UDI 2020-011 Application for and issue of entry visas (D-visas), and entry deadlines

1. Introduction

The guidelines provide an overview of the cases in which an entry visa (D-visa) can be issued and the procedures that must be followed. The guidelines make reference to other guidelines relating to entry visas, where such are available.

Chapter 2 describes how the UDI sets entry deadlines.

Entry visas are regulated in the Immigration Regulations section 3-13 and section 1-8 pursuant to the Immigration Act section 12. Chapters 3 to 8 of the guidelines are set out according to the sequence of the provisions in the Immigration Regulations section 3-13, followed by information about entry visas for diplomats etc.

The information provided about the foreign service missions’ role and duties apply correspondingly to the Governor of Svalbard.

2. The UDI sets entry deadlines when granting a residence permit

2.1 Entry deadlines

When the UDI grants a first-time residence permit to a foreign national staying abroad, the UDI shall set a last date of entry, see the Immigration Regulations section 10-17 first paragraph. The date of the last day of entry shall not be set later than six months after the date of the decision, unless warranted for special reasons.

The entry deadline shall normally be set 6 months after the decision date, unless the purpose of the residence permit indicates otherwise.

Special entry deadlines apply for example when residence permits are granted to students and seasonal workers.

An example of «special reasons» for granting a longer entry deadline than 6 months is when applicants have problems obtaining an exit permit from the country in which they reside, or there are medical conditions which mean that the journey cannot be completed until 6 months have passed.

2.2 Extended entry deadline

The UDI can also extend an entry deadline that has already been set if special reasons exist, following an assessment of whether the purpose of the permit is still valid. 

Already set deadlines are normally extended by six months. In very special cases, we canextend the deadline  further if necessary.

In types of cases where other entry deadlines are set, see chapter 2.1, these deadlines will govern how entry deadlines are extended.

2.3 Renewal og residence permit granted to foreign nationals abroad

When foreign nationals are granted renewal of a residence permit while they are abroad, the issuance of an entry visa is considered pursuant to the Immigration Regulations section 3-13 fifth paragraph, see chapter 8.

When the UDI is aware that a foreign national subject to a visa requirement is abroad when a residence permit is renewed, the UDI shall notify the foreign service mission that an entry visa can be issued pursuant to the Immigration Regulations section 3-13 fifth paragraph.

3. Entry visas for foreign nationals granted first-time residence permits

The foreign service missions issue entry visas based on notifications from the UDI. The entry visa shall be issued pursuant to the entry deadline in the decision from the UDI or a decision to extend an entry deadline from the UDI.

If the foreign national needs an extended entry deadline, he or she must contact the UDI. See chapter 2.2 for how the UDI the extension entry deadlines.

4. Entry visas for foreign nationals granted an entry permit as a resettlement refugee

A foreign national who is granted an entry permit as a resettlement refugee pursuant to section 35 of the Immigration Act shall normally be issued an entry visa. The information provided in chapters 2 and 3 relating to entry deadlines, deferred entry and entry visas also applies to this group.

The procedures for issuing entry visas to resettlement refugees also follow from UDI 2014-003 The foreign service missions’ work relating to resettlement refugees.

5 Foreign nationals who have received confirmation of right to work before their residence permit application has been processed

The foreign service missions can grant and issue entry visas to foreign nationals who have received confirmation of right to work before their residence permit application has been processed (the early employment scheme) pursuant to the Immigration Regulations section 3-13 second paragraph.

Under the early employment scheme, the foreign national must himself register an application for an entry visa, as mentioned under chapter10 and present the confirmation of early employment for being issued an entry visa, cf. section 10‑4 sixth paragraph of the Immigration Regulations. The foreign service mission can see that the confirmation has been registered in the event log in Norvis.

Before issuing an entry visa, the foreign service mission must check that circumstances do not exist that constitute grounds for refusing the employee entry into or residence in Norway pursuant to other provisions of the Act, cf. section 59 of the Immigration Act. If such circumstances exist, an entry visa shall not be issued.

Further information about the early employment scheme can be found in UDI 2016-003 Early employment and other schemes for working before a permit has been granted.

