UDI is closely monitoring the political and security situation in Syria following the fall of the Assad regime. The situation remains unclear. UDI has therefore decided to put applications for protection (asylum) from Syria on hold until further notice. The decision takes effect from 9 December. This means that UDI will not process – neither reject nor grant – applications for protection from Syrian citizens or stateless people from Syria who have applied for protection in Norway. Applicants from Syria who have not been called for an interview will also not be called as long as the asylum case processing is on hold. Scheduled interviews will be conducted.

This also applies to the processing of applications from unaccompanied minor asylum seekers. UDI is working to clarify whether we can resume processing these cases, and will return with information as soon as we know more about this.

All applicants from Syria who have applied for protection will receive a response to their application. We will return with more information when we start processing applications again.

We are still processing applications for renewal.

Only applications for protection and applications for a temporary work permit are being put on hold until further notice – not other types of residence permits, such as applications for family immigration, applications for permanent residency, applications for citizenship and so on. The situation in Syria is unclear, and UDI needs to make good, quality-assured assessments for all case types. Here we will return with clarifications as they are made.

This also means that there will be longer waiting times in asylum reception centres for asylum seekers from Syria. At this time, we cannot say how long it will take. People with a background from Syria who have applied for protection in Norway are still entitled to a place in an asylum reception centre. As long as the asylum applications are on hold, benefits and other rights and obligations for this group will remain unchanged.

UDI is monitoring the situation closely and will return with more information when we have it.

Applications for citizenship in Norway

The processing of citizenship applications and the waiting time is not affected by the suspension of protection applications from Syrian citizens and stateless persons from Syria.

Following the situation in Syria, only applications for protection and applications for temporary work permits have been put on hold until further notice.

Other residence permits – such as family immigration, applications for permanent residency, citizenship and so on – are processed as usual.

We are still processing renewal applications.

Yes, UDI has been asked to prioritise already submitted applications for residence permits from people who are in Palestine or Israel. 

UDI will also prioritise new applications from people who are in Palestine or Israel, but there may be practical obstacles which may mean that it takes some time before the case processing is completed. One reason may be, for example, that the application does not contain all the necessary documentation. 

Applications may be prioritised for other reasons. Applicants who want priority must request this, and an individual assessment will be made. If you have further questions regarding the prioritisation of your application, you can use our guide to check if your case can be moved to the front of the queue. 

Although UDI monitors the situation in Lebanon, no general priority of applications has been given on the basis that the applicant is in Lebanon. If this should change, UDI will publish information when we receive this information.

Applicants who are staying in Lebanon and want priority, must request this, and an individual assessment will be made. You can find more information about prioritisation here.

UDI is monitoring the situation in Syria. The security situation in Syria does not provide a basis for a general priority of applications. If this assessment should change, UDI will publish new information about this.

You can read more about what may provide a basis for prioritisation here.

If you have an application for protection under processing, or if your application for protection has been rejected, you may apply for assisted return. 

If your application is approved, you will get help buying tickets and you will receive monetary support at the airport (Gardermoen) on the day of your departure. 

If you have a valid travel document in your possession or in the police's possession, UDI can help you with your journey. If you are uncertain whether or not you have a travel document, you can call us. 

If you do not have a valid travel document, you may still apply for assisted return and will try to help you. 

You should not withdraw your application for protection if you are applying for assisted return. 

Return decisions issued to Syrian citizens (with the obligation to leave) are still suspended, which means that the police will not escort you out of the country by force.

You can apply for assisted return here: Returning home: Apply for assisted return.

If you have questions about assisted return to Syria, you can call UDI's Information Service at 23 35 16 00 and press option 7.

If you have been granted protection or family immigration status with someone who has protection, you may apply for repatriation. 

If your application is approved, you will get help buying tickets and you will receive monetary support at the airport (Gardermoen) on the day of your departure. 

In order to be granted repatration, you must have a valid travel document. 

You can apply for financial support for repatriation here: Returning home: Apply for repatriation.

Applying for repatriation is voluntary. You may change your mind and withdraw your application at any time. 

If you have questions about repatriation to Syria, you can call UDI's Information Service at 23 35 16 00 and press option 7.  

Here you will find information about leaving Palestine, Israel and Lebanon:

• Palestine (external website) [in Norwegian only]
• Israel (external website) [in Norwegian only]
• Lebanon (external website) [in Norwegian only]

You will find information for Norwegian citizens in the Middle East here (external website) [in Norwegian only].

We have now created a new guideline that changes the application process for family immigration for Palestinians who are staying in Gaza.

Due to the current security situation in Gaza and the fact that it is now difficult to travel out of Gaza, it will temporarily be possible for a family member in Norway (the reference person) to submit an application for family immigration on behalf of a family member staying in Gaza. The scheme will apply until it is again possible for Palestinians in Gaza to submit an application for family immigration in the ordinary way through personal attendance.

You can read about how to apply for family immigration here.

The new guideline applies to how an application for family immigration must be submitted, and not how an application will be processed.

We emphasise that the new guideline does not involve any changes in which family members can obtain a family immigration permit or which exceptions can be made from the ordinary rules. The humanitarian and security situation in Gaza does not provide grounds for exceptions to the ordinary rules for family immigration.

We also emphasise that persons who are granted a residence permit after submitting an application for family immigration under this temporary scheme cannot expect to receive assistance from the Norwegian authorities for assisted departure from Gaza.

If a permit for family immigration is granted, the applicant must visit one of the visa centres representing the Norwegian Embassy in Amman (located in Beirut, Amman, Cairo, Tel Aviv or Algiers) in person to collect the visa.

