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.

UDI has not yet determined the practice for processing these applications, and it may therefore still take time before we can provide answers to the applications.

Information that emerges during the interviews will provide UDI with a better understanding of the situation for Ukrainians who apply for protection on an individual basis in Norway. It will serve as part of the information that we will use to establish a practice for processing the applications.

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. Because we are working to establish a practice for proccessing applications, there might be information that emerges during the interviews which requires us to investigate further or gather more information.

UDI is also working to gather information about the general situation in the Ukraine from other sources, such as the Norwegian Country of Origin Information Centre (Landinfo) (external website). 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.

Currently, 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.

Yes. You can apply for family immigration or for a residence permit for skilled workers or seasonal workers.

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.