Visa

How to apply for a visa?

If you would like to apply for a visa to Norway, you may obtain a visa application form by clicking HERE.

Pending the purpose of your journey to Norway, you will need to submit the following documentation when lodging your application:

• Your passport or travel document. Make sure that your passport is valid for at least 3 – three – months beyond your intended stay in Norway and that the passport has a blank page for a visa sticker. If you intend to return to Bulgaria after your stay in Norway, you must make sure that your visa/permit for the Bulgaria is valid for at least 3 – three – months beyond your stay in Norway
• Two recent passport size photographs.
• For a visit to your family/friends: Original letter of invitation, evidence of accommodation.
• For business trips: Letter of invitation from your foreign business partner explaining the nature and duration of stay applied for and whether it involves single, double or multiple entries (and evidence of accommodation, e.g. confirmed hotel reservation).
• Evidence of occupation/student status: Proof of your current occupation in Bulgaria, e.g. an original letter from your employer, your solicitor etc.
• Evidence that you have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay, e.g. original recent bank statement, traveller's cheques, credit cards with credit limit statement. Please note that cash is not accepted.

Please note that in some cases further documents and guarantees may be required, such as evidence of accommodation, hotel reservation, etc.

The processing time of a visa depends on each individual case, and the price on what type of visa you have been granted. There is currently no fee for lodging a visa application.

Visas are issued free of charge to spouses or dependants of EU or EEA nationals. Relevant documentation such as original Marriage Certificate, Birth Certificate (showing both parents’ names), and the dependants/spouses EU/EEA passports must be presented in such cases.  

 Where to apply?

If you are not a resident in Bulgaria, you should apply for a Schengen visa to the Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence.

If you want to visit one Schengen country, apply for visa to the Embassy or Consulate of that country. If you want to visit several Schengen countries, apply to the Embassy or Consulate of the country of your main destination. If you intend to visit several Schengen countries but do not have a main destination, you should apply to the Embassy or Consulate of the Schengen country of your first port of entry.

 Opening hours for lodging visa application

You may lodge your application during consular opening hours, which are from Monday to Friday, between 10 am and 12 noon.

The Consular Section is closed on public and bank holidays. 

Schengen Visa

Schengen Visas are short-term visas for up to 90 days. Applicants who intend to work or stay more than 90 days must apply for a residence permit. Applicants are advised to read the list of required documents carefully, as incomplete applications may lead to the application being rejected

General information

• A Schengen Visa may be granted to applicants who are going to Norway for tourism, business, family visit, etc., when the intention is to return to the applicant's country of residence afterwards. It is not possible to apply for a Residence Permit (Family Immigration, Work, Au-Pair, etc) whilst in Norway on a Schengen Visa, nor is it possible to work (paid or unpaid). A Schengen Visa may, as a general rule, not be extended in Norway.

 • Applicants may stay up to 90 days in the Schengen area in any six months period. After a period of 90 days in Schengen, the applicant is not allowed to enter Schengen again before a new 90 day period has passed.

• It is not possible to apply more than 90 days before the intended journey. If the application is approved, the applicant's last date of entry to Schengen is 90 days from when the decision was made.

 • Applicants intending to visit one Schengen country should apply for a visa at the Embassy or Consulate of that country. • Applicants intending to visit several Schengen countries should apply to the Embassy or Consulate of the country which is the main destination (i.e. where the applicant will spend the most days).

• Applicants intending to visit several Schengen countries, but do not have a main destination (i.e. the applicant intends to spend an equal amount of days in each country), should apply to the Embassy or Consulate of the Schengen country which is the first port of entry.

• The issue of Schengen visas is discretionary and depends on examination of each individual case, including purpose of visit and intention to return. NB: Sponsors in Norway are advised to click at the link below and read the information regarding visa practice for citizens mentioned on this page (in Norwegian only) http://www.udiregelverk.no/sitecore/content/Home/Rettskilder/UDI%20praksisdokumenter.aspx

Schengen Visa - List of required documents

Please submit one copy (in addition to the original) of all documents

1. Schengen visa application form – duly completed, dated and signed by the applicant.

NB: Applicants applying online (using the Application Portal) and are going to Norway do not have to submit this.

