VFS Global continues offering visa and residence permit services on behalf of Norway in various countries, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In addition to these countries, services will be extended to another 38 nations whose citizens require a Schengen visa to enter Norway and other Schengen Member States.
For citizens of these countries, VFS Global facilitates the process by collecting the necessary documents for visa and residence permit applications. However, VFS Global does not have the authority to make decisions regarding the approval or rejection of these applications. Instead, all decisions are made by the Norwegian embassy or consulate responsible for processing the applications. This means that while VFS Global assists in the preliminary stages of the application process, the final judgment on whether to grant a visa or residence permit lies solely with the Norwegian authorities.
Moreover, VFS Global provides additional services to assist applicants, such as appointment scheduling, biometric data collection, and tracking the status of applications. They also offer customer service to answer queries and provide information about the application process. However, applicants should be aware that VFS Global cannot influence the outcome of their applications, as their role is purely administrative. The embassy or consulate will conduct thorough reviews and assessments of all submitted documents to ensure compliance with Norwegian and Schengen regulations before making a decision.