6. Skilled workers with offer of employment in Norway

The foreign service missions can grant and issue entry visas to skilled workers who have received a concrete offer of employment from an employer in Norway pursuant to the Immigration Regulations section 3-13 third paragraph to applicants who meet the conditions in the following guideline: UDI 2010-046 Entry visas for skilled workers with offer of employment in Norway.

7. Other entry visas for applying for a residence permit from Norway

The foreign service missions can grant and issue entry visas pursuant to the Immigration Regulations section 3-13 fourth paragraph to applicants who meet the conditions in the following guidelines:

• UDI 2013-001 Entry visa for spouse and children of a Norwegian and Nordic citizen and of a foreigner with permanent residence permit

• UDI 2013-004 Entry visa for spouse and children of skilled workers and seconded employees

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

8. Foreign nationals residing in Norway with a residence permit or who have applied for renewal or permanent residence permit

8.1 Groups that can be issued an entry visa

In special circumstances in which there is a documented need, foreign nationals residing in Norway with a temporary or permanent residence permit can be granted an entry visa. As a rule, residence cards are issued for this group, but they may be issued an entry visa pursuant to the Immigration Regulations section 3-13 fifth paragraph in certain situations abroad:

• If a residence card has been lost, stolen or mislaid
  
  
• After the expiry of a residence card when a permanent residence permit has been granted
  
  
• After the expiry of a residence card if a residence permit has been renewed. See chapter 8.6 for cases where the UDI is aware that the foreign national is abroad when a residence permit is renewed

Foreign nationals residing in Norway who have applied for renewal or a permanent residence permit at least one month before their previous residence permit expired can be granted an entry visa. Residence cards are not issued for this group, but they can be issued an entry visa pursuant to the Immigration Regulations section 3-13 sixth paragraph if they are abroad while the application is being processed. It is a condition that 

• the application for renewal of residence permit was submitted at least one month before the expiry of the previous renewable residence permit, or
  
  
• the application for a permanent residence permit was submitted within a month of the expiry of the previous permit and that the previous permit formed the basis for a permanent residence permit.

8.2 Application requirements

Applications for entry visas must meet the following requirements:

• The foreign national must explain why he or she needs an entry visa. 
  
  
• If a residence card has been lost, mislaid or stolen, the foreign national must provide a detailed, written explanation of when, where and how the card was lost/mislaid, see UDI 2012-011 Schengen-standardised residence cards chapter 5, which must then be signed by the foreign national.
  
  
• If the foreign national has a permanent residence permit, he or she shall state the duration of the stay abroad, where he or she has resided after leaving Norway and why he or she has stayed abroad past the residence card’s validity. The foreign national must also submit a copy of all used pages of his or her travel document. The foreign national’s statement and a copy of the travel documents must be scanned and stored as case documents in cases where a permanent residence permit has been granted.

8.3 Processing by foreign service missions

When foreign service missions consider applications for entry visas pursuant to these guidelines, they have the following duties:

• Clarify whether:
  
  
• the foreign national’s travel document shows other identity information than that found in DUF/Norvis
  
  
• the foreign national’s passport is genuine
  
  
• the foreign national presents a passport to the foreign service mission from his or her country of origin and he or she has been granted protection in Norway
  
  
• the foreign national has resided in his or her country of origin after being granted protection
  
  
• Clarify whether there is reason to believe that the permanent residence permit has lapsed due to a long-term stay abroad, see UDI 2010-045 Lapse of a residence permit.
  
  
• When a residence card has been lost/mislaid abroad, notify the UDI, represented by the NORVIS help desk, to have the card registered as lost in DUF
  
  
• Contact the UDI via the contact form or by phone with a request for confirmation that the person in question still holds a valid or permanent residence permit and that an entry visa is to be issued.

8.4. The UDI’s procedures in response to requests from foreign service missions concerning the issue of entry visas

The UDI case officer shall respond to the enquiry from the foreign service mission within a short space of time and confirm whether

• the foreign national can be granted an entry visa when he or she holds a valid temporary or permanent residence permit, or
  
  
• the foreign national can be granted an entry visa during the processing of his or her application for renewal or a permanent residence permit or 
  
  
• whether special reasons exist indicating that the foreign service mission should not grant the foreign national an entry visa.