 Applicants going to Sweden must also submit the paper form, duly signed and dated.

2. One (1) passport size picture with white background and not older than 6 months (please attach photos on the application form and on the duplicate form using adhesive tape or glue). If applying online, please attach the photograph on the Cover Letter sent to your e-mail after completing the booking.

3. Original passport (valid for at least 3 months after departure from Schengen)

 4. Previous passports and past visas / stamps to Schengen and other countries

5. Proof of occupation

• If currently employed, original “Certificate of Employment” stating position, length of service, salary and duration of approved leave of absence and photocopy of company ID (original to be presented).

• If self-employed, original “Business Name Registration Certificate” and latest original Income Tax Statement or other original proof of annual income.

• If a student, original certification of enrolment from the school where the applicant is presently enrolled and photocopy of valid school identification card (original to be presented); If applicant is going on a holiday during the summer / semester break, present an original certification of reservation or certification of enrolment to prove that he/she is enrolled for the next school year/semester.

6. Letter of invitation and a copy of the passport of the person inviting. If the person inviting is not a Nordic citizen, a copy of the most recent Residence Permit in Norway must be submitted.

The invitation must contain information about the purpose of your visit. It should therefore contain complete and relevant information about the person extending the invitation, the invited person and their relationship to each other (including information about any family relationship), along with the purpose of the stay to be covered by the visa. The invitation should also state whether the person extending the invitation is also standing as a financial guarantor for the applicant.

NB: When applying for a visa to visit a family member, the invitation letter should come from the biological family member in Norway, not from the Norwegian husband, etc. (the guarantee form may be filled in by the Norwegian husband, etc).

NB: When applying for a visa to visit boyfriend / girlfriend, the invitation should also give details of how much time the parties have spent together (dates, places, etc). This should be documented by copies of stamps in the sponsor's passport.

 Sponsors in Norway are advised to read the Information on Visa practice. (in Norwegian only)

7. Original UDI Guarantee Form for Visits (Norwegian only) - Stamped and signed by the Norwegian Police. This guarantee form must not be older than 3 months from the date of issue at the time of application. The lower part of the form (“name of visitor”) with name and signature must also be completed. The guarantee form is not required for business and organized tours.

NB: Please note that a guarantee form is not a substitution for an invitation letter. Both documents are required.

8. Proof of sufficient funds - Bank certification and pay slip for the last 3 months (not necessary if UDI Guarantee Form for Visit is submitted).

9. Purpose of visit

• Family visit: Proof of relationship

1: If visiting sibling: Birth certificate of both sliblings to document the relationship

2: If visiting children: The child's birth certificate to document the relationship with the parents

3: If visiting parents: The applicant's birth certificate to document the relationship with the parent(s)

4: If visiting wife / husband: Marriage Certificate to document the relationship with the spouse

5: If visiting mother / father of the applicant's or the sponsor's common child: The Child's birth certificate to document the relationship to both parents.

• Boyfriend/Girlfriend/Fiance visit: Proof of time spent together, if applicable (e.g. copy of sponsor’s passport showing pages with stamps of arrival and departure – not a requirement but highly recommended)

• Tourism: Organized Tour: Full travel itinerary (if the visa is granted, confirmation of payment from the travel agent must be submitted) Private tour: Travel plan including all countries / cities to be visited, information about accommodation and transport. (If a visa is granted, confirmed bookings of hotels and transport must be submitted).

• Business: Original letter of invitation from the Norwegian Business Partner

10. Application fee:

EUR 60,- . Payable by VISA or MasterCard on the Application Portal OR

11. Travel Medical Insurance. Insurance must be bought from an Insurance company that is accredited by the Schengen Group in Sofia and comply with the new Schengen rules. For more information, please click here.

12. Side trips: Applicants who also intend to visit other countries must submit a travel plan when applying, detailing where the applicant will stay and how the applicant will travel, as well as information on how many days the applicant will stay in the different countries.

If the application is approved, the applicant will be asked to submit proof of transport and accommodation for the entire trip. If, at this point, it turns out that the main destination has changed, the visa will not be issued.

