This guide covers the UK visa from Norway in 2026: the ETA now required of Norwegian citizens, current fees, and the visa routes for non-EU residents. Since Brexit, Norwegian nationals are visa-free for short visits but need an Electronic Travel Authorisation to travel. Whether you need a quick ETA for a London trip or a Standard Visitor visa as a non-EU resident, this guide sets out the requirements, costs, and how to apply.
Source: Home Office ETA datasets and entry clearance visa fees, year ending March 2026.
Norwegian citizens have needed an ETA since 2 April 2025, and it is now fully enforced — no ETA, no boarding. In the year to March 2026 the UK issued about 437,000 ETAs to Norwegian nationals at a 99.7% approval rate. The ETA costs £16 (about €19) and lasts two years; only non-EU residents of Norway need an actual visa. Norway uses the krone, so UK fees are charged in pounds.
UK Visa from Norway: Requirements and Fees 2026
Norway and Britain are bound by the North Sea — Viking-age contact, centuries of timber and fish trade, and a wartime alliance cemented when King Haakon VII led his government-in-exile from London. As an EEA and EFTA state, Norway keeps a distinct relationship with the UK, and Oslo and London remain close commercial and security partners. Since Brexit, though, Norwegian travellers face the same ETA system as other visa-exempt nationals, and it must be approved before boarding.
Norwegian citizens do not need a visa for visits of up to six months, but they do need an ETA (£16 (about €19), valid two years) obtained through the UK ETA App. Non-EU residents of Norway need a Standard Visitor visa (€152) instead. For work, study, or family stays, Norwegian nationals apply for the relevant visa and give biometrics through the UK Immigration: ID Check App — no visa centre visit.
UK Entry Requirements for Norwegian Citizens
Entry is straightforward for short trips but no longer automatic. Norwegian nationals can no longer use EU lanes and pass through the same control as other non-EU visitors. The core requirement is a valid passport plus an approved ETA before travel — the ETA is checked at boarding, so it must be in hand before you leave Norway.
- A valid passport for the duration of the stay
- An approved ETA (£16 (about €19), valid two years, via the UK ETA App)
- Evidence of return or onward travel
- Accommodation details or a host's address
- Enough funds to support the visit without working
- Genuine intention to leave within six months
At the border, officers may ask about your plans, accommodation, and funds, though detailed questioning is rare for Norwegian visitors. Keeping your booking and return ticket on your phone speeds things up. Travellers from elsewhere in the region face the same system, including those covered by our France ETA guidance.
Do I Need a Visa for the UK from Norway?
It depends on your nationality, not your residence. Norwegian citizens need only an ETA (£16 (about €19)) for visits up to six months. Non-EU residents of Norway — Indian or Pakistani passport holders, for example — need a Standard Visitor visa (€152) regardless of their Norwegian residence status. For work or study beyond six months, every nationality needs the appropriate visa.
The UK's system is nationality-based, so your Norwegian residence permit (oppholdstillatelse) does not change what you need — only your passport does. According to the official gov.uk ETA guidance, Norwegian citizens have needed an ETA since 2 April 2025, with a 99.7% issue rate in the latest Home Office figures — approval is effectively automatic for eligible travellers.
UK Requirements by Nationality (from Norway)
| Your Nationality | What You Need | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Norwegian citizen | ETA (UK ETA App) | £16 (≈ €19) |
| Other EU/EEA citizen in Norway | ETA (UK ETA App) | £16 (≈ €19) |
| Indian passport holder in Norway | Standard Visitor visa | €152 |
| Pakistani passport holder in Norway | Standard Visitor visa | €152 |
| Other non-EU resident of Norway | Standard Visitor visa | €152 |
The full rules, exemptions, and how the scheme works across nationalities are covered in our guide to the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme. The same ETA route applies to German citizens travelling to the UK.
UK Tourist Visa from Norway
Norwegian citizens need no tourist visa — only the ETA (£16 (about €19)) for visits up to six months. Non-EU residents of Norway need a Standard Visitor visa (€152) for any trip. Both cover tourism, sightseeing, and visiting friends or family. Norwegian nationals apply via the ETA app; non-EU residents apply through the visa centre in Oslo.
"UK tourist visa from Norway" means different things by nationality. A Norwegian passport holder visiting as a tourist only needs an ETA. A non-EU national living in Norway must apply for a Standard Visitor visa, regardless of how long they have lived there.
