulations for diplomats and other groups referred to in section 1-4 first and third paragraphs of the Immigration Regulations, as well as family members as referred to in section 1-5 first paragraph.

The guidelines have been laid down by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) in consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), cf. section 1-8 second paragraph of the Immigration Regulations.

Questions relating to the procedure for the issuance of the visa shall be addressed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Diplomatic Section.

2. Persons covered

The following groups are covered by the guidelines and may be granted an entry visa:

• foreign nationals attached to diplomatic or paid consular missions (representations) in Norway 

• employees of intergovernmental organizations or treaty bodies 

• contractors of intergovernmental organizations or treaty bodies 

• accompanying spouse, cohabitant, and dependent children of the above categories 

• foreign nationals who are service staff at a diplomatic or consular mission or who are in private service of a foreign national as referred to above.

In addition to the requirements laid down in the Immigration Regulations, premises are also set out in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (external link) and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (external link), in the host country agreements with intergovernmental organisations and treaty bodies, and in the MFA's own regulations for diplomats, 'Diplomat in Norway', which must be met in order for the foreign national to be accepted by the MFA.

3. Submission of the application

Applications for an entry visa shall be registered in UDI’s application system, see chapter 10.1 of UDI 2020-011 Application for and issue of entry visas (D visas), and entry deadlines.

Holders of diplomatic passports and other official passports, as well as foreign nationals affiliated with an intergovernmental organization or a treaty body in Norway and accompanying family members, are exempt from the requirement to appear in person, biometric data submission, and control of person, see chapter 10.6 of UDI 2020-011.

Service staff and private servants travelling with an ordinary passport must appear in person and submit biometric data, see chapters 10.2 to 10.4 of UDI 2020-011.

The applicant shall not pay a fee for an application for an entry visa pursuant to section 1-8 of the Immigration Regulations.

4. Processing of the application

Applications for an entry visa are processed by a foreign service mission with visa authority, see Annex 14 to the Immigration Regulations.

The foreign service missions shall consult UDI and the MFA, Diplomatic Section.

At the same time as the application is sent for consultation to UDI in Norvis, the foreign service mission shall consult the MFA by email with the same consultation period as applies to UDI in Norvis. The consultation period in Norvis is from 96 hours to 14 working days, excluding public holidays. The email shall be sent to the following address:

diplomatseksjonen@mfa.no

The email shall contain the following:

• the name of the diplomatic or paid consular mission (representation), intergovernmental organisation or treaty body in Norway

• the applicant's name

• the applicant’s date of birth

• the applicant’s nationality

• the applicant’s job title

• the applicant’s role/work duties

• full name of the applicant’s predecessor in the position

• the applicant’s expected period of service

• the applicant’s expected date of arrival in Norway

• the applicant’s type of passport (diplomatic, special or service passport, official passport or a passport issued by the police)

• name of accompanying family members as defined in section 1-5 first paragraph

• accompanying family members’ date of birth

• accompanying family members’ family relationship to the main applicant

• accompanying family members’ type of passport

• accompanying family members’ expected date of arrival in Norway

• copy of a note verbale from the sending state's ministry of foreign affairs, or from the country’s local embassy

• for service staff members and people in private service, cf. the Immigration Regulations section 1-4 third paragraph, attach a copy of the MFA’s notice of prior approval, cf. ‘Diplomat in Norway’ 

5. Decision on and issuance of an entry visa

If neither the Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor UDI has raised objections to the issuance of the visa, the foreign service mission may grant and issue the entry visa when the application is returned from consultation in Norvis.

The visa is issued as an entry visa with a 30 day duration and for one entry. The latest date of entry shall be set to six months after the decision is made. See chapters 11 and 12 of UDI 2020-011 for more information.

In cases where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or UDI raises objections to granting an entry visa, the visa shall not be issued.