This section provides an overview of how long it takes to process applications for Norwegian immigrant’s passports or travel documents for asylum-seekers.
The period taken to process a case is calculated from the day you submit your application to the police until the day the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) takes a decision on the case. Applications from which important information is missing take longer to process, and such applications may, in some cases, be rejected due to missing information or documentation.
You should be aware that the police also process applications for renewal of Norwegian immigrant’s passports and travel documents. The police may grant an application to renew a travel document, but cannot reject one. In cases of doubt and where a travel document has been lost, the UDI processes applications for renewal.
If your application is to be processed by the police you should ask at the place you submitted your application when you can expect an answer. The case-processing times vary from place to place.
Travel documents in asylum cases
Applications for asylum also include an application for a travel document and this latter application is processed by the UDI’s asylum department in connection with the asylum case itself.
Case-processing times for travel documents
| Type of case |
Number of months |
|
First-time application and renewals |
8 |
|
Klager over avslag |
6 |
Guiding
Information about case-processing times is guiding. Some cases make take shorter or longer time to process. When there are strong reasons for applying for a travel document for a single journey (for example in cases of serious and sudden illness or death) will be processed consecutively (within 3 to 5 days) when they are received in the UDI. Applications from children who will take part in school excursions/ sport arrangements will be given priority and decided on before the arrangement finds place, if the application is submitted well before the journey.
The case-processing times indicate how long it has taken us to process most of the applications the last three months.
The composition of the case portfolio and how we give priority to the cases are conditions that affects the case-processing times as well.
Not constant
The table is updated every third month and the information is changed if the case processing times are changed. This means that the case-processing times for your application can be changed after it has been submitted.
Applications may also be processed more quickly if there are extremely good reasons so to do.
- Check that you meet the conditions for the permit you are applying for (read more – "How do I apply for a travel document?").
- Make sure you provide all the documentation required. Note that there are special requirements for documentation for applications for travel documents for an individual trip. Ask at the place you submit your application (read more – "How do I apply for a travel document?").
- Be sure to fill in all the necessary fields on the application form.
- If you meet the requirements to obtain the permit for which you are applying and submit a fully completed application and all the documentation required, the UDI will usually process your application within the period stated in the table at the time.
When the UDI receives the application it is recorded in the archive and then sent on to the unit that is to process the application. (Case-flow diagram for refugee travel documents)
Applications are then examined by the units and it is established whether the applicant meets the relevant conditions, whether the forms have been filled in correctly and whether all the documentation is in place.
Incomplete applications may be sent to the local police district in order to obtain more information or documentation. If important information is missing it can take longer than the specified case-processing time to process an application.
Once a decision has been taken, the official processing the case writes a notice of decision and sends it to the police district where the application was submitted. The police pass on the decision to the applicant.
It takes a few days or weeks from when the UDI takes a decision until the applicant is informed of the decision. The length of that period is dependent, amongst other things, on the postal service and the workload of the police who are to pass on the decision.
Application form: refugee travel document and Norwegian immigrant’s passport
Power of attorney form
