UDI 2020-004 Processing of applications for Schengen visas

1. Introduction

Norway joined the Schengen Agreement on 25 March 2001, and is thereby obliged to comply with the EU/Schengen regulations, or what is known as the Schengen acquis.

The Visa Code (Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council) sets out common regulations for all Schengen states on how to handle visa applications. The Regulation has been incorporated into Norwegian law through the Immigration Act section 10, cf. the Immigration Regulations section 3-4.

The Visa Code Handbook contains guidelines and recommendations for how the Visa Code should be used. The handbook has been incorporated into Norwegian regulations, cf. UDI 2010-172 The Visa Code Handbook (in Norwegian only).

These guidelines are intended to supplement the above-mentioned provisions.

2. Power of decision

2.1 Power of decision of the Foreign Service Missions and the Governor of Svalbard

Unless otherwise provided, applications for visas are decided by the Directorate of Immigration, cf. the Immigration Regulations section 3-14 first paragraph. However, the power of decision has largely been delegated to the foreign service missions, cf. the Immigration Regulations section 3-14 first paragraph second sentence. A list of Norwegian foreign service missions with power of decision and/or power of issue is available in Annex 14 to the Immigration Regulations.

With the approval of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, the UDI has decided to give the Governor of Svalbard power of decision in visa cases.

If a foreign service mission or the Governor of Svalbard is in doubt whether an application for a visitor’s visa should be granted or rejected, the application must always be forwarded to the UDI for consideration, cf. the Immigration Regulations section 3-14 fourth paragraph second sentence.

Other cases that must always be forwarded to the UDI for consideration:

• The applicant has been expelled from Norway. In such cases, an application to have the prohibition on entry lifted shall be enclosed with the visa application when it is sent to the UDI. For a more detailed description of the procedure, please see the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ own procedural description for cases of this type, as well as UDI 2010-069 Lifting of a prohibition on entry or access to Norway for short visits.

• The applicant has previously been expelled from Norway. The reason is that the foreign service missions do not have access to the information in the expulsion case.

• There is an open expulsion case registered to the applicant.

• Applications for national visitor’s visas, cf. the Immigration Act section 11.

• Applications where the foreign service mission is considered to be disqualified, cf. the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ instructions on the question of impartiality in visa cases.

• Applications where there is a need to obtain information about the applicant’s criminal record in visa cases pursuant to UDI 2010-042 Information about criminal records from the police in visa cases (in Norwegian only).

• Applications that concern fundamental national interests/foreign policy concerns, se also 2.3 and 2.4.

The foreign service mission and the Governor of Svalbard shall receive and consider appeals against its own rejections. If the decision is not reversed, the appeal must be forwarded to the UDI as the appeal body for consideration. If the UDI made the first instance decision, the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) shall decide the appeal if the UDI does not reverse its decision, cf. the Immigration Act section 76 first paragraph.

2.2 Applications for visas at the border and visa extension

When a foreign national applies for a visa at the border (emergency visa), cf. the Visa Code Article 35 or 36, the police shall prepare the case for the UDI, which has power of decision pursuant to the main rule in the Immigration Regulations section 3-14 first paragraph first sentence. Also see UDI 2010-166 Visas on the border (emergency visa) (in Norwegian only).

The police shall decide applications for visa extensions pursuant to the Immigration Regulations section 3-19 first paragraph, cf. the Immigration Regulations section 3-14 fifth paragraph. Also see UDI 2010-168 Forlengelse av visum (in Norwegian only).

Appeals against the police’s decisions shall be sent to the UDI for consideration, cf. the Immigration Act section 76 first paragraph first sentence.

2.3 Applications concerning fundamental national interests or foreign policy considerations

If a visa case concerns fundamental national interests or foreign policy considerations, the UDI decides the case, unless the Ministry of Justice and Public Security decides that the case shall be decided by the Ministry, cf. the Immigration Act section 127 first paragraph.

