Working Holiday in Norway for Argentinians

At this time, it has been announced that 300 visas will be issued per year.

Applications are accepted from January 2019 through November 2019; they are NOT accepted in December.

IMPORTANT: New application slots will open in January 2019.

REQUIREMENTS

• Hold an Argentine passport and reside in Argentina at the time of application (you must submit a proof of address). Individuals of other nationalities are not eligible to apply, even if they reside in Argentina.

• Be between eighteen (18) and thirty (30) years of age, inclusive, at the time of submitting the visa application (you cannot apply if you have already turned 31; this applies only at the time of applying for the visa).

• Your primary purpose must be to vacation in Norway, so that employment is incidental and not the main reason for the visit.

• The applicant may not travel to Norway accompanied by minors. If members of a married couple or a couple wish to travel together, each must apply for a visa separately and meet the requirements individually

• Hold a valid Argentine passport.

• Have sufficient funds to support yourself during the initial period of your stay (3 months); you must demonstrate that you have the equivalent of at least NOK 33,060 (USD 3,125). UDI may modify this amount without prior notice to this Embassy, so it is advisable to always refer to the amount listed on the UDI website and in the checklist. If you submit an amount (in pesos or another currency) that, at the time the application is evaluated, does not match the required amount in kroner, the requirement is no longer met and the application may therefore be denied.

• Pay the fee set for the holiday and work visa application: NOK 6,300 (USD 631). UDI may change this fee, so it is advisable to check the UDI website.

• The applicant must provide proof of having a place to stay in Norway

• Have adequate health insurance covering the entire duration of your stay.

• Not have previously participated in the Program and commit to leaving the territory of the Kingdom of Norway at the end of their stay.

RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS

The Working Holiday Visa does not grant immigration rights to family members.

The visa is granted for a duration of up to 1 year

The entry date must be within 6 months of obtaining the visa (once approved).

Registration must be completed within 7 days of entry.

You will be able to work throughout your stay in Norway, if you wish, for the 12 months allowed under the Working Holiday program, but never for more than 6 months with the same employer.

You will be able to study for up to 3 months.

PROOF OF FUNDS

• You may submit a bank statement (only the page showing the total balance, not the transaction details) and/or a letter from your bank signed and stamped by a bank official. ATM receipts are not accepted unless they are signed and stamped by a bank official. If they are in Spanish, English, or Norwegian, this bank statement or letter does not need to be translated. If they are written in another language, you must provide a certified translation as explained here.
• It must be a savings account or a checking account, that is, AVAILABLE funds that are not “tied up,” therefore it cannot be a time deposit, bonds, stocks, real estate deeds, or titles to movable property (vehicles, etc.), nor can it be a confirmation of funds made before a notary public, a PayPal account, or any other type of proof of funds.
• The applicant’s name and ID number (DNI), Tax ID (CUIT), or Legal Entity ID (CUIL) must be clearly stated: the account cannot be in the name of a third party.
• The bank statement or account summary may be up to 30 days old, but no older than that.
• If the amount is not expressed in Argentine pesos, Norwegian kroner, euros, or U.S. dollars, you must provide a conversion of the foreign currency to Norwegian kroner. For example, if it is a New Zealand bank account, you must submit a printed page showing the conversion of the funds in your New Zealand dollar account to Norwegian kroner. This conversion can be obtained from online currency converters, such as XE Universal Currency Converter or Oanda.
• The other option, instead of demonstrating funds as explained above, is to provide proof that the applicant already has a specific job offer. There are two ways to demonstrate this: (1) Have the employer complete the form provided by UDI (the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration): click here to download it, or (2) Submit a signed employment contract between the two parties that includes all the details of the offer, including the duties to be performed and the salary.  

