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) |
| Public Holidays: |
Jan 1; Apr 14-15, 17-18; May 1, 17, 26; Jun 5-6; Dec 25-26 |
| 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
Visa Requirements
Visas are required by South African passport holders.
VFS Application Centres:
Tel: +27 (0) 12 425 3006
Email: info.nrza@vfshelpline.com
Web: visa.vfsglobal.com/zaf/en/nor/
PRETORIA: Brooklyn Pavilion, First floor, 217 Bronkhorst Street (entrance on Tram Street), Nieuw Muckleneuk, Brooklyn
CAPE TOWN: 8th Floor 2 Long Street, Cape Town, 8001
Application Process:
1. Register an account and apply on www.udi.no/en. The required visa fee must be paid via the portal.
2. Once you have completed the application form online and paid the fee, you will receive confirmation by email with a copy of your application form (schengen.pdf), application summary and payment receipt attached. You need to print the application form (schengen.pdf) and submit it together with the other required documentation.
3. Make your appointment with VFS to collect biometrics and hand in your documents. There will be an additional application fee applicable with VFS.
Required Documents
- Checklist
- Cover Letter- will be electronically sent via applicants email upon successful online application – must be printed out and signed.
- One (1) colour passport-sized photo with white background- and not older than 3 months. Edited photos are not accepted. Please glue/paste your photo (do not staple) on the Cover Letter.
- Photocopy of current Passport – personal page and all used pages (with visas, permit, and stamps).
Original passport – must be submitted together with the application.
Passport must be valid for at least 3 months after departure from the Schengen area.
Valid passport must have at least 2 unused pages (if approved, the visa will be affixed on said page/s). - Photocopy of all previous passports (especially pages with previous Schengen visas).
- Application Fee – Paid online through the Application Portal.
- If currently employed, stating position, length of service, salary (monthly or annually salary), and duration of approved leave of absence. And the last three payslips.
- If self-employed – a signed letter on the company letterhead declaring that you are self-employed, description of company/business, company registration certification including SARS certificate
- If currently a student - a signed letter from the school/college/university confirming attendance, and duration of study/degree.
- Original Proof of sufficient funds – stamped bank statements of the last three months – required minimum amount per day is NOK 500. Especially bank statements from account receiving salary.
- Roundtrip Airline Ticket Reservation with dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from Schengen states and specifying entry and exit from Norway. The ticket should be bought only after the visa has been granted. Mode of transport in/around Schengen states (boat, train, car, bus) and written itinerary is required. Note: If the application is approved, the visa will be issued according to your roundtrip airline ticket reservation. (Applicants are NOT advised to purchase ticket until visa has been granted).
- Photocopy of Travel Medical Insurance (TMI) - a document in the applicant’s name stating that the applicant is covered by a Schengen Travel Medical Insurance, i.e. minimum medical coverage of the Rand equivalent of Euro 35000 for all medical expenses, including repatriation dead or alive, occurring in any Schengen country. The document must include the duration of which the insurance is valid for and the policy number.
- Hotel bookings, or confirmation of booking of cruise or organised tour – in case of a pre-paid tour, details of the tour with a proof of payment to the tour operator must be provided.
- MINORS: the minor’s birth certificate (unabridged), certified copies of ID/passport of both parents. If the minor travels alone: certified parental consent by both parents. If the minor travels with only one parent, the other parent must produce the certified consent. If only one parent has guardianship of the minor, the relevant court documents must be presented.
Visa Processing Time
Usually 15 working days.
It is not possible to apply for a Schengen visa more than six months before the intended travel. It is recommended to apply at least 4 weeks before intended travel.
Visa Validity
A Schengen visa allows you to stay for a maximum of 90 days in a 180-day period.
Visa Cost
Adults: EUR90
Children (6-12): EUR45
Children (under 6): Free
VFS Service Fees: R191
All Fees are non-refundable. The only acceptable modes of payment of Service fees are by credit/debit card (Only at the Visa Application Centre) and Cash Deposit at Bank and Deposit Slip (Original) needs to be carried as evidence of payments when submitting your application at VFS Global Norway Visa Application Centre.
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 |