Further guidelines about such cases are provided in instructions GI-20/2023 Instructions on the processing of cases that concern fundamental national interests or foreign policy considerations pursuant to the Immigration Act Chapter 14, section 35, and cases that fall under the export control regulations (in Norwegian only).

For travel restriction we refer to GI-13/2022 – Instruks om gjennomføring av reiserestriksjoner mot enkeltpersoner (utlendinger) som følge av sanksjoner fra De Forente Nasjoners sikkerhetsråd og restriktive tiltak fra Den europeiske union som Norge har sluttet opp om.

2.4 The significance of the Instructions on the Rejection of Russian Citizens with Schengen Visas for Tourist Purposes and Other Non-Essential Travel

The Ministry of Justice and Public Security has issued GI-06/2024 instructions on the rejection of Russian citizens with Schengen visas for tourist purposes and other non-essential travel to prevent entry and transit/transit to Norway across the Schengen external border for Russian citizens who have tourism and other non-essential travel as their purpose. The instructions are based on foreign policy considerations, cf. section 126 first paragraph of the Immigration Act.

The instruction will enter into force on 29. May 2024. From the same date, the following applies:

• The foreign service missions and the Governor of Svalbard can still grant applications for visas from Russian citizens who are not to be rejected according to the instructions when the other conditions for a visa are met.

• The foreign service missions and the Governor of Svalbard will continue to reject applications for visas from Russian citizens who do not meet the ordinary conditions for obtaining a visa.

• When the conditions for a visa are otherwise met, but the application concerns tourism or other non-essential travel that is affected by the instructions, the foreign service missions and the Governor of Svalbard must submit the application to the UDI for processing. 

As follows from the points above, only applications where the instructions are the only reason for the case to be considered for rejection must be sent to the UDI for processing.

See Appendix 2 (only available in Norwegian) for an overview of Russian citizens who can be granted a visa and who will not be granted a visa as a result of the instructions.

A consequence of the instruction is that applications for visas that would otherwise have been granted shall be rejected for foreign policy reasons if the Russian citizen would have been rejected upon entry according to the instructions. , cf. section § 3-4a of the Immigration Regulations and section 126 of the Immigration Act. This also applies when Norway represents other
Schengen countries in visa cases. It is the UDI that makes decisions in these cases, see section 2.3.

3. Visa facilitation agreements

The visa facilitation agreements are intended to make it easier to visit each other’s countries, including by granting lower application fees, less stringent documentation requirements, shorter case processing times and easier access to multiple-entry visas. The agreed simplifications are stated in the individual agreements. See annex UDI 2020-004V1 (in Norwegian only) for an overview of which countries Norway has concluded visa facilitation agreements with and for links to Lovdata (the Norwegian Legal Database).

The visa facilitation agreements apply to everyone who is a national of the partner country to the agreement.

The significance of the fact that the visa facilitation agreement with Russia has been temporarily suspended.

Norway's visa facilitation agreement with Russia (external link) has been temporarily suspended as of 22 September 2022.

This means that the ordinary rules of the Visa Code on documentation, multiple-entry visas, fees and processing times apply to citizens of Russia, and that none of the reliefs in the visa facilitation agreement shall be applied. Holders of Russian diplomatic passports are subject to visa requirements.

Relief in the documentation requirement as described in the visa facilitation agreement, and reflected in the local harmonized list, will not apply. The ordinary documentation requirement pursuant to the Visa Code art. 14 (1) a) – d) and Annex II "Non-exhaustive list of supporting documents" apply.

4. Submission of the application

The basic criterion that decides whether a foreign national is subject to a visa requirement is his or her citizenship. If the foreign national's citizenship is not clear from the travel document or other documents, the visa requirement shall be decided on the basis of the travel document, cf. the Visa Code Handbook I, Part I point 3.1.