Special reasons for denying an entry visa are:

• The permanent residence permit has lapsed. It may nevertheless be relevant to grant an entry visa even if we see that the permanent residence permit will lapse, as long as a decision on lapse has not yet been made. In the assessment, the case officer must look at whether the person will fulfill the conditions for a new temporary residence permit, if a decision is made to lapse.
  
  
• Weighty grounds for revocation
  
  
• The foreign national comes under the scope of instructions GI-02/2019. D-visas shall not be issued to people who have stayed in areas previously held by ISIL, or have any other connection to ISIL or other terrorist networks in Syria and Iraq.

8.5 Issue of entry visas and laissez-passers

With the consent of the UDI, the foreign service missions can issue entry visas to the groups mentioned in chapter 8.1.

Reference is made to UDI 2010-067 Laissez-passers (emergency travel documents) if the applicant requiring an entry visa also requires a travel document.

8.6 Entry visas for renewal of residence permits when the UDI knows that the foreign national is abroad

When the UDI is aware that a foreign national subject to a visa requirement is abroad when a residence permit is renewed, the UDI shall notify the foreign service mission that an entry visa can be issued pursuant to the Immigration Regulations section 3-13 fifth paragraph. See chapter 2.3 for the assessment and the case handling. 

9. Diplomats etc.

When diplomats who are subject to a visa requirement are set to take up a position at a diplomatic mission in Norway, they must be considered for an entry visa (D-visa) in accordance with the procedures set out in UDI 2010-004 Entry visa for foreign nationals affiliated to diplomatic or consular missions.

10 Submission of the application and collection of biometric data

10.1 Registration of the application through the UDI application form

Applications for entry visas to Norway must be completed electronically using the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) application form. This applies to applications under section 3-13, second to sixth paragraphs, and for entry visas for diplomats, etc., under section 1-8 of the Immigration Regulations, see chapters 5 to 9 above.

The electronic application system cannot be used for entry visa applications submitted through the Governor of Svalbard.

10.2 Where the application should be submitted

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has outsourced the submission of applications to an external service provider, and the applicant must go to the external service provider’s application center and submit the application documents there. The application can be submitted to any application center that has an agreement with the hub station responsible for the applicant’s home country, or where the applicant has had legal residence for the past six months.

In countries where Denmark receives residence permit applications on behalf of Norway, applications for entry visas must still be directed to a Norwegian diplomatic mission. Which Norwegian hub station is responsible and which application centers the application can be submitted to, will be indicated in UDI’s application system.

If the application is submitted to an external service provider that does not have an agreement with the hub mission responsible for the applicant’s home country, the applicant must document that they have had a valid residence permit in that country for the past six months.

The external service provider will then forward the application to the responsible hub station for case preparation. 

The requirement to have held a residence permit for the past six months does not apply to applications for entry visas for:

• foreigners who have received confirmation of the right to work before their residence permit application has been processed (chapter 5)

• foreigners with a residence permit or who have applied for renewal or permanent residence (chapter 8)

• diplomats, etc. (chapter 9) Where there is no offer of outsourced services connected to a hub, the application must be submitted to a foreign service post.

Where there is no outsourcing service available at a hub, the application must be submitted to a foreign mission.

10.3 Control of persons and ID documents

The frontline is responsible for control of persons and ID documents.

We refer to UDI 2011-040 Control of persons and ID documents for a detailed description of the frontline's tasks during control of persons and ID documents.

10.4 Collection of biometric data

Biometric data in the form of a facial photograph and fingerprints must be collected and stored from foreigners applying for an entry visa, see section 18-1 first paragraph, letter e of the Immmigration Regulation.

Fingerprints shall not be collected from children under six years of age, cf. section 18-1 second paragraph. For more information, see UDI 2021-006 Opptak av biometri og saksopprettelse i utlendingssaker (this Guideline on collection of biometrics and case registration in immigration cases is only available in Norwegian).

When the foreigner applies for an entry visa at the same time as applying for a residence permit, it is sufficient to collect a facial photograph and fingerprints once, cf. section 18-1 fourth paragraph of the Immigration Regulations.

