Norway
About
| Norway is a land for nature lovers, with breath-taking fjords and glaciers, summer's midnight sun and a sparsely populated wilderness. The Norwegian countryside has countless steep-sided valleys, high mountain lakes and unforgettable views. Experience the midnight sun at the North Cape in the far Arctic - and enjoy the coastline from the comfort of the Hurtigruten ships, which call at a number of ports on the voyage north. Get away from it all and spend a few days in a lakeside mountain hytte, or cabin, enjoying fishing and nature walks. But beware of elk and other large wildlife. Take a ‘Norway in a Nutshell' tour from Bergen. You can choose to spend between one and three days on the trip, which takes in scenic rail and bus journeys as well as cruises along Norway's best fjords. |
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| Capital: | Oslo (OSL) |
| Currency: | Norwegian Krone (NOK) |
| Language: | Norwegian. English, Swedish and Danish are widely spoken. |
| Dialling code from SA: | + 47 |
| Time Zones: | GMT / UTC +1 (1 hour behind South Africa) |
| Daylight Savings Time: | From last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October: UTC / GMT +2 (same time as South Africa) |
| Side of the Road: | Right |
| Best Time to go: | May and September are the shoulder seasons. Peak season is June – July. For skiing, March is the best season. |
| Best For: | Fjords and natural attractions, Northern Lights and Midnight Sun, Medieval Architecture. |
| Plugs: | 230 volts AC, 50Hz. European round two-pin plugs are standard |
| Drinking Water: | Mains water in hotels and towns is safe to drink. Avoid drinking from streams and rivers. |
| Health: | There are adequate and well-equipped medical facilities, however visitors are required to pay for these services. Comprehensive health insurance is recommended. If you require any medication on your travels it is best to bring it with you, in the original packaging, with a signed and dated letter from your doctor detailing exactly what it is and why you need it. |
| Customs: | Normal social courtesies. Punctuality is expected. Lunch and Dinner tend to be eaten early. Norway is an egalitarian society, and do not flaunt their wealth or achievements. |
| Local Offences / Laws: | Smoking is prohibited in public places |
| Duty Free: | The following items can be imported into Norway without incurring customs duty: • 200 cigarettes or 250g of tobacco products and 200 leaves of cigarette paper. • Either 1L of spirits over 22% volume and 1.5L of alcoholic drinks over 4.7% volume but less than 22% volume, or 3L of alcoholic drinks less than 22% volume; and 2L of beer up to 4.7% volume. • Other goods to the value of Kr6,000 (if out of Norway for more than 24 hours) or Kr3,000 (if out of Norway for less than 24 hours). • 10kg of meat and meat products, cheese and foodstuffs (except dog and cat food). You must be over 18 years old to import tobacco and alcohol. You must be over 20 years old to import spirits over 22% volume. |
| Prohibited Imports: | The following items are prohibited without special permission: drugs and medicines (other than prescription medication), spirits over 60% volume, weapons and ammunition, fireworks, potatoes, meat and dairy products from outside the EEA, mammals, birds and exotic animals, and plants and their parts. |
| Prohibited Exports: | Endangered species or eggs of endangered species, antiques (except with a permit), or more than 15kg of fish. |
Issuing Authorities
Royal Norwegian Embassy in Pretoria
OZMIK HOUSE, 165 Lynnwood Road, Brooklyn, Pretoria
P. O. Box 36818, Menlo Park, 0102 Pretoria
Tel: 012 364 0700
Fax: 012 364 3799
E-mail: emb.pretoria@mfa.no
Web: www.norway.no/en/south-africa
VISIT BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
Royal Norwegian Consulate, Cape Town
Granger Bay Court (Corner of Beach and Granger Bay Blvd), North Wing, Office 302, V&A Waterfront
Tel: 021 200 8199
E-mail: consul@cnsct.co.za / norway@cnsct.co.za
VISIT BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
Royal Norwegian Consulate, Durban
Tel: +27 (0)83 289 6806
Email: rung@rungbutton.com
VISIT BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
All courier shipments to be addressed to: R. Button, 41 Colwyn Drive, Sheffield Beach, Umhlali 4390. Please notify the consulate by email when a shipment is on its way.
The Embassy has outsourced the handling of applications to VFS. Visa and Immigration related queries, and queries regarding making appointments for submitting applications, should therefore be addressed to the VFS Global Services.
Public Holidays 2025: Jan 1; Apr 17-18, 20-21; May 1, 17, 29; Jun 8-9; Dec 25-26
Public Holidays 2026: Jan 1; Apr 2-3, 5-6; May 1, 14, 17, 24-25; Dec 25-26
Visa Requirements
Visas are required by South African passport holders.
Norway is a member of the Schengen Agreement.
- If you intend to visit only Norway, you must apply at the Embassy of Norway / Visa Application Centre.
- If you intend to visit several Schengen countries, you must apply for a visa at the Embassy or Consulate that is your main destination / longest stay.
- If you intend to visit several countries but are spending an equal number of days in each, you should apply for a visa at the Embassy or Consulate of the country of your first point of entry.
VFS Application Centres:
Tel: +27 (0) 12 425 3006
Email: info.nrza@vfshelpline.com
Web: visa.vfsglobal.com/zaf/en/nor/
PRETORIA: Brooklyn Pavilion, 316 Tram Street, Nieuw Muckleneuk, Brooklyn, Pretoria
CAPE TOWN: 8th Floor 2 Long Street, Cape Town, 8001
REQUIREMENTS:
See General Schengen Requirements
In addition:
- Application form to be completed on www.udi.no/en. The required visa fee must be paid via the portal. Once completed, the application form, summary and payment receipt will be emailed to you. These documents must be printed and submitted with the other required documentation.
- Checklist (refer to VFS website)
- Proof of sufficient funds: stamped bank statement for the past three months, at least NOK 500 per day
- An appointment must be made at VFS for submission of documents and biometrics
Visa Processing Time
Apply at least 15 calendar days before the intended visit. Not more than 6 months before the visit.
Visa Validity
Stays of up to 90 days in a 180 day period
Visa Cost
Adults: EUR 90
Children (6-12): EUR 45
Children (under 6): Free
VFS Service Fees: EUR 9
SA Representative
SA Embassy
Drammensveien 88C, 0271, Oslo
Tel: +47 23 27 32 20
E-mail: oslo.reception@dirco.gov.za
Web: dirco1.azurewebsites.net/oslo/
Travel Health
| Compulsory: | None |
| Recommended Travel Vaccines: | Hepatitis B, Tetanus, Polio |
