Schengen Visa
Important information about Schengen Visas
- A Schengen Visa may be granted to applicants who are going to a Schengen Country for tourism, business, family visit, etc., when the intention is to return to the applicant's country of residence afterwards.
- If the intention is to apply for a Residence permit in a Schengen Country, this application should be submitted in Khartoum, not when in Schengen on a Schengen Visa.
- It is not possible to work (paid or unpaid) whilst in Schengen on a Schengen Visa
- A Schengen Visa may, as a general rule, not be extended in Schengen.
- A Schengen Visa may be given for up to five years. However, first-time applicants will only be given a short time visa. If the applicant returns before the expiry of the Visa and does not violate the terms of the Visa, the Embassy can issue longer and longer Visas, provided there is a continued (documented) need to travel to Norway.
- Applicants may stay up to 90 days in the Schengen area in any six months period. E.g. If a visa is issued for 90 days, multiple entries over a period of one year, the applicant may spend a total of 180 days in Schengen in that year. However, it is important that he / she observes the six months rule.
- It is not possible to apply more than 90 days before the intended journey.
- If the application is approved, the applicant's last date of entry to Schengen is 90 days from when the decision was made.
- Applicants intending to visit one Schengen country should apply for a visa at the Embassy or Consulate of that country.
- Applicants intending to visit several Schengen countries should apply to the Embassy or Consulate of the country which is the main destination (i.e. where the applicant will spend the most days).
- Applicants intending to visit several Schengen countries, but do not have a main destination (i.e. the applicant intends to spend an equal amount of days in each country), should apply to the Embassy or Consulate of the Schengen country which is the first port of entry.
- Applicants are advised to make copies of all documentation they submit to the Embassy and, if a Visa is granted, keep the documents in their hand luggage when travelling to Norway for production at Immigration Ports.
- The issue of Schengen visas is discretionary and depends on examination of each individual case, including purpose of visit and intention to return.
NB: Sponsors in Norway are advised to read the Information on Visa practice (in Norwegian only) before inviting any applicants.
How to apply
Applications must be registered on the Application Portal and supporting documents submitted at the Embassy at the applicant's booked appointment time.
Applicants going to Sweden, Denmark and Iceland must also submit the print out of the application form from the Application Portal – duly completed, dated and signed by the applicant.
Please note that the applications are scanned. It is therefore of paramount importance that all documents are of good quality. Unclear copies may lead to delays.
Before submitting the application, applicants are strongly advised to make a copy of the application form and supporting documents. If the application is approved, applicants should travel with this (in their hand luggage) for production at Immigration Ports.
All documents from Norway must be sent to the applicant, not to the Embassy.
Visa requirements
- Cover Letter (sent to your e-mail after completing the booking. The Cover Letter may also be printed from the Application Portal).
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One passport size picture with white background and not older than 6 months. For picture specifications, please click here. Please attach the photograph on the Cover Letter using adhesive tape or glue, not staples.
- Original passport (valid for at least 3 months after departure from Schengen), plus one (1) clear, good quality copy of all used pages, including visas and stamps.
- Previous passports and past visas / stamps to Schengen and other countries), plus one (1) clear, good quality copy of all used pages, including visas and stamps.
- Proof of occupation
• If currently employed, Pay slips for the last three months, plus original “Certificate of Employment” stating position, length of service, salary and duration of approved leave of absence and photocopy of company ID (original to be presented).
• If self-employed, original “Business Name Registration Certificate” and latest original Income Tax Statement or other original proof of annual income.
• If a student, original certification of enrolment from the school where the applicant is presently enrolled and photocopy of valid school identification card (original to be presented); If applicant is going on a holiday during the summer / semestral break, present an original certification of reservation or certification of enrolment to prove that he/she is enrolled for the next school year/semester.
- Letter of invitation and a copy of the passport of the person inviting.
For applicant’s going to Norway: If the person inviting is not a Nordic citizen, a copy of the most recent Residence Permit in Norway must be submitted.
