UDI has gained better knowledge of the situation in the various parts of Ukraine and for Ukrainians who apply for protection on an individual basis in Norway. We have written a guideline that describes our practice for assessing the applications. The guidelines have been produced in the same way as for other countries.

The guideline is published on UDI Regulations:
• UDI 2024-004 Asylpraksis for Ukraina ("Asylum guidelines for Ukraine" only available in Norwegian) (external website)

As part of the assessment of individual protection, UDI will decide whether the authorities in your home country can protect you, and whether there are areas in your home country that can be safe and accessible for you to return to.

In the guideline, UDI has currently defined three counties in the west of Ukraine as safe; Volyn, Lviv and Zakarpattia. We will assess your need for protection individually, regardless of whether you are from these or other counties.

We will make an individual assessment in each case. The assessment of which areas are considered safe may change. We are continuously working to assess which counties are safe and which are not.

It will be a while before you get a response

Even if UDI starts processing applications, and even if you have had an interview with UDI, it may still take some time before you receive a response to your application. UDI cannot provide any further information about when you will receive a response to your application if you call us on the phone.

You can appeal

You will be assigned a lawyer by UDI, and you can appeal the decision. The lawyer will explain the decision and help you with the appeal.

You can also get advice from organisations that offer free legal aid, such as Norwegian Organisation for Asylum Seekers (NOAS) (external website), Self Help for Immigrants and Refugees (SEIF) (external website), Legal counselling for women (JURK) (external website), and Jussbuss (external website).

UDI will consider your appeal. If UDI does not reverse its decision, it will send the case to the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE), (external website).

Once your case has been sent to UNE, UNE will be responsible for your case, and you must contact UNE (external website) if you have new documents or information.

Do I have to leave Norway if my application is rejected?

Due to the war in Ukraine, there has long been a suspension of the duty to leave. This means that Ukrainians have not been obliged to return to Ukraine, even if their application for a residence permit has been rejected. Since UDI is now starting to process applications for protection on an individual basis, and there are now some counties in Ukraine that are considered safe, the duty to leave has been reinstated.

This means that if your application is rejected, you have a duty to leave Norway within a given deadline.

If you appeal the decision, you can request to stay in Norway while we consider your appeal. Your lawyer will ask for this in connection with the appeal. You can normally stay in Norway while UDI or UNE is considering your appeal.

Beginning in early April, UDI will interview some of the Ukrainian refugees who are waiting for an answer to their application for individual protection (asylum). This is called an asylum interview. During the interview, you must tell UDI about yourself and why you need protection.

Who is being interviewed by UDI?

We will start interviewing single adults without children, who have not stayed in other safe countries (see the list of countries that UDI believes are safe, available in Norwegian only (external website)). But not everyone in this group will be invited for an interview at this time.

UDI selects who will be invited to an interview. You cannot contact UDI and ask to be interviewed.

It may take some time before we have notified all the people who are being interviewed. The first persons to be interviewed will be notified in April.

How do I know if I'm going to an interview?

If you are going to an interview, you will receive an invitation from UDI.

• Those who live in an asylum reception centre will receive information from the staff. The reception centre will help you arrange travel to UDI's offices. If there is a need for accommodation, the asylum reception centre staff will arrange this.
• If you live at a private address, you will first receive a phone call from UDI with information about the date. You will then receive an email with the invitation. You must arrange your own travel to UDI's offices, but you will be reimbursed for the expenses. A reimbursement form will be attached in the invitation email, which you must fill out and send to UDI in an email or in the post. If you live far away, we can arrange a stay at a hotel the day before the interview. You can discuss this during the phone call with UDI.

If you live privately, it is important that UDI has your updated contact information. You must contact UDI if you have changed your telephone number or email after you registered with the police.

If you are invited for an interview, you have a duty to attend.

What happens at the interview?

The interviews usually take place at the UDI offices in Oslo or Trondheim. It can also be done digitally; in which case the asylum reception centre must facilitate the implementation. During the interview, you meet the person who will interview you, and an interpreter.

You will receive information about what will happen during the interview, and you may ask questions. The interview is quite thorough, it will often take a full day. UDI has an asylum interview with you to find out whether you, as an individual, need protection. The questions during the interview will primarily be about your individual reasons for needing protection in Norway, and not the general situation in Ukraine.

The information that emerges during the interviews will be important for the assessment of whether you will be granted protection in Norway.

What happens after the interview?

It may take some time, even after the interview, before you receive an answer to your application.

Your rights and obligations in Norway will remain the same, regardless of whether you have been interviewed or not, until you receive a response to your application.

UDI does not have any further information about these interviews. We will not be able to provide more information even if you call our Information Service.

In some cases, yes. This depends on factors such as whether you are the spouse, cohabitant or child of the person granted collective protection. It is also possible to be granted collective protection if you, on 24 February 2022, lived together with a member of your extended family (e.g. in-law) or, for example, a caregiver who has been granted collective protection in Norway.

The collective protection scheme has been determined by the Norwegian government. Whether or not to widen the scope of this scheme is a political matter, one which UDI is not able to answer.

