Do I Need to Submit Criminal Records for the Norway Working Holiday Visa?

Written by Volare | April 8, 2026

When managing a residence permit abroad, verifying the applicant's legal integrity is usually a standard step. However, in the case of the Norway Working Holiday Visa, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) applies a specific criterion that simplifies the initial stage of the process for most candidates.

Below, we detail the conditions under which this document may be required.

General Application Requirement

Generally, a physical police or criminal record certificate is not required for the initial application to the program. Unlike other destinations where this document is mandatory from the first moment, Norway bases its evaluation on the self-declaration made during registration on the UDI portal and its own internal verification systems.

Exceptions and Special Cases

There are specific situations where the submission of this certificate becomes mandatory:

1. Specific request from the UDI: During the analysis of the file, immigration authorities reserve the right to request a criminal record certificate if they consider it necessary to complete the profile evaluation.

2. Expulsion history: It is strictly mandatory to submit the corresponding legal documentation if the interested party has a record of a previous expulsion from Norway or any country in the Schengen area for criminal or administrative reasons.

   
   

In case it is requested, the document must have the Hague Apostille and its respective official translation into English or Norwegian.

For more information, updated details, and assistance in your process, we invite you to visit the official page on the Volare Norway Working Holiday Visa.