Visa Types

Visa Types & Categories to Apply for Svalbard and Jan Mayen

Svalbard and Jan Mayen are two remote jurisdictions and archipelagos of Norway, located in the North Arctic. Jan Mayen has no permanent population, while Svalbard has a small population and some visitors as tourists.

Svalbard and Jan Mayen is an entirely visa-free zone for all the nationalities from all the countries in the world. All foreigners can enter, live and stay in Svalbard without a visa for an unlimited period, regardless of their country of citizenship. You will need just your passport or National ID Card for entering Svalbard. Norway nationals can also enter Svalbard with any identification document with personal details and photo (such as a driving license).

In any case, travelers just need a visa for traveling to Norway or other countries where they can fly/travel to Svalbard and Jan Mayen. It means you will need just a Schengen visa issued by Norway or other Schengen countries if you are not a visa-exempted national, so you can visit Svalbard and Jan Mayen from there.

The most common routes and flights to Svalbard and Jan Mayen are running from Oslo, Norway. There is 3 hours flying time between Oslo and Longyearbyen, Svalbard. Sometimes there can be charter flights from Copenhagen, Denmark, and Paris, France to Svalbard directly. There is no common ship service to Svalbard, but there can be cruises to Svalbard from Iceland, Norway, and Denmark as expedition cruises.

As mentioned above, you don’t need any separate visa to travel to Svalbard and Jan Mayen as it is a visa-free zone. Depending on your nationality, you may be required a visa to travel to Norway or other countries where you will start your trip to Svalbard and Jan Mayen. If you are a visa-required national and you have obtained a Schengen/Long-stay visa or a Residence Permit to these countries, you will not need any further visas/permits to visit Svalbard and Jan Mayen.

You can check Norway Visa Policy for obtaining detailed information about Norway visas.

FAQ

Do I need a visa to travel to Svalbard and Jan Mayen?

Svalbard is an entirely visa-free zone to all the nationals from all the countries, however, you may be required a visa to travel to Norway or other countries where you can start your trip to Svalbard and Jan Mayen.

Do I need a passport to travel to Svalbard and Jan Mayen?

All foreigners need their passport or National ID Card for entering Svalbard and Jan Mayen. Norway nationals can also enter Svalbard with any identification document with personal details and photo (such as a driving license).

How long can I stay in Svalbard without a visa?

All foreigners can enter, live and stay in Svalbard without a visa for an unlimited period, regardless of their country of citizenship.

From which country can I fly to Svalbard?

The most common routes and flights to Svalbard and Jan Mayen are running from Oslo, Norway. There is 3 hours flying time between Oslo and Longyearbyen, Svalbard. Sometimes there can be charter flights from Copenhagen, Denmark, and Paris, France to Svalbard directly.

Can I travel to Svalbard and Jan Mayen by ship?

There is no any common ship service to Svalbard, but there can be cruises to Svalbard from Iceland, Norway, and Denmark as expedition cruises.

Can I enter Svalbard and Jan Mayen with a Schengen visa?

Svalbard and Jan Mayen is a visa-free zone, so yes. You can enter Norway with your Schengen visa and travel to Svalbard visa-freely from there.