The invitation must contain information about the purpose of your visit. It should therefore contain complete and relevant information about the person extending the invitation, the invited person and their relationship to each other (including information about any family relationship), along with the purpose of the stay to be covered by the visa. The invitation should also state whether the person extending the invitation is also standing as a financial guarantor for the applicant.
NB: When applying for a visa to visit a family member, the invitation letter should come from the biological family member in Norway, not from the Norwegian husband, etc. (the guarantee form may be filled in by the Norwegian husband, etc).
Sponsors in Norway are advised to read the Information on Visa practice before inviting anyone to Norway (in Norwegian only).
For applicant’s going to Sweden:
The person whom you plan to visit (your reference person) must fill out a special form — Inbjudan, nr 240011 in Swedish, or Invitation, no. 241011 in English. Please click here for the English version.(link: Your reference person must send the form to you and attach their civic registration certificate (personbevis) and a copy of passport, ID card or equivalent, which proves their identity.
They can order the certificate from the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket). There are civic registration certificates for different purposes. Tell your reference person to order the certificate under the heading of “Inbjudan" (Invitation).
For applicant’s going to Denmark:
For applicant’s going on a private visit to Denmark, it is recommended that the person inviting you uses the Danish Immigration Service’s invitation form.
- Original UDI Guarantee Form for Visits (Norway only) - Stamped and signed by the Norwegian Police. This guarantee form must not be older than 3 months from the date of issue at the time of application. The guarantee form is not required for business and organized tours.
NB: Please note that a guarantee form is not a substitution for an invitation letter. Both documents are required.
A clear, good quality copy of the stamped and signed Guarantee Form must be submitted at the Embassy, along with the original. The copy will be stamped and signed by the Embassy and returned to the applicant (the applicant must travel with this document).
- Proof of sufficient funds - Bank certification and payslip for the last 3 months (not necessary if UDI Guarantee Form for Visit is submitted).
- Purpose of visit
• Family visit: Proof of relationship
1: If visiting sibling: Birth certificate of both sliblings to document the relationship
2: If visiting children: The child's birth certificate to document the relationship with the parents
3: If visiting parents: The applicant's birth certificate to document the relationship with the parent(s)
4: If visiting wife / husband: Marriage Certificate to document the relationship with the spouse
5: If visiting mother / father of the applicant's or the sponsor's common child: The Child's birth certificate to document the relationship to both parents.
• Boyfriend/Girlfriend/Fiance visit: Proof of time spent together, if applicable (e.g. copy of sponsor’s passport showing pages with stamps of arrival and departure – not a requirement but highly recommended)
For all applicant’s going to Sweden by being invited by a person residing in Sweden, should also fill out and submit the Family Appendix
• Tourism:
Organized Tour: Full travel itinerary (if the visa is granted, confirmation of payment from the travel agent must be submitted)
Private tour: Travel plan including all countries / cities to be visited, information about accommodation and transport. (If a visa is granted, confirmed bookings of hotels and transport must be submitted).
• Business:
For Norway and Sweden: Original letter of invitation from the Norwegian Business Partner
For Denmark(and Faroe Island): Invitation Form for Business Visit, click here
Application fee:
EUR 60,- (adults) / EUR 35 (children aged 6-12), equivalent in Sudanese Pounds. Payable in cash upon submitting the application. Currently the visa fee is 220 SDG. For children aged between 6-12, it is 120 SDG. This could change dues to currency rate changes.
For information on applicants who are exempt from paying the Visa Fee, please see below.
- Travel Medical Insurance.
NB: Insurance must be bought from an Insurance company that is accredited by the Schengen Group in Khartoum.
- Flight Ticket Reservation (Return).
When submitting an application, applicants should only submit a reservation, not a booking.
Reservations can be made with most travel agents. Applicants who wish to book online can make a print-out from the website (before proceeding to the payment pages) and submit this instead.
Applicants are advised NOT to buy any tickets before they have been informed that their application has been approved.
The Reservation must be in accordance with the Travel Medical Insurance.