What You Can Do as a Visitor
- Tourism: sightseeing, attractions, events, and festivals
- Family visits: seeing friends and relatives in the UK
- Business activities: meetings, conferences, and negotiations — no paid work
- Short courses: study up to 30 days where it is not the main purpose
- Private medical treatment at UK private facilities
- Transit through the UK to another destination
For repeat trips, the long-term visitor visa allows unlimited entries over two, five, or ten years while still capping each stay at six months.
UK Visa Fees from Norway 2026
Norwegian citizens pay £16 (about €19) for an ETA. Non-EU residents of Norway pay from €152 for a six-month Standard Visitor visa. Work visas run from €924, the Student visa is €671, and a partner/family visa is €2,481. UK fees are set in pounds; because Norway uses the krone, the amount in NOK depends on the exchange rate at payment. The figures below reflect the 2026 schedule.
Home Office fees are set in pounds. Applicants in Norway pay in their card currency at the rate applying when the fee is charged, so the krone amount varies. The euro figures below are the standard European conversion and are a close guide to what Norwegian applicants pay.
Visitor and Short-Stay Fees
| Visa Type | Fee (EUR) | Max Stay Per Visit |
|---|---|---|
| ETA (Norwegian citizens) | £16 (≈ €19) | 6 months |
| Standard Visitor (6 months) | €152 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (2 years) | €569 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (5 years) | €1,015 | 6 months |
| Long-term Visitor (10 years) | €1,268 | 6 months |
| Marriage Visitor | €152 | 6 months |
| Private Medical Treatment | €263 | 11 months |
| Direct Airside Transit (DATV) | €47 | Airside only |
| Visitor in Transit | €84 | 48 hours |
For travellers planning repeat trips, the long-term visitor visa spreads the cost over several years while still capping each stay at six months.
Work, Study and Family Fees
| Visa Category | Fee (EUR) |
|---|---|
| Student | €671 |
| Skilled Worker (up to 3 years) | €924 |
| Skilled Worker (over 3 years) | €1,825 |
| Health and Care Worker (up to 3 years) | €365 |
| Youth Mobility Scheme | €383 |
| Partner / Family visa | €2,481 |
| Adult Dependent Relative | €4,370 |
| Priority service | +€597 |
| Super Priority service | +€1,194 |
Any visa over six months also carries the Immigration Health Surcharge, charged in pounds at £1,035 a year (students and Youth Mobility participants pay £776). It is paid on top of the visa fee. Health and Care Worker visa holders are exempt.
UK Visa from Norway for Non-EU Residents
Non-EU residents of Norway pay €152 for a six-month Standard Visitor visa, whatever their nationality. A Norwegian residence permit (oppholdstillatelse) does not grant visa-free UK access, but it strengthens the application by showing ties to Norway. Applications go through the visa centre in Oslo, with processing of about three weeks.
Norway hosts established international communities, many in Oslo and the larger cities. Non-EU nationals must obtain a visa for any UK trip, regardless of purpose or length — the Norwegian residence permit does not grant visa-free access. The upside is that settled life in Norway helps demonstrate a clear reason to return.
Legal residence in Norway — especially permanent residence — helps a UK visitor application by showing strong ties and a clear reason to return. Include your residence permit, employment contract, and evidence of settled life such as property, bank accounts, or children in school alongside the standard documents.
Build the file using our UK visa supporting documents checklist, and if a relative is hosting you, our guide to the sponsor's invitation letter shows what to include. If a visit was refused before, our guides on why UK visas are refused and the odds of success when reapplying explain how to strengthen a fresh application.
Working and Studying in the UK
Norwegian citizens need a work visa since Brexit. The main route is the Skilled Worker visa (€924–€1,825), needing employer sponsorship and a salary at or above the £41,700 general threshold. Norwegian nationals give biometrics through the UK Immigration: ID Check App from home. The Youth Mobility Scheme (ages 18–35, €383) and the Student visa (€671) are the other common routes.
Free movement ended on 31 December 2020, so Norwegian nationals now need permission to work or study long-term. The upside is convenience: as an EU or EEA national, you verify your identity through the UK Immigration: ID Check App rather than attending a visa centre. UK visa grant rates for Norwegian applicants are high across all routes in the latest Home Office figures.
Skilled Worker Visa
The Skilled Worker route is the main path for Norwegian nationals taking UK employment. You need a job offer from a licensed sponsor and a salary meeting the general threshold of £41,700, with lower thresholds for some roles. The fee is €924 for up to three years or €1,825 beyond that, plus the health surcharge, and it leads to settlement after five years.
