Published: 20.10.2023

As a Syrian asylum-seeker, you now have the right to be issued a work permit before you have attended your asylum interview.  

This comes as an exception to the general rule requiring asylum-seekers to have completed their asylum interview before being allowed to work. The exception applies for persons from countries - and categories of persons - whose applications for protection (asylum) have a high probability of being granted. 

Once every six months, UDI calculates the categories and countries for which over 80 per cent of applicants were granted protection (asylum) over the previous half year. We last made this calculation in October, and Syria emerged among these countries. 

Must have handed in ID documents

Please note, to be eligible for a work permit as an asylum-seeker, you must have submitted documents confirming your identity to the Norwegian authorities.

We are processing applications from Syrian applicants as fast as possible

We have already begun processing applications from applicants seeking permission to work in advance of their asylum interview, and most of these will receive an answer in some weeks. If you already have been called in for your asylum interview, we will wait to evaluate your application until after you have completed the interview. For cases where no further investigation is necessary, we will give you an answer to your application for protection (asylum) shortly after your asylum interview. If your application for protection (asylum) is granted, you will also be given the right to work in Norway. 

You can read more about who is eligible to apply for work before completing an asylum interview.