Svalbard Living here
What is different on Svalbard: the rules, practices and advice a newcomer needs, from the authorities that set them.
Arriving
Rule
No visa or work permit needed; your route may need a Schengen visa
Foreigners need no visa, work permit or residence permit from Norway to travel to Svalbard, because the Immigration Act does not apply there. If you fly via mainland Norway you need a Schengen visa if your nationality requires one, and it must be double-entry. Everyone needs a valid passport or accepted ID.
Advice
Renew your passport before you come
There are very limited opportunities to renew travel documents while living on Svalbard. Sysselmesteren (the Governor of Svalbard) advises bringing a document that stays valid well past your planned departure date.
Rule
You must be able to support yourself, or you can be turned away
Sysselmesteren (the Governor of Svalbard) can turn you away at entry, or later, if it must be assumed you lack the means to stay or a lawful way to earn a living. This applies to Norwegian citizens too. Get a job and housing before you arrive.
Rule
Report your move to the Svalbard register within eight days
If you plan to stay on Svalbard for six months or more, report your move to the Svalbard population register within eight days of arriving. Fill in form RF1557 from Skatteetaten (the Norwegian Tax Administration) and send it online; you need not go to the tax office. Report again when you leave. Shorter stays need no report.