Norway Visa Rejection Rate for Indians: What Drives Approval

The answers below rely on the European Commission's consulate statistics and the Royal Norwegian Embassy's own checklists and visa pages, as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. Fees, centres and the full document list are on our Norway visa guide for Indians.

How many Indian applications did Norway refuse in 2025?

Source: European Commission, Schengen visa statistics by consulate (2025 and 2024 editions).

The number of applications lodged in India grew only modestly between the two years, from 27,282 to 29,104. The refusal rate rose faster, from 9.5% to 14.7%. More files were turned down even though demand changed little, which is a reason to prepare the evidence more carefully than before.

How should you read the 14.7% figure?

It is the Commission's refusal rate for short-stay (Schengen C) applications lodged at Norway's consular posts in India in 2025, calculated from visas not issued against visas decided. It combines every short-stay purpose: tourism, business, family and friends visits and group tours.

The Royal Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi also handles applicants living in Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Bhutan, but this figure is for applications lodged in India. It does not cover residence permits for work or study, which the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) decides.

Above all, it is not a forecast for any one person. Use it to judge how much care the file needs, not as your personal chance of approval.

How much money does the Embassy want you to show?

Norway gives a clear benchmark. If you can document at least NOK 500 per day per person, for example with a bank statement or wage specification for the past six months, you do not need a sponsorship form.

If someone else pays, the checklist asks for the "Proof of sponsorship and/or of private accommodation" form. The tourist checklist also asks for documents of employment, school or studies, with permission for leave.

One inconsistency to plan around: the Embassy's tourist checklist of January 2024 asks for bank account copies covering the last 3 months, while an older VFS-hosted checklist from 2023 says 6 months. The NOK 500 rule itself refers to the past six months, so a six-month statement covers both versions.

Which booking, insurance and document details matter?

VFS publishes a list of approved travel medical insurance companies for 2026. Check that your insurer is on that list before you pay for the policy.

Does previous travel help your application?

The Embassy asks for copies of the biodata page and all used pages of your passport, so your travel record is visible either way. Fingerprints are not taken again if they were collected within the last 59 months.

Travel history matters most for multiple-entry visas. The Embassy may issue multiple-entry visas, starting with one-year validity, to frequent travellers who document a genuine need and earlier visas used correctly. After a visa of up to 12 months used correctly, you may apply for two or three years, and after a three-year visa for a maximum of five years. Stays remain limited to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Can you appeal a Norway visa refusal?

Yes. According to UDI guidance, rejected applicants receive a written explanation of why the application was rejected and can appeal the decision. The handling time for appeals is more than 3 months. Appeal deadlines are published on udi.no, so check them as soon as you receive the decision.

If your trip is close, an appeal lasting more than 3 months may not help that journey, so weigh it against a new application that fixes the stated reason. Either way, start from the written explanation.

A pre-submission check for Norway

• Register the application and pay the EUR 90 fee online in the UDI Application Portal Norway before booking VFS. VFS gives an appointment within two weeks.
• Apply no later than 15 days before travel (the Embassy recommends at least 4 weeks) and no earlier than six months.
• Expect a decision in normally 15 days, up to 45 calendar days if the case needs further scrutiny. Courier adds about 2 days for Delhi and 4-6 days for other cities.
• Submit at one of the 8 VFS centres: Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi or Pune.
• Do not chase the Embassy for status before 15 days from receipt; check the VFS website instead.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for Schengen files, which fits Norway's advice not to buy tickets before the visa is granted. Packages cost from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach us through the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Norway visa fee for Indians?

The Schengen visa fee is EUR 90 for adults and EUR 45 for children aged 6 to under 12, with no fee under 6. It is paid online in the UDI Application Portal Norway. The VFS service fee is stated as EUR 08 by VFS but as EUR 20 by the Embassy, so check at booking.

Does the Norwegian Consulate General in Mumbai process visas?

No. The Consulate General in Mumbai covers Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa for consular matters but does not handle visa applications. All visa applications from India go through VFS centres to the Royal Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi.

Do Indians need an airport transit visa for Norway?

No. Indians are not on the EU common list or Norway's national list of nationalities needing an airport transit visa, so no visa is needed to stay inside the international transit area of a Norwegian airport.

What if I must travel urgently and cannot get a VFS slot?

The Embassy says business travellers and applicants who must travel on an emergency basis and cannot get a VFS appointment can contact the visa section directly at Visum.New.Delhi@mfa.no.