Information for those who have applied for Norwegian citizenship

Today, UDI has approximately 16,000 unprocessed applications for Norwegian citizenship. Due to the high number of applications, waiting times have unfortunately increased several times. We fully understand that the long waiting time is frustrating.  

It normally takes 18 months from when you handed in your documents to the police, until you get an answer to your application. This is also the case for applicants who have shorter residence-period requirements because their income meets the reference threshold.

One of the reasons for the long waiting time is that it is difficult for Norwegian authorities to confirm the identity of those who come from Afghanistan. Consequently, UDI has to confirm identities in other ways. 

How long you have to wait may change. Even if you have been informed of a different waiting time previously, it will be the new waiting time that applies for you. If the waiting time increases after you have applied, it is because we are unable to process the applications within the time period we previously indicated. We regularly update the waiting time to provide you with updated information on when you can expect your application to be processed.   

We will not be able to provide any further information about the waiting time for your application even if you contact us 

We understand that many people want to contact us because of the waiting time. Our most important source of information about waiting time is this website. The information is updated regularly. We will not be able to provide any other information about the waiting time for your application than what you will find here. You therefore do not need to contact us if you have questions about the waiting time for processing your application. 

You will be notified by email or SMS when the police forward your application to UDI.  

We will contact you if there are any documents missing that we need to process your application. You will also receive a letter from us as soon as your application has been processed.   

Automatic processing of the application

All applications for Norwegian citizenship are fully or partially processed automatically. Our computer system uses the information we have about you, and assesses whether Norwegian citizenship can be granted without a case officer looking at the application. The computer system is not able to assess all types of information, and therefore many applications must still be processed by a case officer.

UDI needs to make additional investigations into the identity of applicants from Afghanistan. Because we must do these investigations, a case officer must consider the application for citizens of Afghanistan. Your application can therefore not be fully automated.  

You can read more about automatic processing of applications here.

You cannot contact UDI to have your application processed automatically.  

We cannot guarantee that family members will receive an answer to their applications at the same time  

We primarily process the oldest applications first. This means that we unfortunately cannot guarantee that everyone in a family will have their applications processed at the same time.   

We cannot give priority to applications for Norwegian citizenship even if one or more of your family members have received a response to their applications.   

This information was last updated on 

. It will be updated again on 

.