The visa application shall be considered and decided by the member state competent to do so pursuant to the criteria set out in the Visa Code Article 5. If the applicant plans to travel to more than one member state in the course of a two-month period, the same consideration shall be made as for one continuous journey, cf. Article 5(1)(b). If the applicant applies for a multiple-entry visa for a longer period, the member state that the applicant will visit most frequently shall be deemed competent to decide the application. If such a member state cannot be identified, the member state where the first entry will take place shall consider the application, cf. the Visa Code Handbook I, Part II point 1.2.

In principle, a person cannot hold two valid visas (type C) that cover the same time period. However, the applicant can hold different types of passports, for example an ordinary passport and a diplomatic passport. If a valid visa is attached to one of the applicant's passports, a visa with a concurrent/overlapping period of validity may in exceptional cases be attached to the other passport. The total period the applicant is allowed to stay in the Schengen territory will nonetheless be 90 days during any period of 180 days, since this rule applies per person, and not per travel document, cf. the Visa Code Handbook I, Part II point 1.3.

Article 9 of the Visa Code states that the application cannot be submitted earlier than six months and normally not later than 15 days before the planned trip. The six-month rule is absolute, with the exception of seafarers, who can submit their application up to nine months before a planned trip.

If the application is submitted later than 15 days before the planned trip, this is in violation of the Visa Code Article 9(1) concerning when an application shall be considered on its merits. However, this can never be the only reason for rejecting an application. The application must be taken under consideration, but there is no requirement to give it priority. The applicant should be informed that the decision may be made after the date of the planned trip. If the purpose of the trip has lapsed when the decision is made, the application shall be rejected pursuant to the Visa Code Article 32(1) (a) (ii), cf. the Immigration Act section 10 first paragraph letter b).

In urgent cases, the application may be submitted later than 15 days before the planned trip and be given priority. Examples include illness, official visits and business travellers who need to travel on short notice in order to participate in a meeting in Norway.

5. Personal attendance

The applicant must appear in person to submit biometrics, cf. the Visa Code Article 10. If no more than 59 months have elapsed since the applicant last submitted biometrics, the biometrics shall be reused, cf. Article 13(3). In such cases, the applicant does not need to appear in person. The application can therefore be submitted by another person, cf. Article 9.

6. Documentation requirements

The Visa Code Articles 10 and 14 list the documents that must be included in a visa application.

The Visa Code Handbook I Part II point 5.1.2. describes in more detail whether the documents need to be translated. In cases forwarded to the UDI for processing, the foreign service mission must include a note about what the document contains if it is not available in Norwegian or English. This applies both to the name of the document and information that is important to the consideration of the application or appeal.

If the applicant presents a travel document that is not approved by Norway, cf. Annex 10 to the Visa Code Handbook: Table of travel documents, the application shall normally not be considered on its merits (‘inadmissible’), cf. the Visa Code Article 19(3). The established practice in such cases is that the Norwegian authorities reject the application on the grounds that a travel document has been presented that is not approved, cf. the Visa Code Article 32(1)(ii), cf. the Immigration Act section 10 first paragraph letter b). If the application is taken under consideration, cf. the Visa Code Article 19(4), and a visa is granted, the visa sticker must be affixed on a separate sheet for affixing a visa, cf. Article 29(2). If the foreign service mission does not have this type of document, it can contact the UDI through the visa service (visumservice). 

To be issued a visa, the applicant must document that he or she has sufficient means to cover the stay, including accommodation, as well as the return trip, cf. the Visa Code Article 14(1)(b) and (c). In that connection, travellers to Norway can use the ‘guarantee form for visits’, cf. Article 14(4). This scheme is offered to applicants who do not have sufficient means to cover the planned trip, and is not a requirement. Applicants applying for a multiple-entry visa only need to document that they have sufficient funds to cover the first planned trip. In connection with the subsequent entries, the applicant must be able to document sufficient means/submit a new guarantee form when crossing the border. More information about the use of the guarantee form is available in UDI 2012-017 Issuing guarantees in visa applications.

