For asylum seekers from Syria whose application for asylum has been rejected, the duty to leave the country has been suspended since April 2011 because of the turbulent and complex situation in Syria. This means that, until further notice, they are not obliged to leave Norway and they will not be returned by the police. For the same reason, the UDI has for the most part not processed asylum applications from Syria during this period.

The UDI recognises that the situation is difficult for asylum seekers from Syria, who have been living in uncertainty in reception centres for a long time. We are therefore now considering whether we should resume processing asylum applications.

New information after the 1st of May

By 1 May 2012, the UDI will submit a recommendation to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security about whether these asylum applications should now be processed and which guidelines to follow when processing these applications. The situation in Syria will be an important part of the basis for the recommendation. We are monitoring developments in Syria closely, and we are making efforts to obtain the necessary information. Information about the processing of asylum applications and protection against return to Syria in other European countries will also form part of the basis for the recommendation.

What is the situation today?

Until the Ministry has made a decision, the situation will remain as it stands today: No one from Syria whose application for asylum has been rejected will be obliged to leave Norway, no one will be returned to Syria by the police and the UDI will not process applications from asylum seekers from Syria.

The UDI will provide further information for asylum seekers from Syria after 1 May on www.udi.no and at the reception centres.

Information for asylum seekers from Syria in arabic