"The launch of the Norwegian Visa Application Centres in India is in line with our goal of providing assistance to travellers.
"We are certain that these centres will afford greater convenience to travellers wishing to visit Norway or other Schengen countries," CKGS CEO Sanjay Bhaduri said in a release issued here.
CKGS has opened visa application centres in major cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chandigarh and Pune.
"The number of Indian tourists arriving in Norway has been on steady incline and our partnership with CKGS at this juncture is bound to make it easier and convenient for Indian nationals to acquire a Schengen Visa or a residence permit making it possible for the diplomatic staff to focus primarily on case handling...
"...Thus shortening the overall processing time and the application procedure, which in turn will improve the experience of the applicants," Norwegian Ambassador to India Ann Ollestad said in a statement.
CKGS will provide services such as disseminating visa and residence permit related information approved by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in India as well as pre-scrutiny of documents and acceptance of visa applications and passports from the general public.