Pre-paid tickets and accommodation shall only be required in extraordinary cases. Since it has become more common to book tickets online, it is not always possible to reserve tickets, and accommodation bookings can normally be cancelled in return for a small fee. It is therefore important that the case officer considers the applicant’s ability to purchase a ticket and pay for accommodation in cases where no guarantee is provided, cf. the Visa Code Handbook I, Part II point 5.2.1 (B).

The foreign service mission cannot ask the applicant to fill in a questionnaire to summarise the information provided in the application, or to systematically obtain further information in the case, cf. the Visa Code Handbook Part III point 2.3.1. If the purpose of the stay in Norway is to work, however, it must be clarified whether a residence permit is required, cf. the Immigration Act section 55 first paragraph, or whether this requirement can be waived, cf. the Immigration Regulations section 1-1. If the application does not contain enough information to clarify this question, a form (or similar) can be used to obtain more detailed information about what the applicant plans to do in Norway.

7. Visas for family members of EU/EEA nationals

Applications from family members of EEA nationals subject to a visa requirement who are exercising their right to free movement in the EEA, cf. Directive 2004/38/EC (external link) shall be processed in accordance with the Visa Code Article 1 and the Immigration Act section 10 final paragraph.

The procedures and conditions that apply to applications from this group of persons follow from the guidelines in the Visa Code Handbook I Part III, including that they are exempt from the fee requirement and that the application shall be given priority. Appeal cases shall also be given priority.

As a rule, visas are granted for 90 days and several entries.

If the applicant does not document that he or she is covered by the rules for family members of EEA nationals, the application shall be rejected on this basis. In such cases, the application shall not be considered on the basis of the ordinary rules for a Schengen visa. If the applicant wants an ordinary assessment of the application, he or she must reapply under the ordinary regulations.

It is up to the applicant to decide what documents to use to document his or her relationship with the EEA national. If a document submitted in the case was issued by the authorities of a country whose documents the Norwegian immigration authorities consider to have low notoriety, it must be investigated whether other information in previous applications confirms the information in the document. If such information is not available to the foreign service mission, the case shall be forwarded to the UDI for consideration. For example, the applicant may have presented a marriage certificate that in itself is considered to have low notoriety, whereas the information in the sponsor’s registration as an EEA national shows that the person in question has previously stated that he or she is married to the applicant. In such case, this will substantiate the information in the marriage certificate and be sufficient to determine that the applicant is married to the EEA national.

If there is a simple way for the foreign service mission to verify the information in the document considered to have low notoriety, it must do so.

8. Fees

The fees for the various groups of applicants are set out in the Visa Code Article16 and the Visa Code Handbook I Part II point 3.4.

According to the exemption provisions in the Visa Code Article 16(5)(c), and Norwegian established practice, Norway Cup players are exempt from the application fee, whereas team leaders and other adult participants must pay a fee in the normal manner.

9. Collection of information

If additional information is obtained, e.g. through phone conversations or emails, the content shall be documented in writing and be saved as a case document. Written phone memos should contain information about the date of the conversation, who the phone call was made to, who executed the call, and a summary of the content of the conversation.

Information received as correspondence in a VIS email will not be automatically saved under the case. If it is included in the consideration of the case, it must be saved as a separate incoming document.

10. Consultation by other Schengen states

Applications from nationals of specific countries shall be submitted to other Schengen states for consultation before a visa can be issued, cf. the Visa Code Article 22. If the foreign service mission is in doubt about whether the application should be granted, the case shall, as a rule, be forwarded to the UDI without prior consultation. The case shall not be submitted for consultation unless the UDI considers that the application should be granted. Urgent cases may be submitted for consultation before they are forwarded to the UDI.

If one or more countries object(s) to a visa being issued, the case officer shall consider whether a national visitor’s visa can be granted; see point 13. If a national visitor’s visa is not an option, the application shall be rejected pursuant to the Visa Code Article 32.