No, your case will be dismissed if you leave Norway.

Unfortunately, no, this is not possible.

You are to hand in original documents (i.e. passport, ID) in person at your local police station. You can also send them in by post to:
National Police Immigration Service (NPIS)
Postboks 2095 Vika
0125 Oslo

On a piece of paper, write your name, address and DUF number, and enclose it separately in an envelope with your other documents.

Do not send originals to UDI. You may send copies of documentation to UDI in an envelope addressed to:
Utlendingsdirektoratet
Postboks 2098 Vika
NO-0125 Oslo
Norway

Enclose a separate piece of paper with your name and DUF number.

If you apply for a visa it will not affect your application, but if you are granted a visa and leave Norway your case will be dismissed.

If you have questions regarding your case, please contact our Information Service desk.

You can only apply for another type of residence permit if you meet the requirements for applying from Norway. These requirements can, for example, be that you are a legal resident and a skilled worker, or that you have had a valid residence permit for the last 9 months.

You must familiarise yourself with which residence permits are relevant for you, and whether you have the right to apply from Norway. You can find this information by filling in information about which residence permit you want to apply for and answering the questions on our website.

You can only work while you are an asylum seeker if you have been granted a work permit.

You can be granted a temporary work permit while you are an asylum seeker if

• you have had your asylum interview
• you have a valid passport
• you have not received an answer to your application for protection

You cannot be granted a temporary work permit while you are an asylum seeker if

• you have not had your asylum interview
• you do not have a valid passport
• you are to be sent to another European country (your application is processed as a Dublin case)
• you have received a rejection of your application for asylum 

How to apply

• You apply by filling in Form for asylum seekers who would like a work permit (pdf, 620 kB).
• You send this form by mail to the police in the place where you live. You must not send the application to UDI.
• If you have not already handed in your passport to the police, you must attach a copy of your passport to the application.
• You do not have to pay a fee for applying.
• The police will contact you to make an appointment for a meeting with the police. If you have not already handed in your passport to the police, you must bring the original passport to this appointment. 

Voluntary work

You do not need a work permit to participate in voluntary work. There are strict rules for what is considered voluntary work.

Yes, you must have a valid passport in order to obtain a temporary work permit. If the police already have your passport, you simply inform them of this. If not, you must bring your original passport with you to your appointment with the police. The police will notify you of the time and place of your appointment.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to obtain a temporary work permit with only an internal passport/passport card. You need a valid passport to obtain a temporary work permit. If the police already have your passport, you simply inform them of this. If not, you must bring your original passport with you to your appointment with the police. The police will notify you of the time and place of your appointment.

No, you may not.

Unfortunately, no, this is not possible.

Persons who are eligible for collective protection may keep their passports when they apply. Other applicants have to submit their passport. If you have applied for collective protection and UDI notifies you that your application will be assessed individually, you will be asked to submit your documents to the police.

There are a number of banks that will allow you to open a Norwegian bank account as long as you have a card for asylum seeker. Unfortunately, UDI does not have more information about which banks will accept a card for asylum seeker. 

Yes, you will be notified if we register your case as a Dublin case. Most applicants will be notified when they are registered by the police. The Dublin Regulation determines which country is responsible for examining an application for protection.

The normal waiting time for cases under the Dublin procedure is about four months, but this may change. For updates on waiting times, please see Waiting times for those who have applied for protection (asylum).

Yes, Norway can refuse to process your case even though the deadlines have passed.

No. If the Dublin Regulation applies to your case, then you have already applied for protection, and your application has been designated for individual assessment (individual protection) instead of collective protection. You cannot choose which assessment category your application will be assigned to.

As long as you have individual protection status, you are not allowed to return to your home country. If you do so, your permit may be revoked.

Refugees from Ukraine who are eligible for collective protection will have their applications answered fairly quickly. Those who are not eligible for collective protection and, thus, are waiting for the outcome of an individual assessment of their applications, have different rights because no decision has been reached on their applications yet. Those whose applications are pending may apply for the right to work in the meantime, but they are not allowed to travel abroad. Those who have already been granted individual protection are allowed to work, and they may also travel up to half of the period their residence permit is valid for.

Children have the right to primary and lower secondary education regardless of how their application is being processed. Children of the appropriate age will be offered a place in a municipal kindergarten. If the municipality cannot provide placement, then the reception centre is to arrange an activity room for children over 2 years of age.

All reception centre residents over 18 years of age are obligated to take part in training in the Norwegian language and social studies. The programme consists of 175 hours of Norwegian-language training and 25 hours of social studies. Instruction is free of cost. The reception centre cooperates with the municipality to ensure that everyone can take part and to arrange transport to the place of instruction.

UDI provides a subsidy to the municipality that agrees to provide accommodation for you. It is the municipality that decides the amount of funding support you can receive. If you have a need for financial support, please contact NAV in your municipality. An alternative to reception centres means that you can live in a standard home, instead of in a reception centre or an emergency accommodation offered by UDI.