No. Although the UDI monitors the situation in Lebanon, as of today, it is not possible for you to apply in Norway on behalf of a close family member in Lebanon. If this should change, UDI will publish information about this when we receive the information.

It is a requirement that the person in Norway has been granted a residence permit in Norway. There are also income requirements in family immigration cases. There are exemptions to this income requirement if the reference person has recently received protection (asylum) and the application has been registered within 6 months after the date stated in the first decision letter the reference person received.

Several requirements apply to obtain family immigration. Amongst other things, the marriage must be valid and entered into voluntarily. You will find an overview of additional requirements by answering our web page's questions, «Want to apply for family immigration».

There are no changes in which family members can obtain a family immigration permit from Gaza. 

Those who usually apply for family immigration are spouses or children of a person who already lives in Norway. Other examples are parents who have minor children in Norway or minor full siblings of persons residing in Norway.

If a parent applies for a 9-month residence permit to visit children in Norway, we must assess whether the parent will return to their home country after the visit. Due to the situation in Gaza, it will take a lot for us to conclude in our assessment that the parent will return to Gaza after the visit. The applications we have received so far have been rejected.

Adult siblings, aunts/uncles, grandparents, nephews/nieces, cousins, or other distant relatives cannot get family immigration to Norway.

There are neither no changes in the requirements to obtain a family immigration permit. For information regarding the requirements for your case type, please follow this link and answer the questions to find the relevant information. 

There are no changes in which family members can obtain a family immigration permit from Lebanon. 

Those who usually apply for family immigration are spouses or children of a person who already lives in Norway. Other examples are parents who have minor children in Norway or minor full siblings of persons residing in Norway.

Adult siblings, aunts/uncles, grandparents, nephews/nieces, cousins, or other distant relatives cannot get family immigration to Norway.

There are neither no changes in the requirements to obtain a family immigration permit. For information regarding the requirements for your case type, please follow this link and answer the questions to find the relevant information. 

If you have already been granted a family immigration permit and cannot travel to Norway within the entry deadline in your permit, you can ask UDI to extend the entry deadline. UDI can grant an extended entry deadline of up to 1 year after the date of decision. You can contact us by choosing the right case type and filling in the contact form.

UDI has been asked to prioritise already submitted applications for residence permits from people who are currently in Palestine or Israel.

There are no changes in the application process for a residence permit in Norway, and the rules for family immigration are the same. 

To apply for protection in Norway, you must be in Norway or at the Norwegian border to apply. It is not possible to apply for asylum in Norway from a different country.

If you are in Palestine and Israel and you previously have received a final rejection on an application for protection or another residence permit, the case in which you have received a decision will not be reconsidered.

We know that many experience challenges in leaving Palestine and Israel now. Unfortunately, Norwegian authorities cannot help people to get out of Palestine and Israel. 

Palestine

The duty to return to Gaza after final rejection is temporarily suspended. This means that no one is being forcibly returned to Gaza for the time being.

The Norwegian Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) and UDI have decided to temporarily suspend the duty to return to Gaza for persons with a final decision which involves a return to Gaza. For the time being, the temporary suspension lasts until 18 September 2025.

The background is the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, the worsening of the security situation and the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The West Bank is not covered by the suspension.

You can read more about who is covered by the suspension here.

Lebanon

From 1 May 2025, UDI and UNE lift the temporary suspension of the duty to return to Lebanon that was decided on 31 October 2024. This means that the duty to return to the home country after a final rejection now applies again to Lebanon.

You can read more about the lifting of the suspension of the duty to return to Lebanon here.

Israel

The duty to return to the home country after final rejection still applies to Israel.

Foreign nationals who cannot return home before their permit, visa, or visa-free stay expires due to cancelled flights must change their tickets, obtain new tickets or find an alternative travel solution.

If you experience difficulties leaving Norway before your departure deadline, it may result in rejection of entry or expulsion. It is imperative that you hold on to any documentation showing that it has been impossible for you to find alternative ways to return home. You must present this documentation if a deportation or expulsion case is created upon your departure from Norway. You will also need this documentation if you ever apply for a visa to enter Norway at a later point in time. Do not submit this documentation to UDI now.

You do not need to contact UDI. We cannot give you confirmation that you can stay in Norway. UDI will consider your documented attempts to leave in time if an expulsion or deportation case is created.

During 2024, Norway will receive up to 20 patients from Gaza and their accompanying person(s).

Patients who are eligible for medical evacuation have serious illness or life-threatening conditions that require specialised hospital services.

UDI does not know when the first patients and their accompanying person(s) will arrive.

Each patient may be accompanied by one person

The main rule is that each patient can bring one accompanying person, but that there is flexibility to be able to include a few more, so that, for example, younger siblings are not left alone.

The accompanying person can be siblings, parents or another caregiver. In total, Norway has offered to receive up to 100 people.

UDI must grant an entry permit and provide a place to stay

To facilitate the medical evacuation from Gaza, UDI will work with hospitals and asylum centres.

UDI is responsible for issuing an entry permit to the patients and their accompanying persons.

UDI must provide a place to stay for the accompanying persons and provide a place to stay for patients when they have ended their hospital stay. Bufetat must provide a place to stay if the patient is a minor under the age of 15 and does not have an accompanying person.

You cannot apply for medical evacuation

You cannot apply or ask UDI to come to Norway through the medical evacuation scheme (Medevac Gaza). It is the World Health Organization (WHO) or one of the countries in the region that requests the evacuation of the individual patient. The various countries that are part of the Medevac scheme assess whether they can offer evacuation to the individual patient and then notify the WHO or the country that requested evacuation.

More information on medical evacuation from Gaza can be found here:

• Instructions on medical evacuation and reception of patients from Gaza for treatment in Norway within the framework (only available in Norwegian) (external website)