The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Kiev has started using Visa Portal - a new pilot project. Applicants who are permanent residents in Ukraine, as well as Moldova and Belarus, and who intend to travel to Norway as their main destination, can lodge their application for a Schengen Visa and pay the visa fee online. Ukrainian applicants lodging their applications through the Visa Portal can expect shorter processing time (3-5 working days), and minimum 8 working days for Belarusian citizens.
Pilot project
The Visa Portal is currently only being used for Schengen Visas where the purpose of visit is tourism, visits to friends / family, business trips etc (applications for residence / work or study permits, family reunification and entry visa for spouse will still have to be submitted in paper format).
How to apply
First time applicants must register as users on the Visa Portal. Existing users can simply log on. At present, applications must be lodged individually. However, functionality for group visas is currently being developed. More information about this will be published nearer the time.
Applicants will be guided through the application process. The information requested is the same as on the (previously used) application form for a Schengen Visa, such as personal details, details of close relatives, the intended journey, etc.
When lodging an application through the Visa Portal, it is not necessary to submit the ordinary visa application form for a Schengen visa in paper format. Instead, applicants can print out a cover letter from the Portal (only possible after payment has been made) for their supporting documents.
After submitting the application form and paying the visa fee (by debit / credit card) on the portal, the applicant must submit all the supporting documents at the Embassy and enrol his / her biometric data. Please note that in some cases applicants must inform their banks (once) that they wish to start using their card on the Internet.
Applicants who are exempt from paying the visa fee will get the fee reimbursed (electronically) when submitting their supporting documents at the Embassy. In cases where the relevant documents have not been submitted within two weeks after lodging the application online (on the Portal), refunds will take 2-3 weeks as bank transfers have already taken place.
Applicants who require a receipt for the visa fee can print this out from 'My visa application(s)' on the Portal. However, it is not necessary to submit this to the Embassy.
Applicants can also check the status of their applications on the Visa Portal (under 'My visa application(s)').
Previously lodged applications will be stored on the user's profile and can be used as templates for subsequent applications.
Please note that the Embassy cannot start processing the application before all supporting documents have been received.