Norway business visa
There is no separate Norwegian business visa for Indian travellers. Because Norway sits inside the Schengen Area, you go there for work meetings on a Schengen short-stay visitor's visa (Type C / uniform visa) rather than a Norwegian national visa. It has to be in your passport before you fly. It covers meetings, negotiations, conferences, training and other short business visits, allows up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and lets you move freely across the whole Schengen area on that one sticker.
If you live in India, your application is decided by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi and lodged in person at a VFS Global centre, where first-time applicants give biometrics. Apply through Norway's mission when Norway is your main destination, meaning where you spend the most days; if the days split evenly, apply where you first enter Schengen. A decision usually lands about 15 days after the embassy receives the file. During busy spells, or when a case is referred to the Directorate of Immigration (UDI), it can stretch to 45 days, and the embassy always has the final word.
Who this visa is for
- ✓Indian passport holders travelling to Norway for meetings, negotiations, conferences, training or other short business visits
- ✓Applicants whose main Schengen destination is Norway, or whose first point of entry into the Schengen area is Norway when travel time is split evenly between countries
- ✓Those holding an invitation from a Norwegian host company stating the purpose and dates of the visit
- ✓Applicants who can show sufficient funds for the trip (Norway applies a subsistence guideline of about NOK 500 per day) and clear ties to India showing they will return
- ✓Bona fide business partners of Norwegian companies who travel to Norway frequently, who may qualify for a multiple-entry visa
Visa options for Norway
Schengen business visitor visa (Type C)
The uniform short-stay visa for meetings, negotiations, conferences and short business visits; permits up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area.
Single or multiple entry
Issued as single or multiple entry at the embassy's discretion; bona fide business partners of Norwegian companies who visit frequently can receive multiple-entry visas valid up to a year, or longer with a strong prior travel history.
Business group application
Two or more business partners sharing the same itinerary can register and apply together as a group (2-16 people) and be seen at the same VFS Global centre.
Documents typically required
- ✓Schengen visa application form, registered online through the UDI application portal, then printed, dated and signed
- ✓Passport valid at least 3 months beyond your intended departure from the Schengen area, issued within the last 10 years, with at least two blank pages, plus your previous passports
- ✓Two recent passport photographs to Schengen specification (35x45 mm, light background)
- ✓Invitation letter from the Norwegian host company stating the purpose, nature and dates of the business visit
- ✓Covering letter from your Indian employer on company letterhead confirming your designation, the purpose of the trip, approved leave and that you will return to your job
- ✓Proof of the business relationship, such as correspondence, contracts or trade documents, where applicable
- ✓Flight tickets and accommodation booking covering the whole stay (do not pay in full until the visa is issued)
- ✓Personal bank statements for the last 3-6 months, income tax returns (ITR) for the last 2 years and Form 16 for salaried applicants
- ✓Salary slips for the last 3 months; company registration and GST documents for business owners or self-employed applicants
- ✓Proof of sufficient funds for the stay (Norway's guideline is about NOK 500 per day)
- ✓Travel medical insurance valid across the entire Schengen area for the whole stay, with minimum cover of EUR 30,000 including repatriation for medical reasons
- ✓Biometrics (photograph and ten fingerprints) given in person at a VFS Global centre for first-time applicants
- ✓Payment of the Schengen visa fee (currently EUR 90 for adults, EUR 45 for children aged 6-12) plus the VFS service fee
Your exact checklist depends on your profile — we confirm it during your case analysis. Every visa decision rests with the embassy or consulate.
Applicants resident in India lodge the application and give biometrics in person at a VFS Global centre; the Royal Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi handles applications from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Register the application online through the UDI portal before your VFS appointment, and book early, as slots fill quickly. You may apply up to six months before travel and no later than 15 calendar days before departure. A Norwegian Schengen visa lets you travel the whole Schengen area, but Norway must be your main destination or first point of entry for this to be the right mission to apply to.
Frequently asked questions
Do you guarantee the visa?
No. The decision rests solely with the Royal Norwegian Embassy and, where a case is referred, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). What we do is give you a frank, honest read on your case and build the strongest application we can. Across the last 2-3 years our applications carry a 97% success rate, but no consultant can promise an outcome.
How long does the Norway business visa take?
Usually about 15 days from the day the embassy receives your application. In peak periods, or if your case is referred to the UDI, it can run to 45 days. The embassy sets both the timeline and the outcome, so apply well ahead of your travel date.
Do I apply to Norway or to another Schengen country?
Apply through the Norwegian mission when Norway is your main destination, meaning where you spend the most days. If your time is split evenly between Schengen countries, apply to your first point of entry. Either way, the Norwegian Schengen visa then lets you travel the whole Schengen area, up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
What can I do on this visa?
Attend meetings, negotiations, conferences, training and other short business visits of up to 90 days. It does not let you take up paid employment or settle in Norway for the long term.