Go to Norway
Travel out of Russia
-
I am in Russia, where can I deliver my application?
The following VFS Application Centres in Russia are open with limited capacity: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Kazan, Krasnodar, Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk. You will find more information on the website of the Norwegian Embassy in Russia (external website, opens in new window).
-
How can I leave Russia now?
You must have a valid visa or residence permit to travel legally into Norway. We are aware that for many people it is difficult to get out of Russia now. Unfortunately, there is nothing UDI can do to help anyone to leave Russia. UDI is also unable to answer questions regarding the situation in Russia.
-
I must leave Russia, can I apply for a visitor’s visa to Norway?
You can apply for a visitor’s visa to Norway. It is important that you are aware of the waiting times for visitor’s visa applications. When applying for a visitor’s visa, it is important to emphasize that you must return to your home country when the visa expires. Because of the situation in your country, it can be difficult for applicants from your country to get a visa.The requirements for approval of travel and health insurance have changed. If you have insurance from a Russian insurance company, it is no longer enough to present "Schengen insurance" for EUR 30,000. Because of the EU's sanctions against Russia, we can not be sure that claims for compensation to Russian insurance companies will be paid in the Schengen area. You must therefore enclose a confirmation from the insurance company that they will be able to pay compensation in the Schengen area.The Norwegian Embassy in Moscow (external website) and VFS have information on their website about Russian insurance companies that already provide such confirmation. We will accept travel and health insurance from these companies in a visa application.When you visit Norway, you must show that you have enough money for your stay in Norway and the journey home. Due to EU sanctions against Russia, money in Russian bank accounts is no longer available to visitors to the Schengen area. Therefore, the requirement for documentation that you have enough money for your stay in Schengen has changed. If you cannot document that you have access to your money while in Norway, a person residing in Norway or a Norwegian company can issue a financial guarantee for you.If you want to leave Russia quickly and you do not plan to return, you should look for other options than a visitor’s visa. -
What does it mean for me, whos now applying for a visitor visa, that Norway's visa facilitation agreement with Russia has been cancelled?
Norway's visa facilitation agreement with Russia (external website) has been temporarily suspended from 22 September 2022. This means that Russian citizens no longer have a simplified way of applying for a visa. The simplified rules set out in the visa facilitation agreement will not apply for as long as the agreement remains suspended.This means that Russian nationals are also subject to the standard rules regarding documentation, multiple-entry visas, fees and case-processing times. You can read more about the reliefs that have been temporarily suspended here. -
I am a Russian citizen and wish to apply for a visa to Norway from a country other than Russia. Is that possible?
You cannot travel to another country to apply for a visa from there. You must submit a visa application in the country where you are a permanent resident. If you are already in a country other than where you live, you must clarify with the diplomatic mission whether you have strong and unforeseen reasons for still being able to apply.
-
I want to travel to Norway with my Russian-registered passenger car. What are the rules or restrictions I should know about?
As of 2 October 2023 at 24:00 it will no longer be possible to temporarily import Russian-registered passenger cars with nine or fewer seats into Norway, with some exceptions.
You can find more information about the rules on the government's website (external website).
Norway and the EU countries have already introduced bans on the import of, among other things, Russian-registered passenger cars with nine or fewer seats. From midnight on 2 October there will be stricter rules for temporary imports. This means that if you are going to drive to Norway and your car is Russian-registered, you will not be able to bring the car into Norway.
Exceptions
In Norway, four types of exceptions apply.
- Norwegian citizens or EEA citizens or their immediate family, who live in Russia and own a Russian-registered car, can travel to Norway with the car.
- Exceptions have also been made for vehicles that are necessary for humanitarian reasons, such as acute illness, death or a funeral in the family. You must be able to document at the border that you must bring the car into Norway for humanitarian reasons. If you can achieve the purpose of the visit by other means of transport, for example a bus, the use of your own Russian-registered car will not be considered "necessary".
- There are also exceptions for diplomatic vehicles or vehicles belonging to international organisations or a state's courier service.