10.5 Entry visa fee

Applicants shall not pay an application fee. External service providers can charge a service fee on agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Applicants who apply for an entry visa pursuant to section 3-13 fourth paragraph of the Immigration Regulations (see chapter 7 above) shall nonetheless pay a fee corresponding to the fee charged for a Schengen visa application, see the Immigration Regulations section 17-12 third paragraph.

10.6 Special provisions for diplomats, etc. 

Applications for entry visas from diplomats etc. to Norway must, as a general rule, be completed electronically in the through the UDI application form, see chapter 10.1. 

Holders of diplomatic passports, service passports, and official passports applying for an entry visa under the Immigration Regulations section 1-8 are exempt from the requirement to appear in person and from the control of person, cf. UDI 2011-040 Control of persons and ID documents, chapter 3.4.1. This group also does not submit a facial photo or fingerprints as mentioned in UDI 2021-006 Opptak av biometri og saksopprettelse i utlendingssaker (only available in Norwegian) and may submit the application to a foreign mission. 

Even if they do not hold official passports, the exceptions from personal appearance, identity checks, and biometric data collection, as well as the possibility to submit an application at a foreign mission, also apply to

• accompanying family members of diplomats etc.

• foreigners affiliated with an international organization in Norway and their spouse or cohabitant and dependent children, even if they do not have official passports.

Applications from service staff and private servants traveling on an ordinary passport must be submitted through an external service provider and are required to provide biometric data; see chapters 10.2 to 10.4.

11. Power of decision and issuance of the visa sticker

Norwegian foreign service missions, empowered to decide visa applications, issue entry visas pursuant to section 3-13, first paragraph of the Immigration Regulations, see chapters 3 and 4 above.

Norwegian foreign service missions, empowered to decide visa applications, may grant and issue entry visas when there is no doubt that the conditions in the guidelines mentioned in chapters 5 to 9 are met.

If the foreign mission rejects the application for an entry visa, a decision must be made in accordance with chapter 5 of the Public Administration Act (external link to lovdata.no).

A list of Norwegian missions that have power of decision is attached as annex 14 to the Immigration Regulations.

12 Content and duration of entry visas

An entry visa is granted for a 30-day stay with a single entry. For entry visas pursuant to section 3-13 first paragraph of the Immigration Regulations the validity period is set in accordance with the entry deadline or entry window specified in the UDI's decision, see chapter 3. If the validity period is shorter than 30 days, the length of stay is limited accordingly.

The visa's validity period is determined based on the purpose, cf. section 3-13 seventh pragraph. For most groups, the validity period can be set to six months.

During the period of stay, the foreign national may stay in and travel through Norway and other Schengen countries.

Entry visas are issued as D-visas, meaning that it will have the letter D in the "type of visa" field on the visa sticker.

13 Appeal

A refusal of an application for an entry visa can be appealed in accordance with the rules in chapter 6 of the Public Administration Act (external link to lovdata.no). The applicant must submit the appeal themselves. Alternatively, another person can submit the appeal if the applicant has given written authorization to do so, cf. section 12 of the Public Administration Act (external link to lovdata.no).

The foreign mission must always consider whether it should change its own decision based on the information in the appeal. If the foreign mission does not change the decision, the appeal is sent to UDI for further processing. In the transfer to UDI, the foreign mission should briefly explain what it has considered and why the refusal is upheld.

14. Information to the applicant when an entry visa has been granted

When an entry visa has been granted under chapters 5 to 7 of this guideline, the foreign mission shall inform the applicant of the following:

• The applicant is obliged to report to the police within one week after entry in order to apply for a residence permit, or to report entry into Norway if such application has already been submitted from the foreign service mission.

• All documents that are necessary in order to apply for a residence permit must be presented to the police if such an application has not been submitted from the foreign service mission. The foreign service mission should provide information about the UDI's website, where lists of documentation are available.

• The applicant’s travel expenses for the journey to Norway will not be covered.

• The entry visa does not entitle its holder to work, and the applicant is not entitled to take employment without a valid work permit.

• The applicant is entitled to stay in Norway until the application for a residence permit has been decided by the UDI.

• After the seven day-period, the applicant is not entitled to travel to other Schengen states until a residence permit has been granted and the applicant has received his or her residence card.

• The applicant must notify the police of any change of address.

• The granting of an entry visa is no guarantee that an application for a residence permit will be granted.