In order to obtain a Norwegian travel document, you must submit an application to the police. You must also enclose certain documents. If your application is rejected, you can appeal the decision.
Should you apply for a travel document or an immigrant’s passport?
If you have been granted refugee status in Norway, you are entitled to a refugee travel document unless special grounds indicate otherwise. A travel document is not valid for journeys to your home country.
If you have been granted a residence permit on grounds of strong humanitarian considerations after having applied for protection (asylum) and the Directorate of Immigration (UDI) deems your relationship with the authorities of your home country to be such that you cannot contact them and return to your home country, you can apply for a Norwegian immigrant's passport.
If you can document that you cannot obtain a passport from your home country and that the grounds are circumstances outside your influence, you can be granted a Norwegian immigrant's passport.
A Norwegian travel document is not valid for journeys to your home country, but is usually valid for travel to all other countries. If you nonetheless need to travel to your home country, for example in the event of sudden illness or death in your immediate family, you can apply for an immigrant’s passport for one single journey. Children can apply for an immigrant’s passport for one single journey to take part in a school excursion or a sports event etc.
How to apply
Please note: Your residence permit must be valid in order for your application to be granted.
You must be in Norway
Applications for travel documents must be handed in by you personally to the Norwegian police.
The only exception is applications for provisional documents/emergency passports if you are outside Norway and have lost your travel documents. Such applications can be handed in to a Norwegian embassy or an embassy which represents Norway.
Register your application online
The first thing you do is to register your application through our online Application Portal Norway.
It is also possible to fill in an application form, but then you should first check with your local police whether they accept paper application forms.
Application for a travel document
The form can be used both when applying for a travel document the first time, and if you wish to renew your travel document. If you are applying for an emergency passport, you must use this form (it is not possible to register such application online).
What must be enclosed with the application?
Both applicants who register their applications online and those who hand in a paper version need to hand in necessary documentation to the local police.
- If you apply online, you will at the same time book an appointment for handing in your documents to the police. You will not have to wait in line when you turn up for your appointment.
- If you are not applying online you need to contact the local police to find out when and where to hand in the documents along with the application form.
When you have handed in your passport and other necessary documentation, your application is formally submitted and we will start to process your application.
In addition to the completed application form (online or paper version), you must hand in the documents on the list here.
How long will it take to process the application?
See the list of the UDI’s expected processing times here.
Contact the police for information about their case processing times.
Who processes the application?
The police are authorised to grant applications for travel documents or immigrant’s passports provided that certain conditions are met. Applications that the police are not authorised to decide themselves are forwarded to the UDI to be decided.
You can appeal a decision
Read more about how to appeal a decision here.
Further information
If you have further questions about this topic, contact your nearest police district or the UDI's Information Service.
