Editing Svalbard (section)

== Politics ==
{{Main|Politics of Svalbard}}
{{See also|Visa policy of Svalbard}}
[[File:Spitzbergen nordsyssel hg.jpg|thumb|MS ''Nordsyssel'', the [[Governor of Svalbard|Governor]]'s vessel, docked at [[Ny-Ålesund]]]]

The [[Svalbard Treaty]] of 1920 established full Norwegian sovereignty over the archipelago. The islands are, unlike the [[Norwegian Antarctic territories]], a part of the Kingdom of Norway and not a [[dependent territory|dependency]]. The treaty came into effect in 1925, following the Svalbard Act. All forty-eight signatory countries of the treaty have the right to conduct commercial activities on the archipelago without discrimination, although all activity is subject to Norwegian legislation. The treaty limits Norway's right to collect taxes to that of financing services on Svalbard.<ref name=treaty /><ref name="auto">{{cite news|title=Svalbard Treaty |publisher=[[Governor of Svalbard]] |url=http://www.sysselmannen.no/hovedEnkel.aspx?m=45301 |access-date=24 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723003932/http://www.sysselmannen.no/hovedEnkel.aspx?m=45301 |archive-date=23 July 2011 }}</ref><!--All content is sourced in the first, secondary source, with the primary sources provided for the convenience of the reader--> Therefore, Svalbard has a lower [[income tax]] than mainland Norway, and there is no [[value added tax]]. There is a separate budget for Svalbard to ensure compliance.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Svalbard Treaty - Svalbard Museum |url=https://svalbardmuseum.no/en/the-svalbard-treaty |access-date=24 June 2024 |website=svalbardmuseum.no}}</ref><!--Not sure which source verifies these two sentences. Footnotes should be added at the end in all cases.-->

Svalbard is not governed by Norway's policies on migration and does not issue visas or residence permits itself.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sysselmannen.no/en/visas-and-immigration/|title=Visas and immigration|website=Governor of Svalbard|language=en|access-date=21 November 2019|archive-date=14 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214070008/https://www.sysselmannen.no/en/visas-and-immigration/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Higgins">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/10/world/europe/a-harsh-climate-calls-for-banishment-of-the-needy.html|title=A Harsh Climate Calls for Banishment of the Needy|last=Higgins|first=Andrew|date=9 July 2014|work=The New York Times|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|access-date=21 November 2019|archive-date=13 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213233948/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/10/world/europe/a-harsh-climate-calls-for-banishment-of-the-needy.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Foreigners do not need a visa or work and residence permits from the Norwegian authorities to travel to Svalbard. However, foreign citizens with a visa requirement for the Schengen Area must have a Schengen visa when travelling to and from Svalbard via mainland Norway.<ref name="Entry and residence">{{Cite web|title=Entry and residence|url=https://www.sysselmannen.no/en/entry-and-residence/|access-date=1 June 2021|website=Governor of Svalbard|language=en|archive-date=9 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509033350/https://www.sysselmannen.no/en/entry-and-residence/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Svalbard Act established the institution of the Governor of Svalbard ({{langx|no|Sysselmester}}, formerly {{langx|no|Sysselmannen|label=none}}), who holds the responsibility as both [[County governor (Norway)|county governor]] and [[chief of police]], as well as holding other authority granted from the executive branch. Duties include [[environmental policy]], [[family law]], [[law enforcement]], [[search and rescue]], tourism management, information services, contact with foreign settlements, and judge in some areas of maritime inquiries and judicial examinations—albeit never in the same cases as acting as police.<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/jd/Documents-and-publications/Reports-to-the-Storting-White-Papers/Reports-to-the-Storting/19992000/report-no-9-to-the-storting-/5-The-administration-of-Svalbard.html?id=456897 |title=Report No. 9 to the Storting (1999–2000): Svalbard |publisher=[[Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police]] |chapter=5 The administration of Svalbard |date=29 October 1999 |access-date=24 March 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718092450/http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/jd/documents-and-publications/reports-to-the-storting-white-papers/reports-to-the-storting/19992000/report-no-9-to-the-storting-/5-The-administration-of-Svalbard.html?id=456897 |archive-date=18 July 2012  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://lovdata.no/all/hl-19250717-011.html |title=Lov om Svalbard |publisher=[[Lovdata]] |date=19 June 2009 |language=no |access-date=24 March 2010 |archive-date=9 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309000141/http://www.lovdata.no/all/hl-19250717-011.html |url-status=live }}</ref><!--latter is supplementary, primary source--> Since 2021, [[Lars Fause]] has been governor. The institution is subordinate to the [[Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police|Ministry of Justice and the Police]], but reports to other ministries in matters within their portfolio.<ref>{{cite news|title=Organisation |publisher=[[Governor of Svalbard]] |url=http://www.sysselmannen.no/enkel.aspx?m=44377 |access-date=24 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723004354/http://www.sysselmannen.no/enkel.aspx?m=44377 |archive-date=23 July 2011 }}</ref>

[[File:Lenin statue in Barentsburg, Svalbard.jpg|thumb|left|A [[List of statues of Vladimir Lenin|Lenin statue]] in [[Barentsburg]]]]