   

PROOF OF RESIDENCE IN ARGENTINA

• The applicant must be residing in Argentina at the time of submitting their application and, to prove this, must submit a certificate of residence issued by the police or the official authority corresponding to their place of residence. There is no need to translate this document because the Argentine authorities will issue it in Spanish. In practice, it is nearly impossible to apply for this type of residence permit while not in Argentina. However, Argentine citizens living outside Argentina who still wish to attempt to submit applications from abroad may submit their applications to Norwegian embassies in other countries only if they can prove the following: 1) That they have their habitual residence in Argentina: to do so, they must submit documentation proving that, although they are temporarily outside the country, their habitual residence is in Argentina. Since the address on the back of the DNI alone does not constitute conclusive proof that you habitually reside in Argentina, you must provide additional documentation to support this fact: for example, a current lease agreement showing that the applicant will return to occupy the residence covered by the agreement, documents indicating that they have a job or are pursuing studies in Argentina and will return to resume them, or any other evidence the applicant believes may prove this point. Please note that any document not in English or Norwegian must be translated by a certified translator into one of those languages. The evaluation of these documents is at the sole discretion of UDI, and therefore the embassy receiving them cannot advise on which documents may be considered as evidence and which may not; and 2) That they have held a valid residence permit for at least the six months prior to their application in the country where they plan to submit their application (for example, if the applicant has a Working Holiday residence permit in Australia and it has been valid for at least 6 months prior to the date they wish to apply for a WH permit in Norway, they may submit the application at the Norwegian Embassy in Canberra). To reiterate: in practice, it is nearly impossible to apply for this type of residence permit while not in Argentina. Only if the applicant meets the criteria for being a “skilled worker” may they submit their “Working Holiday” application while legally residing in Norway. See more information under the heading “APPLICATION PROCESS FOR ‘WORKING HOLIDAY’ RESIDENCE PERMITS IN NORWAY FOR SKILLED WORKERS” at the bottom of this page.  

It is recommended to schedule an appointment to submit your documentation between 5 and 2 months before your proposed travel date. Neither earlier nor later.

Why?

Because, taking into account processing times and the deadline for entry into Norway, these are the most recommended timeframes both to ensure you receive the UDI’s response in time before traveling and so that the permit (if granted) does not expire. 

The Embassy will not accept applications where the proposed travel date is more than 5 months from the appointment date.

EXAMPLE:

The applicant wishes to travel on June 16, 2018. It is recommended that they schedule an appointment between January 15 and April 15, 2018.

APPOINTMENTS

Appointments for Working Holiday visas are granted exclusively on Mondays at 10:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 12:00 p.m.

Until the day appointments open, the Embassy cannot predict whether there will be an appointment available on a particular Monday, as this depends not only on holidays but also on any special events at the Embassy that may be scheduled shortly before appointments open in the system.

Ex.: You call on December 22, 2017, to find out if there will be an appointment on Monday, June 18, 2018. This will only be known once appointments for June 2018 open, that is, on April 5, 2018 (see table above).   

HOW LONG CAN I STAY IN NORWAY? 

• The “Working Holiday” residence permit will remain valid for a period of UP TO 12 MONTHS from the date of entry.
• The date of entry must be within 6 (six) months of the date the “Working Holiday” residence permit is granted. After those 6 months, the permit expires without the possibility of renewal.
• Upon entering Norway, the residence permit holder has 7 (seven) days to go to the police station (“Politidistrikt”) corresponding to their place of residence in Norway to register and have their biometric data collected. There, they will be issued a resident card that will allow them to move freely within Norway and the Schengen Area while the residence permit is valid.
• Pursuant to Article 10, Norway has the authority, in accordance with its laws, to deny entry into its territory or to expel from its territory any Program participant who does not meet the conditions for entry or the conditions for remaining there.
• It is important to note that neither the Embassy nor the Argentine-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce maintains a job board nor can they assist interested individuals in finding work in Norway. However, if the interested party deems it appropriate, they may contact companies, organizations, or employment agencies in Norway directly. 
• Since working is not the basis of this Program, the individual may not work for the same employer for more than 6 (six) months during their visit nor work on a permanent basis. In other words, they may work during the 12-month period, but no more than 6 months for the same employer.
• The holder of a “Working Holiday” residence permit may enroll in a training course or study program lasting up to a maximum of 3 (three) months. If this period is exceeded, the “Working Holiday” permit is no longer valid, and the individual must apply for a study permit.
• If, upon the expiration of their “Working Holiday” permit, the applicant wishes to remain in Norway or another Schengen country as a tourist, they must leave the Schengen area for at least three months and may only return after that period.  