Youth Mobility and Student Routes
Norwegian citizens aged 18 to 35 can apply under the Youth Mobility Scheme to live and work in the UK for two years; places are limited and the fee is €383. For courses over six months, the Student visa costs €671 and allows part-time work. After a degree, the Graduate route gives two years' post-study work. Shorter courses up to six months need only an ETA.
Partner and Family Routes
Norwegian nationals joining a British or settled partner can apply for a partner visa, currently €2,481, with a minimum income requirement of £29,000. As an EEA and EFTA state, Norway is also among the countries whose citizens could hold EU Settlement Scheme status, in which case the free EUSS family route may apply instead of the paid partner visa.
How to Apply for a UK Visa from Norway
The process depends on whether you are a Norwegian citizen or a non-EU resident of Norway. Norwegian nationals do almost everything by app; non-EU residents use the Oslo visa centre for biometrics.
- Complete the online application and pay the fee at gov.uk (charged in pounds)
- Norwegian citizens: give biometrics via the UK Immigration: ID Check App from home
- Non-EU residents: book biometrics at the Oslo visa centre
- Upload your supporting documents
- Wait for the decision — about 3 weeks standard, 5 days on priority
- Receive your eVisa or a vignette in your passport
For an ETA there is no form beyond the app itself — download it, scan your passport, take a photo, and pay. If a visa decision runs late, our guide on UK visa delays explains how to chase it, and priority and super-priority services can speed things up where available. You can track timelines with our guide to processing after biometrics.
- Norwegian citizens need an ETA (£16 (about €19)), applied for via the UK ETA App — issue rate 99.7%
- For visas, Norwegian nationals use the ID Check App — no visa centre visit
- Non-EU residents pay €152 for a six-month Standard Visitor visa
- UK fees are set in pounds; the NOK amount depends on the exchange rate at payment
- Work visas need sponsorship and a £41,700 general salary threshold
- The health surcharge (£1,035/year, £776 students) applies to visas over six months
For official confirmation, use the gov.uk visa checker and the Standard Visitor visa guidance. Neighbouring guides cover the Sweden ETA guide, Danish citizens and the UK, the Finland ETA guide, and travellers from Iceland.
No visa is needed for visits up to six months, but Norwegian citizens must hold an ETA before travelling. It costs £16 (about €19), lasts two years, and is obtained through the UK ETA App. The requirement has applied since 2 April 2025 and is enforced at boarding — without an approved ETA, carriers will not let Norwegian travellers board transport to the UK.
No. Norway uses the krone, and UK visa fees are set in pounds. Norwegian applicants pay in their card currency at the exchange rate applying when the fee is charged, so the NOK amount varies a little. The euro figures quoted are the standard European conversion and a close guide to what Norwegian applicants pay.
Non-EU residents pay €152 for a six-month Standard Visitor visa in 2026, whatever their nationality. Longer visitor visas cost €569 for two years, €1,015 for five years, or €1,268 for ten years. Applications are made through the visa centre in Oslo and take about three weeks.
A Norwegian citizen with an ETA can stay up to six months per visit for tourism, family, or business. There is no annual cap on visits, but frequent or very long stays may prompt questions about whether you are a genuine visitor. Working, studying long-term, or settling all require the relevant visa with its own conditions.
No. Since Brexit, Norwegian citizens need a work visa. The main route is the Skilled Worker visa (€924–€1,825), needing sponsorship from a licensed UK employer and a salary at or above the £41,700 general threshold. Norwegian nationals aged 18–35 may also use the Youth Mobility Scheme. Business meetings are allowed on an ETA, but paid work is not.
Yes. Norwegian and other EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals applying for UK work, study, or family visas can verify their identity through the ID Check App from home, so no visa centre visit is needed. You scan your passport chip with your phone's NFC reader and take a photo to complete identity checks.
Standard processing is about three weeks for visitor and other non-settlement visas, and up to twelve weeks for settlement visas such as partner routes. Priority service (€597) targets five working days for visitor visas, and super priority (€1,194) aims for the next working day where available. ETAs are usually decided within minutes, up to three working days.
The UK ETA App is for applying for an Electronic Travel Authorisation, which Norwegian citizens use for short visits up to six months. The UK Immigration: ID Check App is for giving biometrics when applying for an actual visa — work, study, or family. In short, the ETA app is for visiting and the ID Check app is for longer stays that need a visa.