Since 2002, [[Longyearbyen Community Council]] has had many of the same responsibilities of a [[municipalities of Norway|municipality]], including utilities, education, cultural facilities, fire department, roads, and ports.<ref name=naering>{{cite book |chapter-url=http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/jd/dok/regpubl/stmeld/2008-2009/stmeld-nr-22-2008-2009-/9.html?id=554987 |title=St.meld. nr. 22 (2008–2009): Svalbard |publisher=[[Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police]] |chapter=9 Næringsvirksomhet |date=17 April 2009 |access-date=24 March 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825003249/http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/jd/dok/regpubl/stmeld/2008-2009/stmeld-nr-22-2008-2009-/9.html?id=554987 |archive-date=25 August 2011  }}</ref> No care or nursing services are available, nor are welfare payments available. Norwegian residents retain pension and medical rights through their mainland municipalities.<ref>{{cite news |title=From the cradle, but not to the grave |website=[[Statistics Norway]] |url=http://www.ssb.no/this_is_svalbard/velferdstilbud.pdf |access-date=24 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160515164104/http://www.ssb.no/this_is_svalbard/velferdstilbud.pdf |archive-date=15 May 2016  }}</ref> The hospital is part of [[University Hospital of North Norway]], while the airport is operated by state-owned [[Avinor]]. Ny-Ålesund and Barentsburg remain [[company town]]s with all infrastructure owned by Kings Bay and Arktikugol.<ref name=naering /> Other public offices with presence on Svalbard are the [[Norwegian Directorate of Mining]], the [[Norwegian Polar Institute]], the [[Norwegian Tax Administration]], and the [[Church of Norway]].<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/jd/dok/regpubl/stmeld/2008-2009/stmeld-nr-22-2008-2009-/6.html?id=554944 |title=St.meld. nr. 22 (2008–2009): Svalbard |publisher=[[Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police]] |chapter=6 Administrasjon |date=17 April 2009 |access-date=24 March 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011142633/http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/jd/dok/regpubl/stmeld/2008-2009/stmeld-nr-22-2008-2009-/6.html?id=554944 |archive-date=11 October 2012  }}</ref> Svalbard is subordinate to [[Nord-Troms District Court]] and [[Hålogaland Court of Appeal]], both in [[Tromsø]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.domstol.no/DAtemplates/CourtDetails____2995.aspx?epslanguage=EN |title=Nord-Troms tingrett |publisher=[[Norwegian National Courts Administration]] |access-date=24 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825002850/http://www.domstol.no/DAtemplates/CourtDetails____2995.aspx?epslanguage=EN |archive-date=25 August 2011  }}</ref>

Although Norway is part of the [[European Economic Area]] (EEA) and the [[Schengen Agreement]], Svalbard is not part of the [[Schengen Area]] or the EEA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lovdata.no/all/tl-19921127-109-0.html |title=Lov om gjennomføring i norsk rett av hoveddelen i avtale om Det europeiske økonomiske samarbeidsområde (EØS) m.v. (EØS-loven). |website=[[Lovdata]] |date=10 August 2007 |language=no |access-date=24 March 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001210194300/http://www.lovdata.no/all/tl-19921127-109-0.html |archive-date=10 December 2000 }}</ref> Non-EU and non-Nordic Svalbard residents do not need Schengen visas for Svalbard itself, but those travelling via mainland Norway require visas to pass through Norway. People without a source of income can be rejected by the governor.<ref name=residence>{{cite news |title=Entry and residence |publisher=[[Governor of Svalbard]] |url=http://www.sysselmannen.no/en/Visitors/Entry-and-residence/ |access-date=24 August 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924112740/http://www.sysselmannen.no/en/Visitors/Entry-and-residence/ |archive-date=24 September 2015  }}</ref>

No one is required to have a [[Visa policy of Svalbard|visa]] or residence permit on Svalbard. Regardless of citizenship, persons can live and work in Svalbard indefinitely. The Svalbard Treaty grants treaty nationals equal [[right of abode]] as Norwegian nationals. So far, non-treaty nationals have been admitted visa-free as well. While there is no visa requirement, everyone must meet certain requirements in order to stay in Svalbard. These requirements are governed by a separate policy called "Regulations relating to rejection and expulsion of persons from Svalbard".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/1995-02-03-96 | title=Forskrift om bortvisning og utvisning av personer fra Svalbard - Lovdata }}</ref> Among the requirements is that residents must have the means to be able to reside on Svalbard. These requirements apply to both foreigners and Norwegian citizens, and the Governor of Svalbard may reject persons who do not meet the requirements.<ref name="Entry and residence"/>{{Clarify|date=June 2021}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sysselmannen.no/en/Visitors/Entry-and-residence/|title=Entry and residence|work=sysselmannen.no|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924112740/http://www.sysselmannen.no/en/Visitors/Entry-and-residence/|archive-date=24 September 2015|access-date=24 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2006/07/200841012024779644.html|title=Immigrants warmly welcomed|work=aljazeera.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803005808/http://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2006/07/200841012024779644.html|archive-date=3 August 2017}}</ref> Russia retains a [[diplomatic missions of Russia|consulate in Barentsburg]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Diplomatic and consular missions of Russia |publisher=[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia]] |url=http://www.mid.ru/zu_r.nsf/strawebeng?OpenView&Start=1&Count=300&Expand=120#120 |access-date=24 March 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091002034927/http://www.mid.ru/zu_r.nsf/strawebeng?OpenView&Start=1&Count=300&Expand=120#120 |archive-date=2 October 2009  }}</ref>

In September 2010, a treaty was signed between Russia and Norway fixing the boundary between the Svalbard archipelago and the [[Novaya Zemlya archipelago]]. Increased interest in petroleum exploration in the Arctic raised interest in a resolution of the dispute. The agreement takes into account the relative positions of the archipelagos, rather than being based simply on northward extension of the continental border of Norway and Russia.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/16/world/europe/16russia.html "Russia and Norway Agree on Boundary"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161211175859/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/16/world/europe/16russia.html |date=11 December 2016 }} article by Andrew E. Kramer in ''[[The New York Times]]'' 15 September 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2010</ref>