Norway Digital Nomad Visa

The procedure consists of 5 key steps:

• Preparation of documents (translations, apostille) – 300-600€;
• Filling out the UDI checklist (free of charge, but requires notarization of the signature – 20-50 €);
• Application through the Embassy/police station (service fee of € 24.5 when applying to the visa application center);
• Waiting for a decision (3-4 months) – additional costs for extending the current lease/insurance if the deadlines are delayed;
• Obtaining a residence permit card (courier services – 30-50 €).

The average waiting period for a decision is 3-4 months from the date of submission of the full package of documents. Deadlines may vary depending on the workload of migration services and the country of application. For example, applications submitted through Norwegian diplomatic missions in the EU are often processed faster than in third countries. In rare cases, in the absence of additional requests from the UDI (Norwegian Immigration Department), the procedure takes 2.5-3 months.

Yes, the application procedure for the archipelago takes 20-30% longer due to the mandatory verification of the rental agreement (the limited fund requires additional confirmations), verification of the higher education diploma (only for Svalbard), coordination with the governor of Svalbard (adds 2-4 weeks to the standard time).

Delays are most often caused by:

• Incomplete package of documents (additional information is required, which adds 1-2 months to the deadline);
• The need to verify contracts with Norwegian clients (especially for an Independent Contractor visa);
• Financial viability checks for non-obvious sources of income (for example, cryptocurrency transactions);
• Seasonal influx of applications (peak observed from January to March).

When submitted inside Norway (through a police station), the time limit is reduced to 2-2.5 months due to the absence of an interdepartmental transfer stage. For applicants from third countries, the period increases due to the need for translations of documents through certified specialists (+2 weeks) and apostillation of certificates (+1-3 weeks, depending on the country).

When applying for a digital nomad visa, the passport must be valid for at least 1 year at the time of application, have at least 2 blank pages for the visa, and be presented in the original with copies of all used pages.

To confirm financial viability, it is necessary to provide bank statements demonstrating a stable income, to confirm an annual income of at least 35,719 € (about 350,000 Norwegian kroner). If the application is for an Independent Contractor visa, you must show a contract with at least one Norwegian client who ensures payment of at least the minimum wage in Norway. For a visa to Svalbard, it is enough to demonstrate a stable income from sources outside Norway.

An Independent Contractor visa requires a contract with a Norwegian client. 

A higher education diploma is required for a visa to Svalbard. The request requires confirmation of the place of residence directly on the archipelago, which is more difficult due to the limited housing stock. It is especially important to confirm qualifications and experience in digital professions (programming, SEO, social media marketing, etc.).

To confirm self-employment, you must provide documents on business registration in the country of origin, contracts with clients (including foreign ones), and tax returns (confirming income from self-employment). In the case of an Independent Contractor visa, it is a contract with a Norwegian client. You will also need a history of working with a project portfolio.

Medical insurance for a digital nomad visa must cover the entire period of stay in Norway, have a sufficient amount of insurance coverage (a specific amount is usually indicated on the embassy’s website), be valid in Norway and cover the costs of medical care and possible repatriation.

All documents must be translated into Norwegian or English. Some documents (for example, a higher education diploma) require an apostille. The official translation must be performed by a certified translator. The translation of documents may require additional costs.

To confirm your place of residence, you must provide a rental agreement in Norway (or in Svalbard for the appropriate visa). The contract must be for the entire period of stay or with the possibility of extension. This is especially important for Svalbard, as there is very little housing there. The document must contain the exact address of the residence and the terms of the lease.

For the correct design of the UDI checklist, it is necessary:

• Fill it out online on the official website of the Norwegian Immigration Department (UDI);
• Print the fully completed list;
• Sign the document with your own hand;
• Be sure to answer all the questions that are at the end of the list;
• Take the signed document with you to a meeting at the embassy or consulate.

There are no official acceleration programs for digital nomad visas. However, practice shows that applications submitted through accredited visa centers in Scandinavia are processed 10-15 days faster. If you have a pre-arranged rental agreement through platforms like Flatio (the official partner of UDI), you can also count on speeding up the procedures. 

If the documents are submitted simultaneously by the spouse and children, the total review period is increased by 1-1.5 months. Separately submitted applications from relatives are considered 3-4 months from the date of receipt of the main permit.

The permit is activated when submitted from abroad – from the date of crossing the Norwegian border. In case of internal filing – from the date of approval of the application. Important: if the visa is received but not used within 6 months, it will be cancelled.

The procedure takes 2-3 months and includes submitting a request (4 months before the expiration of the current permit), updating financial documents (statements must be no older than 1 month), and confirming the absence of tax arrears in Norway.

After receiving a negative decision, the applicant can file an appeal within 3 weeks (review – 1-2 months), correct the shortcomings and resend the documents after 6 months. Previous fees paid (600€) will not be refunded.

The basic consular fee is 600€ (NOK 6,300) both for the initial submission and for the extension. This amount is paid through the UDI (Norwegian Immigration Office) portal when submitting documents. A similar rate applies for a visa to Svalbard.

Mandatory associated costs include:

• Medical insurance (coverage of at least 30,000€ for the entire period of stay) – from 200€ to 500€, depending on age and conditions;
• Translation of documents into Norwegian/English (15-30€ per page);
• Apostillation of certificates and diplomas (50-100€ per document);
• Rental of housing (deposit + prepayment) – from 1,000€ per month for the central regions of Norway.

If you stay for more than 183 days a year, you must pay personal income tax of 22% of the income earned in Norway, social contributions (8.2% of earnings) for Independent Contractor Visa. For residents of Svalbard, the personal income tax rate has been reduced to 16.8%, but applies only to income earned on the archipelago.

A 2–year extension requires a re–payment of the 600€ fee, proof of income for the last 12 months (statements from the Norwegian bank account – 10-20€ per document), an updated lease agreement (re-registration at the Brønnøysund Register Centre – 50€).

Yes. For a visa to Svalbard, an additional diploma of higher education is required (legalization through NOKUT – 260 €), proof of housing in the archipelago (deposit up to 5,000 € due to a shortage of real estate), medical examination for work in Arctic conditions – 150-300 €.

Yes, cost reduction is possible for graduates of Norwegian universities (30% discount on the consular fee), participants in startup programs (50% compensation for legal support costs), family applicants (a single fee of 600 € for the main applicant + 300€ for the spouse / child).

The total cost of applying for a digital nomad visa to Norway ranges from 2,500€ to 5,000€, taking into account all stages and related costs.

It is not possible to obtain Norwegian citizenship directly through a digital nomad visa. The Independent Contractor Visa allows you to legally live and work in Norway for up to 2 years, with the possibility of extension. This type of permit is considered temporary and does not automatically lead to permanent residence or citizenship.