Norway visa for South African citizens

Norway’s tourist visa costs €90 at the standard rate published by its authorities; the official site for it is udi.no. Processing time, as Norway states it: Up to 15 calendar days after the Norwegian mission receives the file; up to 45 days if the case goes to UDI. Longest stay on the tourist visa: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area.

Norway has 1 mission in South Africa, with its embassy in Pretoria.

In 2025, Norway’s embassy and consulates in South Africa (Pretoria) received 3,829 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 3,610. 5.7% of applications were refused. In 2024 it had been 8.4%: the rate fell by 2.7 points. Applications fell by 18% compared with 2024 (4,679).

For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 5.3% of the applications lodged in South Africa that year, from 1.8% at the consulates of Greece to 21.9% at those of Croatia. Norway’s consulates worldwide refused 15.7%. Norway was the 12th most applied-for Schengen state in South Africa.

You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in South Africa, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.

For a trip from South Africa to Norway, the published travel advice reads as follows: the US State Department rates Norway at Level 1, exercise normal precautions (updated 5 July 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to Norway (updated 25 August 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for Norway (updated 13 October 2026).

How long South African citizens can stay in Norway

How long South African citizens may stay in Norway is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.

How South African citizens apply

In South Africa, applications go to the Norwegian embassy in Pretoria, or to a visa centre acting for Norway; fees, documents and processing times are published by Norway.

Norway and the Schengen area

A Schengen visa issued by Norway lets South African citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to Norway when it is the main destination of the trip.

Norway’s neighbours for South African citizens

Russia admits South African citizens visa-free. Finland and Sweden require South African citizens to obtain a visa in advance.

Norwegian citizens travelling to South Africa

South Africa admits Norwegian citizens without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.