If you hold a residence permit in Norway based on an application for protection, you are eligible for support to move back to your country of origin on a permanent basis.
Can you receive a grant to return to your home country?
All persons who have been granted protection (asylum) or residence on grounds of strong humanitarian considerations may apply for a repatriation grant. You may also receive a grant if you have a residence permit based on family immigration with a person belonging to one of these groups.
Persons who are currently Norwegian nationals will normally not be given a repatriation grant. However, it is possible to apply for an exemption on the basis of humanitarian or societal considerations.
You must have lived in Norway for at least three months to be eligible for a repatriation grant.
What does the grant cover?
You will receive a cash sum of NOK 10 000. This is meant to help you re-establish your life in your home country. In addition, you will receive NOK 5 000 to cover the transportation of your personal belongings.
The Directorate of Immigration (UDI) books and pays for the ticket based on the information provided in your application. You cannot book the tickets yourself if the expenses are to be covered by the Norwegian authorities.
The UDI has special programmes for return and reintegration to Afghanistan, Iraq and Burundi.
Are you allowed to return to Norway?
If you hold a permanent residence permit, you can apply to the police to have this permit stamped in a passport issued by the authorities of your country of origin. A permanent residence permit entitles you to return to Norway within two years of your departure date.
If you have a temporary residence permit, you may return to Norway as long as the permit is valid.
If you neither have a permanent residence permit nor a valid residence permit, but wish to return to Norway, you must apply for a new residence permit. Each application is assessed on an individual basis, and there is no guarantee that it will be granted. The same applies to persons with a permanent residence permit who have spent more than two years outside Norway.
Must you repay the grant if you return to Norway?
If you move back to Norway, you must repay the amount you have received from the authorities in full or in part, with the exception of travel expenses. The amount you have to pay back depends on the duration of your stay in your home country.
Rates for repayment of repatriation grants:
| Number of months spent in the home country |
Amount to be repaid |
| Less than 12 months |
NOK 15 000,- |
| 13-18 months |
NOK 10 000,- |
| 18-24 months |
NOK 5 000,- |
| More than 24 months |
NOK 0,- |
If you are forced to flee from abuse in your home country, you can apply to be exempt from repaying the grant on your return to Norway. The UDI assesses each application individually.
Project grants
The UDI supports projects that facilitate repatriation.
Further information
If you have more questions about this topic, see Information about voluntary repatriation. You can also contact the UDI’s regional office.