CAN I ENTER NORWAY AS A TOURIST BEFORE MY PERMIT ARRIVES?

• As holders of a passport from a country exempt from visa requirements for up to 90 days, Argentine citizens may enter as tourists. However, please note that if you enter Norway as a tourist, you may be asked to meet the entry requirements for tourists, including a round-trip ticket and travel insurance (medical insurance). For more information, click here.

  Two things to keep in mind:

  (1) You cannot start working until your “Working Holiday” residence permit has been approved 

  (2) If, after the 90-day visa exemption period has passed, your residence permit has not yet been approved by the UDI, traveling to another Schengen country would carry the risk of being subject to an entry ban of at least two years throughout the Schengen area (since, while Norway allows you to remain in its territory while awaiting UDI’s response, for the rest of the Schengen area you would be violating the rule limiting your stay to a maximum of 90 days in the Schengen area). Remember that there are no direct flights between Argentina and Norway, and if you were to return urgently and take a flight that passes through the Schengen area, you would run that risk. Weigh this situation and this risk carefully before deciding whether to wait for the resolution of your case while in Norway.

  Of course, if you are waiting for a response in Norway and your “Working Holiday” permit is denied, you must leave Norway immediately (and, again, there is a risk that, by passing through another Schengen country, you will be considered to have stayed there for more than 90 days, resulting in the entry ban we mentioned earlier).   

   

  WHAT TO SUBMIT AT THE EMBASSY

   

  The requested documents must be submitted in A4 size (if submitted in another size, the applicant must provide a reduced photocopy; the document must be fully visible in the photocopy—no parts may be cut off), single-sided (NOT double-sided), and without staples, paper clips, or any other fasteners. This is because the documents must be scanned to be sent to UDI, and the scanner does not accept formats larger than A4, does not scan double-sided pages, and jams if the documents have staples or paper clips.

  The forms must already be signed and dated when submitted to the Embassy.

• DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE APPLICATION FORM:

• Be sure to bring the following documentation, which you must print yourself from the internet (we cannot print it at the Embassy at the time of your interview). You will be asked for them in the order listed below, so it is necessary that you bring them in order to save time on the day of the interview.

  a.1. Application form: The applicant must print the application form completed online at APPLICATION PORTAL NORWAY. Click here to download a PDF guide on how to fill out the form (tutorial), which shows the screens as they appear on the Portal.

  How do you access the form?: Using your username and password, log in to the Portal and click on “View your application.”  Then print the entire form (it consists of several pages). Click here to view a sample of the first two pages of the form that appear under “View your application.”

  a.2. Proof of payment of the application fee: Your application is only registered in the system once you have paid the fee using your Visa or Mastercard credit card. After paying on the APPLICATION PORTAL NORWAY, print the receipt or proof of payment and bring it to the Embassy.

  a.3. Cover letter: Once your application is registered on the APPLICATION PORTAL NORWAY, the system will generate a letter that you must print, sign, and bring to the Embassy. Click here to view a sample of the cover letter.

  a.4. The corresponding checklist: Applicants must download the checklist from this link. They must then print it, fill in their name and date of birth (the DUF number will be added later by the Embassy), sign it, and bring it to the Embassy.

• PERSONAL DOCUMENTS:

• b.1. Your original passport, plus a photocopy of all used pages of your Argentine passport. The passport must be valid for at least 90 days after the date you intend to leave the Schengen Area and have at least two completely blank pages.  

  Requirements:

• Pages 1 through 7 of your Argentine passport must be photocopied, along with all pages containing renewals, stamps, entries by the passport-issuing authorities, etc. (If the passport has never been used, then you must submit only photocopies of pages 1 through 7 inclusive).
• The photocopies must be made with the passport open, with 2 or 4 pages per sheet. Do not submit them as single-page photocopies as shown in this example: they will not be accepted.
• The copies must be completely legible (preferably in color, especially the page containing the photo and the holder’s information) and ALL stamps must be clearly visible.
• The pages must be shown in their entirety and must appear in sequential order (not mixed up) on the photocopies. 
• The passport must be photocopied at actual size, exactly as it is (neither reduced nor enlarged copies).
• The photocopy must be A4 or letter size, single-sided (NOT double-sided), and must not be stapled or contain paper clips, hooks, or ties of any kind. 