13. Applicants who are married and / or have children are advised to submit proof of this (marriage certificate and birth certificates of the children). The latter is not a requirement, but will strengthen the application.

14. Applicants who own land or property are advised to submit proof of this. As above, this is not a requirement, but will strengthen the application.

Tickets - Important information

1. Applicants are advised not to buy tickets before they have been informed that their application has been approved.

2. If an application is approved, the applicant will be informed by sms and / or e-mail (phone if technical problems). The applicant will then be asked to present a return ticket.

3. The ticket must be in accordance with what has been approved. E.g. If the applicant has applied for 15 days and has been informed that the application has been granted, the tickets must not exceed 15 days.

4. The maximum stay is 90 days, so if the applicant has applied for 90 days and this has been approved, tickets for up to 90 days may be submitted.

 However, it is extremely important to remember to count the day of arrival and the day of departure. Even if the applicant arrives late in the evening and only spend one hour in Schengen on the day of arrival, this counts as one day. Similarly, if the applicant leaves very early in the morning on the day of departure, this also counts as one day. Moreover, it is important to remember that some months have 31 days rather than 30 days.

5. The Embassy has to check the number of days when tickets are submitted. Tickets that exceed 90 days or are not in accordance with what has been granted, will not be accepted.

Minors (Under the age of 18)

• Original birth certificate of the child

• Passports of both parents

• Original Letter of Parental Consent to apply for and obtain a Schengen Visa signed by both parents.

If only one parent has sole custody of the child, the Court Decision awarding custody to the one parent must be submitted. If the other parent is dead, the Death Certificate must be submitted.

NB: For the protection of children, the above documents will be verified and a longer processing time must be expected.

Additional requirement for Sweden:

• Copy of the sponsor's passport and pay slips for the last 3 months (Iceland only).

• Supplementary Information Form • Invitation Form for Tourists (VU2)

• Invitation Form for Business (VU1)

Applicants exempted from paying the Visa Fee:

• Children under 6 years

• School pupils, students, post-graduate students and accompanying teachers who undertake trips for the purpose of study or educational training

• Researchers from third countries travelling for the purpose of carrying out scientific research, as per specific rules

• Applicants related to (spouse, descendant or dependent ascendant of) EEA citizen who are exercising their right to free movement (on production of relevant certificates (birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.)

Documents from Norway / Sweden must be sent to the applicant, NOT to the Embassy.

For information about the procedure, processing times, follow-ups, etc, please click here.

For information about how to appeal (if the application has been rejected), please click here.

Countries whose citizens do not require visa

A visa is not required, among others, for:

• Nordic citizens
• Foreign nationals with a valid passport from countries with which Norway has entered into a agreement waiving the visa requirement
• Persons with a valid Norwegian immigrant's passport
• Persons with a valid Norwegian travel document for refugees

• Persons with a residence permit in Norway

A visitor's visa may be granted for a tourist visit, family visit, official business, business trip, study visit or other purpose. A visitor's visa has a maximum duration of three months.
The application form for a visitor's visa may be obtained at a Norwegian foreign service mission in the applicant's country of residence. It can also be printed from the internet.

Nationals of the following countries are not required to have a visa prior to entry into Norway as of June 2003:

Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria
Belgium, Bermuda*, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria
Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic
Denmark,
El Salvador, Estonia
Finland, France
Germany, Greece, Guatemala
Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR-passport), Hungary
Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy
Japan
Korean Republic
Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg
Macau (SAR-passport), Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco
Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua
Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal
Romania
San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay
Vatican State, Venezuela

* applies to holders of BDTC (Bermuda) passport

Those in possession of a diplomatic/service passport from the following countries are also exempt from the visa requirement:

Albania (applies only to the accredited ambassador to Norway and his or her spouse/children)
Macedonia
Morocco
Philippines (applies also to special passport)
Pakistan
Romania
Russia (applies only to the accredited ambassador to Norway and his or her spouse/children)
South Africa
Thailand
Turkey (applies also to special passport)

To make sure that the information is updated, please click here. 

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