Published: 20.02.2025

Information for applicants from Syria in Norwegian (pdf, 100 kB)

معلومات لطالبي اللجوء من سوريا (Information for applicants from Syria in Arabic) (pdf, 183 kB) 

Agahdarî ji sûriyan re (Information for applicants from Syria in Kurmanji) (pdf, 126 kB)

We know that many of you have been waiting a long time for an answer, and we are very sorry that this decision has made the wait even harder.

Why has the processing of my asylum application been put on hold?

When we are going to assess whether you are entitled to protection (asylum) in Norway, we look at what the risk will be for you in the future: Will you be exposed to persecution in Syria if you return? Is the security situation in Syria so dangerous that we cannot send you back?

Because the situation in Syria is so unclear, we are not able to assess how dangerous it will be for you to return. Therefore, we must wait to process your case until we know more.

Why does not UDI interview asylum seekers from Syria?

In the asylum interview, we get the most important information we need to assess your application for protection. It is then important that we get to know enough about why you believe that you cannot return to your home country. Because the situation is as unclear as it is now, we cannot be sure whether we will cover all the topics that will be important for deciding your case.

It is the uncertainty about what the security situation will be like in the future that is causing UDI to put the processing of asylum applications from Syrians on hold.

When can UDI begin processing asylum applications again?

Unfortunately, we do not know how long it will take before we begin processing applications from Syria again. It depends on how the situation develops in Syria. We will provide information as soon as we know more about this.

I have a Dublin case. Will my case also be put on hold?

No, we will continue to process Dublin cases. If you are told that your case will be processed in Norway, your case will still be put on hold until we have a better overview of the situation in Syria.

Are applications from Syria processed in other European countries?

The vast majority of other European countries have also put the processing on hold. They need the same information that we in Norway need before they can process asylum applications.

Can I get a temporary work permit while I wait for an answer?

You must have had an asylum interview in order to apply for a temporary work permit. You must also have submitted your passport, and the passport must have been valid when you applied for protection.

If you have not had an asylum interview, we cannot process your application for a work permit.

Previously, Syrians have been exempted from the requirement to have an asylum interview to get a temporary work permit, because most applications from Syria were granted a residence permit. However, because the situation is so unclear, we are not processing applications for temporary work permits for Syrians at the moment. We are investigating together with the Ministry of Justice and Public Security whether we can grant temporary work permits to Syrians who have not had an interview. However, until we receive an answer to this, we cannot process applications for temporary work permits for you who have not had an asylum interview. We will provide more information about this as soon as we know more.

Can I be sent back to Syria without having my case processed?

No, that cannot happen. If you have applied for protection in Norway, you have the right to have your case processed in a thorough manner. You will have your case processed in the same thorough manner as other asylum seekers.