Visa policy of Svalbard
Uniquely, Svalbard is an entirely visa-free zone. Everybody may live and work in Svalbard indefinitely regardless of country of citizenship. The Svalbard Treaty grants treaty nationals equal right of abode as Norwegian nationals. Non-treaty nationals may live and work indefinitely visa-free as well. Per Sefland, then Governor of Svalbard said "It has been a chosen policy so far that we haven't made any difference between the treaty citizens and those from outside the treaty".[1] "Regulations concerning rejection and expulsion from Svalbard" is in force on non-discriminatory basis. Grounds of exclusion include lack of means of support and violation of law or regulation.[2][3]
Hans-Henrik Hartmann, then "head of the legal unit at the Norwegian government's immigration department", said: "If an asylum seeker is refused residence in Norway he can settle in Svalbard so long as he can get there and is able to pay for himself."[4] "In the past, immigrants who have been refused a visa for mainland Norway have moved to Longyearbyen, lived there for seven years and been awarded Norwegian citizenship."[5] Sending refugees to Svalbard has been suggested.[6] Open-border policy of Svalbard has been referred as a reason to consider Svalbard as a refugee settlement.[7]
See also
References
- ^ "Immigrants warmly welcomed".
- ^ "Entry and residence". Governor of Svalbard. Governor of Svalbard. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
- ^ http://www.sysselmannen.no/Documents/Sysselmannen_dok/English/Regulations/Regulations_relating_to_rejection_and_expulsion_of_persons_from_Svalbard_Me16t.pdf
- ^ See reference 1
- ^ Ibid.
- ^ "Norwegian politicians propose putting refugees on Svalbard – remote Arctic islands with more polar bears than people". Andrew Griffin. The Independent. Retrieved 2 Oct 2016.
- ^ "Riches and refugees: People ask about buying Pyramiden weekly; here's one guy's reason – and what he's eyeing now". Jiwoon Hwang. Icepeople. Retrieved 2 Oct 2016.