How to Get Student Visa for Norway

Before one leaves his country, a visa is usually required no matter what the purpose. A visa is like a permit to enter or leave a country. There are some countries that have good relations and its citizens do not require a visa to visit each other. However, all Pakistani national are required to get a visa before entering Norway. Norway is a great study abroad destination hosting thousands of students every year. If a Pakistani student wants to study in Norway, he/ she will first have to get a student visa. Without the visa, students can’t even get on plane to Norway. Norwegian student visa is referred to as student residence permit. If you are interested in studying abroad in Norway, here you will learn the complete process to get student visa for Norway.

1 -    Get an Acceptance Letter

Before applying for student visa, student has to get admission in a university of Norway. Make sure you learn you the complete application procedure to study in Norway. After you have been accepted as a student in a Norwegian university only then will you be able to apply for Norwegian student visa. Once enrolled in an institute, they will send you an acceptance letter. It is a confirmation with complete details including your program, studies level and its duration. Student has to submit this acceptance letter along with other documents mentioned below.

HERE SEE: How to Apply for Study in France

2 -   Get an Accommodation in Norway

Getting an accommodation in Norway prior hand is also important because you won’t be issued a student visa without it. This process is done while applying for admission. When you are applying for admission be sure to ask institute’s officials for accommodation in student villages. Student villages are reserved by students in advance so it can be difficult to get accommodation there unless you apply before others. If you don’t get any place in student village then apply for a private accommodation. You must also have a proof that you have got a place to stay in Norway. This proof is also to be submitted along with acceptance letter and other documents to get Norwegian student visa.

HERE SEE: All Accommodation Options in Norway and Their Registration Process

3 -   When to Apply?

Right after you have received the confirmation from the university, it is time to apply for admission. Make sure you have collected all required documents mentioned below in advance. The sooner you apply the better, in case you face a problem you will have the time to cope with it.

4 -   Where and How to Apply?

Good news is that you can submit your application for Norwegian student visa online. However, you will be required to personally hand in all your documents to your nearest Norway Visa Application Center. Here you can see All Norway Visa Application Centers in Pakistan. Just follow the following simple steps in order to apply for Norwegian student visa.

1. Visit https://selfservice.udi.no/en-gb/UserRegistration/ and create an account.

2. Read the disclaimer and fill in the application form. All personal and academic information will be required in this form. You may also be required to pay an online fees.

3. After you have submitted the form, a signed cover letter or application form will be sent to your email.

4. Now to schedule an appointment, visit https://online.vfsglobal.com/. Select your nearest Norway visa application center and schedule an appointment.

5. Visit the Norway visa application center on the scheduled date and time along with all required documents mentioned below.

6. You can also track your application process by just giving the application reference number. Click here to visit the page to Track Norwegian student visa application.

5 -   Gather Required Document for Norwegian Student Visa

You must know all the documents that are required before you apply for a student visa. Try to have gathered all these documents as soon as possible so in case anything goes wrong or missing, you will have the time to fix it. Make sure all the documents are in English or Norwegian language otherwise get them translated in one of these languages. You will have to hand in the copies and present the original documents. Following are the all required documents for Norwegian student visa.

1. Passport and copy of all used pages in passport.

2. Signed cover letter or application form from above mentioned application portal.

3. Two recent passport size photos with white background.

4. CNIC if applicant is over 18 years of age otherwise a Bay Form.

5. Family Registration Certificate if applicant is over 18 years old. Child Registration Certificate if the applicant is under 18 years of age.

6. Completely filled in family form. Here download the family information form to be filled and submitted with other documents.

7. Acceptance letter by the institute stating your program details.

8. Matric and Inter certificate attested by the relevant local Education Boards. Be sure to attest the original and some copies of certificates depending on the number of universities you applied for.

9. Certificate, Transcript or Degree of university/ college attested by HEC Pakistan.

10. Document or proof that you have a proper accommodation in Norway.

11. Checklist by UDI. Printed, filled and signed. Visit https://www.udi.no/en/checklists for the checklist, scroll down at the end of the page, click print and save the document.  

12. Proof that you have and will have at least NOK 111,657 per year to cover your living expenses in Norway. There are three ways for this:

13. Statement of support from the State Education Loan Fund.

14. A bank statement from your account  in a Norwegian bank.

15. A work contract for part time job in Norway enabling to earn enough in restricted number of hours.

6 -   After Applying for Student Residence Permit

It will take about 6 weeks to receive an answer after submitting the application. You may also be called for an interview. After you have received student residence permit (Norwegian student visa) plan your departure in accordance with the time table set by the university.

After reaching Norway, you will need to get a residence card from the police station in the area of your accommodation. You must do it within first week. They will take your fingerprints and register your photo in their record.