• Recommended format for submitting passport photocopies: with the passport open, 4 pages per sheet, with the data page (the one containing the holder’s photo) in color and in portrait orientation. To view a sample, click here.

  The Embassy will compare the original passport with the photocopies, certify that they are true copies, and return the passport to the holder immediately.

  b.2. Two (2) recent and identical photographs that meet the requirements set forth here. 

• SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION:

The applicant must print the PDF and bring it with them when entering the Schengen Area.

Please note: Usually, presenting your passport, a copy of the email sent to you by the Embassy, and the printed PDF is sufficient to enter the Schengen Area. However, we have learned that some people have been delayed at certain Schengen airports because the approval PDF did not include a signature or seal from the issuing authority. As stated at the bottom of the approval PDF that will be sent to you (if your permit is approved), “this document is electronically signed. You can receive a signed copy of this document upon request,” so you may request the signed document directly from UDI by calling the number listed at the bottom of the PDF (+47 23 35 16 00) or via the contact form on the UDI website, www.udi.no/contact. If you prefer that this embassy provide you with a copy certified as a “true copy of the original” (“Certified true copy”) and signed by an authorized embassy official, the applicant or a trusted representative may pick it up in person at the embassy during office hours (Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.). This copy will be available at the reception desk as soon as the Embassy sends the approval email. The Embassy does not send copies by mail, as it cannot guarantee that the mail will arrive or arrive on time.

Alternatively, the applicant may ask the passport control officer at the Schengen port of entry to contact UDI at +47 23 35 15 00 or this embassy at +54.11. 3724-1200 to verify that their permit is genuine.

As previously explained, the applicant has 7 days after entering Norway to report to the police station (“Politidistrikt”) corresponding to their place of residence for the collection of biometric data and processing of their residence card. At that time, they must also bring their passport and the printed PDF.

You must submit all the documents listed below:

c.1. Financial requirement: proof that you have sufficient funds to support yourself during the first three months of your stay in Norway. See how to meet this requirement in point “(g)” mentioned above.

c.2. Residence requirement in Argentina. See how to submit this requirement in point “(h)” mentioned above.

c.3. Health insurance requirement: A letter of commitment stating that you will purchase health insurance before entering Norway if your “Holiday and Work” permit is approved. See how to meet this requirement in point “(i)” mentioned above.

c.4. Accommodation requirement in Norway. See how to meet this requirement in point “(j)” above.

INTERVIEW

On the day of the interview, the official will verify that all requested documentation is in order. If you do not have everything that was requested or if any document is incomplete, you will have a maximum of 5 business days to submit them correctly. If this deadline expires, your permit will be denied, and the fee paid will not be refunded.

Of the requirements listed above, ALL are important and ALL must be submitted. Make sure to bring them all in accordance with the specifications mentioned above. Make sure you have the following, in this order:

• Application form
• Proof of payment of the fee
• Cover letter
• Checklist
• Original passport, plus a photocopy of all used pages of your Argentine passport.
• Two (2) recent and identical photographs
• Funds requirement
• Residence requirement in Argentina
• Health insurance requirement
• Accommodation requirement in Norway

The application will be evaluated at the UDI in Oslo (not at the Embassy) based on the submitted documentation. The file will be prepared at the Embassy within 5 business days after ALL requirements have been submitted and will then be sent to the UDI for consideration and a subsequent decision. No email or other communication will be sent to the applicant to inform them that the file has been sent. The Embassy will not communicate with the applicant until it receives a response from the UDI.

How long does it take for the UDI to respond?

The UDI’s response will reach the Embassy 5 to 6 weeks after the date the Embassy sent the file to Oslo.

Once the embassy has received approval or denial of your visa, they will only communicate with YOU via email, to your email address.

The embassy will send you a PDF electronically signed by the UDI for you to print and bring with you when entering the Schengen Area. The embassy does not make any changes to this document; it simply forwards it to you.

If you change your email address while waiting, it is YOUR responsibility to notify the embassy.

If you have any questions, leave us a comment!!!

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