11. The best interests of the child

Under Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child of 20 November 1989 (external link to PDF), children have the right to express their views in matters that affect them. The Convention was incorporated into Norwegian law through the Human Rights Act section 2(4) (external link). The best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration in all actions concerning children.

The authority that prepares a case involving children must ensure that sufficient information has been provided to enable the case officer to consider which outcome is in the best interests of the child. All children who are capable of forming their own opinions are entitled to be heard, cf. the Public Administration Act section 17 (external link).

If a visa application is rejected in a case that affects a child (parental visit) or that concerns a child directly (applicant), the assessment of the child’s best interests must be clearly described in the decision.

12. Decision 

12.1 Granted

The duration (number of days) of the first visa shall be decided based on the purpose of the stay, cf. the Visa Code Article 24 and the Visa Code Handbook I Part II points 8.2. and 8.3.

If the UDI grants a visa as the first instance, the case officer shall ask the foreign service mission to stipulate the period of validity in consultation with the applicant. The foreign service mission cannot set the first day of the validity period later than six months (or nine months for seafarers) from the date of application. If the UDI grants a visa for several entries during a period of more than 180 days, the case officer shall stipulate the period of validity.

Pursuant to the Visa Code Article 24(1), the visa validity period shall normally include an additional ‘period of grace’ of 15 days in cases where the visa is granted for one entry only. The purpose of this scheme is to give the applicant greater flexibility to decide the final date of entry. The Visa Code Handbook I Part II point 8.2.1 specifies that these 15 days shall also be included in the validity period for all two-entry visas. They can also be included for multiple-entry visas with a validity of less than six months.

As a rule, the foreign service mission cannot demand that the applicant present a pre-paid return ticket in order to be issued the visa.

There is no legal basis for asking the applicant to report to the foreign service mission when he or she returns (‘return control’). Also see the Visa Code Handbook I Part II point 6.17 for more information. If the foreign service mission considers that the visa practice should be altered for a general group of applicants, e.g. remote relatives, it must submit a request for permission to introduce temporary return control, and the grounds for the request, to the UDI. Return control can only be carried out with the UDI's consent.

A visa shall be issued for one or two entries, unless the provisions of the Visa Code Article 24(2) (multiple-entry visas) are met. If the purpose is to visit Svalbard, the visa shall always be issued for at least two entries. Passengers on cruise ships calling at ports in several Schengen states shall always be issued multiple-entry visas.

The conditions for multiple-entry visas are set out in the Visa Code Article 24(2) to (2d) and are described in the Visa Code Handbook I Part II point 8.4.3, with examples.

In principle, multiple-entry visas shall be issued in accordance with a ‘cascade system’.

This is conditional on the applicant having lawfully used previous visas during the period specified in Article 25(2) (a)–(d). If the applicant has previously held one Schengen visa that was not used, this shall not be interpreted as the visa not having been used in accordance with the regulations. Information should be obtained about why the visa was not used. If it was due to unforeseen circumstances (illness, cancelled meetings etc.), one unused visa can be included in the calculation of how many visas the applicant has held during a specific period of time. If the applicant has held several unused visas, regardless of the reason, the applicant is not entitled to be issued a multiple-entry visa under the cascade system.

Airport transit visas (ATV) and visas with limited territorial validity (VLTV), cf. the Visa Code Article 25(1), shall not be included in the calculation of how many visas the applicant has held. Visas with limited territorial validity, cf. the Visa Code Article 25(3), shall be included, however.

If it is obvious that the applicant will not meet the conditions for entry for the whole period for which the visa would be granted under the cascade system, the period of validity can be set to a shorter period. Examples include if the applicant has been granted a limited residence permit in his or her country of residence or holds a travel document with a shorter period of validity, cf. the requirements of the Visa Code Article 12. In these cases, the application shall be partially rejected; see section 12.3

If the purpose of the stay will change during the period of validity of a multiple-entry visa, this is not in itself reason to limit the duration. For example, a business traveller who will conclude a collaboration with a contractor in Norway within one year can be issued a multiple-entry visa that is valid for two years, provided that the conditions under the cascade system are met, if the applicant also wishes to visit Schengen as a tourist.

