Fjords, the northern lights and summer cruises have made Norway a steady favourite from the UAE. Norway is not in the EU but is in Schengen, and it runs its own online application system, the UDI portal. In 2025 the Norwegian Embassy in Abu Dhabi received 16,232 applications from the UAE and did not issue a visa in 31% of them — one of the higher rates among the busy consulates here.
Checked on 20 October 2026 against Norway in the UAE (the Royal Norwegian Embassy), the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) and the European Commission’s 2025 visa statistics. Sources at the end.
On this page
- Norway at a glance
- Step by step
- How long it really takes
- Documents and money
- Single or multiple entry, and Svalbard
- What the 2025 figures say
- Questions people ask
Norway at a glance
| Who decides | Royal Norwegian Embassy, Abu Dhabi |
| Application | Online registration on the UDI portal |
| Where you submit | VFS Global in the UAE |
| Visa fee | €90 adults, €45 children 6–11, free under 6 — paid online when you register |
| VFS service fee | Paid online when you book |
| Decision time | Up to 15 calendar days after the Embassy receives the file; up to 45 if referred to UDI |
| Apply | At least 4 weeks before travel recommended; no later than 15 days, no earlier than 6 months |
| 2025 not-issued rate | 31% (UAE average 23.9%) |
| Multiple-entry share | 59% of issued visas |
Apply to Norway only if it is your main destination — the most nights, or the main purpose of the trip. A Scandinavian tour with five nights in Norway and two each in Sweden and Denmark is a Norwegian application. See which Schengen country to apply to.
Step by step
- Register your application on the UDI portal and pay the visa fee online.
- Book a VFS appointment and pay the VFS service fee online.
- Print the application form and the checklist for your purpose, and arrange documents in checklist order.
- Attend VFS with your passport and documents. Fingerprints are taken unless you gave them in the last 59 months.
- Wait while VFS sends the file to the Embassy in Abu Dhabi, which decides and returns it to the same VFS office.
The Embassy’s visa section does not take telephone enquiries. Questions go to VFS first. If someone else handles your application, you need a signed power of attorney, and all communication then goes to that person.
How long it really takes
The 15-day decision clock starts when the Embassy receives your file, not when you submit at VFS. The Embassy says moving files between VFS and Abu Dhabi can take 7 to 10 days. So a straightforward application can take three to four weeks from your appointment to your passport — and longer if the case is referred to UDI in Norway.
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| VFS to Embassy (and back) | 7–10 days |
| Embassy decision | Up to 15 calendar days |
| If referred to UDI | Up to 45 calendar days |
That is why the Embassy recommends applying at least four weeks before departure. For summer and northern-lights season (December to March), allow six to eight weeks.
Documents and money
- Printed application form and checklist.
- Passport valid at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from Schengen.
- A photo meeting the requirements.
- UAE residence visa and Emirates ID.
- Employer letter or NOC and bank statements.
- Flight reservation and accommodation.
- Travel insurance: at least €30,000, valid across Schengen for the whole stay.
- Certified translations into English or Norwegian of any document in another language. Missing translations can mean delay or refusal.
How much money to show
Norway publishes a clear figure: at least NOK 500 per person per day for your stay in Norway and the Schengen area, plus the cost of your return journey. A 10-day trip for one person therefore needs at least NOK 5,000 (about AED 1,700) of spending money, plus the return ticket. If you cannot show this yourself, your host in Norway can fill in a sponsorship form. See bank balance for a Schengen visa.
Single or multiple entry, and Svalbard
Norway’s default is a single-entry visa. If you want multiple entries, ask for it on the form and justify it — for example, a cruise that leaves and re-enters Schengen. Frequent travellers with a good visa history can be given multiple-entry visas valid for 1 to 5 years. In 2025, 59% of the visas the Embassy issued to UAE applicants were multiple entry.
Svalbard is outside Schengen. If your trip includes it, you must apply for two or more entries, because returning to the mainland counts as a new entry.
What the 2025 figures say
| Royal Norwegian Embassy, Abu Dhabi (2025) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Applications | 16,232 |
| Visas issued | 11,274 |
| Not-issued rate | 31% |
| Multiple-entry share of issued visas | 59% |
Norway’s refusal rate is close to Denmark’s (32%) and well above the UAE average. Before you submit, check three things: certified translations, funds that meet the NOK 500 rule, and genuine bookings. Compare every consulate in our Schengen statistics for the UAE.
If you are refused
You can appeal a Norwegian refusal by uploading your appeal and documents through the UDI portal, within the deadline in your refusal letter. Or reapply with a file that fixes the reason. See our refusal and appeal guide.
Mistakes to avoid
- Applying two weeks before travel and forgetting the VFS transit time.
- Submitting documents in Arabic, Hindi or Urdu without certified translations.
- A single-entry visa for a trip that includes Svalbard or a cruise outside Schengen.
- Paying an agent: VFS is Norway’s only official partner.
Questions people ask
How much bank balance do I need for a Norway visa?
At least NOK 500 per person per day of your stay, plus your return journey.
How long does a Norway visa take from the UAE?
Up to 15 days once the Embassy has the file, plus 7–10 days of transit between VFS and the Embassy. Apply at least four weeks ahead.
Can I call the Norwegian Embassy about my visa?
No. The visa section does not take telephone enquiries. Contact VFS first.
Related guides
- Denmark Schengen visa from the UAE
- Switzerland Schengen visa from the UAE
- Schengen 90/180-day calculator
- Schengen visa checklist for UAE residents
Sources
- Norway in the UAE — Visitor’s visa: norway.no
- Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI): udi.no
- European Commission — Visa statistics for consulates, 2025 (published 28 May 2026)
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 20 October 2026. Rechecked quarterly. Found an error? Email ionicwaleed@gmail.com — it gets fixed and logged.