- In addition, you can apply for an exception from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In special cases in which foreign policy considerations warrant it, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may grant an exception.
Please note that the ban does not apply to vehicles with ten or more seats. It will still be possible to cross the border with, for example, minibuses and buses via Storskog border station.
Who can I contact if I have further questions about these rules and exceptions?
UDI does not have the authority to answer questions about the rules for importing or temporarily importing Russian-registered passenger cars.
If you have questions about how to interpret the rules and exceptions, you can send an e-mail to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
For more information, there is a Q&A available (in Norwegian only) (external website) on the government website.
How does this affect me?
The rules are related to the import of goods and does not change the conditions for entry that applies to individuals. Even if a vehicle is covered by an exception, this does not mean that the persons traveling in the vehicle are automatically allowed to enter Norway.
Travelling to Norway for Russian nationals
-
I am a Russian citizen who is in Russia. Can I travel to Norway without a visa now?
You must have a valid visitor’s visa or a residence permit to enter Norway. You must check the rules that apply to border crossings for Russian citizens in other countries. Unfortunately, the Norwegian authorities and UDI cannot answer questions regarding what applies outside Norway's borders.
-
I have been granted a Norwegian residence permit, but I am unable to leave Russia. Can UDI assist me with this?
Although you may have been granted a permit to visit Norway or a residence permit, it may be difficult for you to travel to Norway. UDI is not able to help you to travel to Norway.
-
UDI has granted my application for a residence permit. Can I collect my entry visa in another country than Russia?
It is possible to collect your entry visa in another country than Russia. You must send an e-mail to the embassy responsible for applications in the country where you want to collect your entry visa.
Applying for a residence permit
-
I am a Russian citizen and wish to apply to work in Norway. Which rules apply for me?
There are several permits you may apply for to work in Norway. There are no changes to the application procedure or the rules for Russians seeking to obtain a work immigration permit in Norway.
-
I have applied for protection, may I apply for a work immigration permit as a skilled worker?
You cannot apply for a permit as a skilled worker if you have previously applied for protection.
-
Can my family in Norway apply for family immigration on my behalf?
The rules and processes for family-immigration applications for Russian nationals have not changed. That is, the standard rules for family immigration still apply.
To be eligible for family immigration, you must have close family members residing in Norway. Close family members of persons who have been granted collective protection in Norway. This may be a spouse/cohabitant, fiancé, a child or parents. The person seeking to move to Norway is to submit the application. As a general rule, you are to apply from outside Norway (either from the country where you are a citizen or where you have had a residence permit over the past six months).
If you are already in Norway and wish to apply while in Norway you are subject to special requirements. For example, you must provide documentation showing that you are a skilled worker. Another requirement for eligibility for a family immigration residence permit is that your family member in Norway has a sufficiently high income.
-
I am engaged and want to marry a person who lives in Norway. May I apply for a family immigration permit to get married in Norway?
For applicants from your country, it may be difficult to be granted an application for family immigration in order to get married. This is because UDI assesses whether it is likely that you will return to your home country if you do not get married as planned. It is more likely that your application for family immigration will be granted if you get married first.
-
I am a Russian citizen and my fiancé(e) lives in Norway. My fiancé(e) cannot go to Russia now. Does it affect my family immigration case if we get married in another country?
No, it will not affect your case if you marry in another country. It is important that the marriage is valid according to the laws of the country where you are getting married. It will affect your application if the marriage is not validly entered into.
-
Can I apply for family immigration from a country where I am not a citizen?
To apply from the country you are staying in, you must either be a citizen or have had legal residence there for six months. If not, you cannot apply from this country.
-
Will UDI process my application for family immigration from Russia faster?
UDI does not give general priority to your application for family immigration on the basis that you are in Russia. If you want priority, you must send a request. We will make an individual assessment of your request for priority.
If you submit a request for priority, but the answer from UDI is that we cannot prioritize your case, the normal waiting times will apply to you.