Even if the conditions of the cascade system have not (yet) been met, a multiple-entry visa may be granted for up to five years if the applicant plans to travel regularly or frequently, for example for reasons relating to business relations, family visits or tourism. This is conditional on the applicant previously having used a visa in accordance with the regulations, thus having demonstrated his or her integrity and reliability.

If a visa has been granted for 90 days and multiple entries over a period of at least one year, it means that the applicant is entitled to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days during any 180-day period, cf. the Visa Code Article 1(1) and the Visa Code Handbook I Part II point 8, example 3.

12.2 Rejection

If an application for a visitor's visa is refused, the standardized form for refusal, annulment or revocation (Annex VI to the Visa Code) must always be completed. The form can be used as the core of a refusal decision in the first instance at the Foreign Service missions. In addition to the refusal form, the case officer must refer to the provisions on which the decision (reason(s) for refusal) is based.

The requirements for grounds in decisions follow from section 25 of the Public Administration Act (external link). For several of the reasons for refusal, the tick in the refusal form will not be sufficient to explain the content of the rule, the factual circumstances and the assessment. In these cases, the case officer must write grounds that completes the refusal form.

12.3 Partial rejection

If a visa application is not fully granted, for example if a visa is granted for fewer days or entries than the number applied for, the case officer shall issue a written rejection decision for the part of the application that has not been granted (partial approval). The applicant can appeal this rejection decision in the normal manner, cf. the Public Administration Act section 28 (external link).

If a visa is granted for one entry and the applicant appeals the decision because he or she had applied for several entries, the appeal shall be dropped if the applicant nonetheless uses the visa. The appellant shall be informed that the appeal has been dropped.

13. Visa on humanitarian grounds etc. (national visitor’s visa)

A visa issued on humanitarian grounds etc., cf. the Visa Code Article 25 and the Immigration Act section 11, is a visa that only entitles the holder to enter and stay in Norway. It does not entitle the holder to transit in the Schengen area, and the applicant must therefore travel from a country outside the Schengen area directly to Norway, and leave in the same manner.  A national visitor's visa can be issued even if the conditions for issuing a Schengen visa are not met, when it is considered necessary for humanitarian reasons, national considerations or international obligations.

If it is obvious that the applicant does not meet the conditions for being granted a normal visa, e.g. that there is not enough time to carry out a Schengen consultation before the planned trip, the foreign service mission shall register the application as a national visitor’s visa in NORVIS. In all other cases, an application for a Schengen visa must be filed.

What is considered sufficient documentation will vary depending on the purpose of the stay.

The UDI case officer must present the case to the police via email before a visa can be issued. This also concerns national visitor’s visas issued by other Schengen states on behalf of Norway (representation).

14. Applicant, party, sponsor and authorised representative

In principle, only the applicant is a party to the case, cf. the definition of party in the Public Administration Act section 2 letter e) (external link). A sponsor is not considered to be a party in the case, even if he or she has an interest in the outcome of the case. By sponsor is meant a person who lives in Norway and who invites the applicant and, if relevant, also provides a guarantee for the applicant’s travel and accommodation expenses.

The applicant can be represented by a sponsor authorised by the applicant in writing, or by a lawyer or other authorised representative, cf. the Public Administration Act section 12 (external link). A representative who is not a lawyer shall present a written authorisation, cf. the Immigration Regulations section 17-1 second paragraph first sentence. Lawyers are not obliged to present written authorisation, unless the administrative agency finds reason to request one, cf. the Public Administration Act section 12 fourth paragraph second sentence. Also see UDI 2010-128 Power of attorney (authorisation) when applying for a visa or residence permit.

