For a child, this means that you have the right to say what you think and feel about issues concerning you or your family. You alone get to decide if you want to share something or not, no one else. You also get to decide for yourself what it is you share.

You can explain things yourself, through your parents or through others who can explain what you said on your behalf. If you wish to share something, you must normally do it in writing. Depending on their situation, some children will be offered a chance to talk if they want. More information about this is available below.

How do I tell UDI what I want to say?

There are different ways you can share with UDI what is on your mind:

• You can speak with a grown-up you trust, such as one of your parents or another adult you know. Then the person you speak with needs to write down what you shared.
• You can also write to us yourself or draw something for us.
  You can upload what you write, or what someone else writes for you, to UDI via its website on the Send documents to UDI page.

An offer to talk

If you or your parents have applied for family immigration, you can ask to have a talk where you can tell us what is on your mind instead of writing it down. You can ask for this kind of talk if you are:

• a child applying for protection on your own;
• a child applying for family immigration to rejoin one of your parents;
• a foster child;
• an unattended minor with refugee status in Norway, or
• a child who has a residence permit granted on the basis of the Immigration Act, Section 38, and who has one or both parents applying for family immigration to rejoin you.

Contact us if you want to have a talk with someone at the embassy or in the police district where you or your parents submit the application for family immigration. It will be the embassy or the police that you speak with.

What happens after I have had the chance to say what is on my mind?

Once you have said what you want to say in writing or to someone, UDI will continue to work on your, or your family’s, case. Having the chance to speak your mind does not mean that you can decide what is going to happen. Your input is important, but it is always UDI making the decisions on the basis of the rules in place. Even if UDI could decide that someone in your family will not be allowed to live in Norway, it will never be your fault.

Who will get to know what I have said?

Generally, your parents will get to know what you have shared. If they have a lawyer, the lawyer will also be informed. If you do not want your parents to find out what you share with UDI, you will need to explain to UDI why you do not want your parents to know. There are special rules for when parents are not to be informed of what their child shares.