- Side trips: Applicants who also intend to visit other countries must submit a travel plan when applying, detailing where the applicant will stay and how the applicant will travel, as well as information on how many days the applicant will stay in the different countries.
If the application is approved, the applicant will be asked to submit proof of transport and accommodation for the entire trip. If, at this point, it turns out that the main destination has changed, the visa will not be issued.
- Applicants who are married and / or have children are advised to submit proof of this (marriage certificate and birth certificates of the children). The latter is not a requirement, but will strengthen the application, and is therefore highly recommended. For applicant’s going to Sweden, they should submit the family appendix, click here
- Applicants who own land or property are advised to submit proof of this. As above, this is not a requirement, but will strengthen the application, and is therefore highly recommended.
Applicant who are minors (Under the age of 18), and not travelling with both parents:
- Original birth certificate of the child
- Passports of both parents - Both parents must appear in person at the Embassy in Khartoum for identification purposes.
- Original Letter of Parental Consent to apply for and obtain a Schengen Visa signed by both parents.
- If only one parent has sole custody of the child, the Court Decision awarding custody to the one parent must be submitted.
- If the other parent is dead, the Death Certificate must be submitted.
Additional requirement for Denmark and Iceland:
- Copy of the sponsor's passport and payslips for the last 3 months (Iceland only).
- Invitation Form for Tourists (VU2) - Denmark only
- Invitation Form for Business (VU1) - Denmark only
All documents from Norway / Denmark / Iceland must be sent to the applicant, NOT to the Embassy.
Applicants exempted from paying the Visa Fee:
- Children under 6 years
- School pupils, students, post-graduate students and accompanying teachers who undertake trips for the purpose of study or educational training
- Researchers from third countries travelling for the purpose of carrying out scientific research, as per specific rules
- Applicants related to (spouse, descendant or dependent ascendant of) EEA citizen who are exercising their right to free movement (on production of relevant certificates (birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.)
- Applications for Entry visas (d-visa) for skilled workers (including their family members) who have received a concrete offer of employment.
- In certain cases, the fee may be waived or reduced in accordance with national legislation, when this would serve to promote cultural, foreign policy or development policy interests, other areas of vital public interest, or for humanitarian reasons.
Tickets - Important information
- Applicants are are advised not to pay for any tickets before they have been informed that their application has been approved. Submitting a booked (purchased) ticket does not strenghten the application.
- If an application is approved, the applicant will be informed by phone. The applicant may then be asked to present a return ticket.
- Regardless of whether the Embassy requests to see the ticket or not; the ticket must be in accordance with what has been approved. E.g. If the applicant has applied for 15 days and has been informed that the application has been granted, the tickets must not exceed 15 days.
- The maximum stay is 90 days, so if the applicant has applied for 90 days and this has been approved, tickets for up to 90 days may be purchased.
However, it is extremely important to remember to count the day of arrival and the day of departure. Even if the applicant arrives late in the evening and only spend one hour in Schengen on the day of arrival, this counts as one day. Similarly, if the applicant leaves very early in the morning on the day of departure, this also counts as one day.
Moreover, it is important to remember that some months have 31 days rather than 30 days.
Processing time
The processing time of a visa depends on each individual case. However, applicants should always apply several weeks before the intended journey.
If the case is considered uncomplicated, it can be handled by the Embassy in Khartoum, in which case the processing time as follows (counting from the day the Embassy receives all the requested documents) :
Applications registered on the Application Portal:
- Schengen visa (tourist, business, training) - 8-10 days (may be extended up to 30 days if the case requires further scrutiny)
Applications not registered on the Application Portal (paper application):
- Schengen visa (tourist, business, training) - 15 days
If the case is considered somewhat complicated, the case will be handled by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI), the Swedish Migration Board the Danish Immigration Service (DIS) or the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration (UTL). The processing times will in these cases be 30-60 days.
Visa applications for Sweden, Denmark and Iceland that cannot be approved by the Embassy will be forwarded to the Immigration Authorities of the country of visit. For processing time, please visit their website.