In visa cases, it can be unclear whether the lawyer is representing the applicant or the sponsor. In such cases, the case officer shall obtain written authorisation for the lawyer, cf. the Public Administration Act section 12 fourth paragraph.

A copy of the decision shall be sent to the authorised representative. He or she can appeal a rejection on behalf of the applicant. A positive decision made by the foreign service mission is issued in the form of a visa sticker. The decision cannot therefore be sent to the representative.

The documents shall be sent to the party in the case or the party’s representative, if he or she requests access, cf. the Public Administration Act section 18 (external link).

15. Appeal

The general rules for processing appeal cases are described in the Public Administration Act Chapter VI (external link). UDI 2010-161 Appeals submitted after the deadline, and preliminary appeals (in Norwegian only) also contains guidelines for the processing of preliminary appeals and appeals submitted after the deadline for appealing.

The foreign service mission must always consider whether the claims in the appeal should lead to a reversal of the decision. If reversal is not an option, the forwarding letter to the UDI must briefly describe the foreign service mission’s assessment and why it was decided to uphold the rejection. The UDI must do the same when its decisions are appealed.

16. Reversal

If the foreign service mission or the UDI finds reason to reverse the decision, a written decision shall be made in which the visa application is granted in full or in part. The new decision shall include the reasons why the decision was reversed. The decision shall also inform the appellant about the possibility of being awarded necessary costs incurred in connection with the case, cf. the Public Administration Act section 36 (external link). Applications for coverage of necessary costs shall be considered in line with UDI 2010-182 Coverage of costs pursuant to the Public Administration Act (in Norwegian only).

If the decision to reverse the original decision is made later than six months from the date of application (or nine months for seafarers), the first day of the validity period shall be set no later than six months from the date of the decision.

17. Extension of visas

A visa period can only be extended when unforeseen circumstances, humanitarian considerations or weighty business or personal reasons so indicate. The visa cannot be extended beyond 90 days. More detailed guidelines are provided in UDI 2010-168 Extension of visas and visas for new entries (in Norwegian only).

18. Annulment and revocation

Annulment and revocation of visas are regulated by the Visa Code Article 34 and discussed in more detailed in the Visa Code Handbook I  Part V point 2. As a rule, the foreign national must be given advance notice of revocations, cf. the Public Administration Act section 37 second paragraph (external link). If the police give advance notice of rejection at the same time, this can be included in the same document. In such case, the advance notice, and any replies, shall be registered to both cases. Annulment and revocation decisions can be appealed. If the visa is annulled or revoked and the person in question is subsequently denied entry into the realm, cf. the Immigration Act section 17 first paragraph letter d), the foreign national can petition for deferred implementation of the rejection decision. The petition shall be considered by UDI Kontroll in the UDI.

The foreign service mission can annul or revoke a visa it has issued itself. The police are not authorised to annul or revoke a visa. The UDI can annul or revoke Norwegian visas and visas issued by other Schengen states. In the latter case, the state in question shall be informed via VIS email once the decision has been made.

If a person who is expelled from Norway holds a valid visa at the time the expulsion decision is implemented, the UDI shall revoke the visa. In such cases, advance notice is not required, since it is considered to be obviously unnecessary, cf. the Public Administration Act section 16 third paragraph letter c) (external link). The police shall open a case and forward it to UDI through Norvis. Politiet shall at the same time notify the UDI by e-mail to the visa service (visumservice). These cases are often urgent and must be given priority. It is important that the police invalidate the visa sticker once a decision has been made, cf. the Visa Code Article 34(5).

19. Participation in the Schengen cooperation

One of the objectives of the Schengen cooperation is to achieve as uniform visa practices as possible. All foreign service missions that consider visa applications shall therefore participate actively in the local Schengen cooperation (LSC), cf. the Visa Code Article 48. Minutes of LSC meetings shall be sent to the UDI to udi@udi.no and to the visa service (visumservice).