The following VFS Application Centres in Russia are open with limited capacity: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Murmansk, Arkhangelsk, Kazan, Krasnodar, Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk. You will find more information on the website of the Norwegian Embassy in Russia (external website, opens in new window). 

You must have a valid visa or residence permit to travel legally into Norway. We are aware that for many people it is difficult to get out of Russia now. Unfortunately, there is nothing UDI can do to help anyone to leave Russia. UDI is also unable to answer questions regarding the situation in Russia.

You cannot travel to another country to apply for a visa from there. You must submit a visa application in the country where you are a permanent resident. If you are already in a country other than where you live, you must clarify with the diplomatic mission whether you have strong and unforeseen reasons for still being able to apply.

As of 2 October 2023 at 24:00 it will no longer be possible to temporarily import Russian-registered passenger cars with nine or fewer seats into Norway, with some exceptions.

You can find more information about the rules on the government's website (external website).

Norway and the EU countries have already introduced bans on the import of, among other things, Russian-registered passenger cars with nine or fewer seats. From midnight on 2 October there will be stricter rules for temporary imports. This means that if you are going to drive to Norway and your car is Russian-registered, you will not be able to bring the car into Norway.

Exceptions

In Norway, four types of exceptions apply.

• Norwegian citizens or EEA citizens or their immediate family, who live in Russia and own a Russian-registered car, can travel to Norway with the car.
• Exceptions have also been made for vehicles that are necessary for humanitarian reasons, such as acute illness, death or a funeral in the family. You must be able to document at the border that you must bring the car into Norway for humanitarian reasons. If you can achieve the purpose of the visit by other means of transport, for example a bus, the use of your own Russian-registered car will not be considered "necessary".
• There are also exceptions for diplomatic vehicles or vehicles belonging to international organisations or a state's courier service.
• In addition, you can apply for an exception from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In special cases in which foreign policy considerations warrant it, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may grant an exception.

Please note that the ban does not apply to vehicles with ten or more seats. It will still be possible to cross the border with, for example, minibuses and buses via Storskog border station.

Who can I contact if I have further questions about these rules and exceptions?

UDI does not have the authority to answer questions about the rules for importing or temporarily importing Russian-registered passenger cars.

If you have questions about how to interpret the rules and exceptions, you can send an e-mail to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For more information, there is a Q&A available (in Norwegian only) (external website) on the government website.

How does this affect me?

The rules are related to the import of goods and does not change the conditions for entry that applies to individuals. Even if a vehicle is covered by an exception, this does not mean that the persons traveling in the vehicle are automatically allowed to enter Norway.

You must have a valid visitor’s visa or a residence permit to enter Norway. You must check the rules that apply to border crossings for Russian citizens in other countries. Unfortunately, the Norwegian authorities and UDI cannot answer questions regarding what applies outside Norway's borders.

Although you may have been granted a permit to visit Norway or a residence permit, it may be difficult for you to travel to Norway. UDI is not able to help you to travel to Norway.  

It is possible to collect your entry visa in another country than Russia. You must send an e-mail to the embassy responsible for applications in the country where you want to collect your entry visa.

There are several permits you may apply for to work in Norway. There are no changes to the application procedure or the rules for Russians seeking to obtain a work immigration permit in Norway.

You cannot apply for a permit as a skilled worker if you have previously applied for protection. 

The rules and processes for family-immigration applications for Russian nationals have not changed. That is, the standard rules for family immigration still apply.

To be eligible for family immigration, you must have close family members residing in Norway. Close family members of persons who have been granted collective protection in Norway. This may be a spouse/cohabitant, fiancé, a child or parents. The person seeking to move to Norway is to submit the application. As a general rule, you are to apply from outside Norway (either from the country where you are a citizen or where you have had a residence permit over the past six months).

If you are already in Norway and wish to apply while in Norway you are subject to special requirements. For example, you must provide documentation showing that you are a skilled worker. Another requirement for eligibility for a family immigration residence permit is that your family member in Norway has a sufficiently high income.

For applicants from your country, it may be difficult to be granted an application for family immigration in order to get married. This is because UDI assesses whether it is likely that you will return to your home country if you do not get married as planned. It is more likely that your application for family immigration will be granted if you get married first.

No, it will not affect your case if you marry in another country. It is important that the marriage is valid according to the laws of the country where you are getting married. It will affect your application if the marriage is not validly entered into.

To apply from the country you are staying in, you must either be a citizen or have had legal residence there for six months. If not, you cannot apply from this country.

UDI does not give general priority to your application for family immigration on the basis that you are in Russia. If you want priority, you must send a request. We will make an individual assessment of your request for priority.

If you submit a request for priority, but the answer from UDI is that we cannot prioritize your case, the normal waiting times will apply to you.