Asylum seekers can register in several places in Norway. If you contact the police where you are now, they will help you with transportation to the nearest place you can register.

You must be in Norway or on the Norwegian border to apply for protection (asylum).

Norwegian authorities do not currently consider Ukraine a safe country.

Ukrainians will be granted collective protection in Norway. Information about who can receive collective protection is available here.

Yes, you must apply for protection (asylum) for UDI to assess your application for collective protection.

Read about rights and obligations and how you can apply for protection (asylum) here.

Here you can read information from the police about what you need to do (external website), look under the headline "After registration".

Here you can read what a card for asylum seekers is.

Here you can read what a D number is.

Temporary collective protection

Collective protection means that UDI does not assess the need for protection individually but gives Ukrainians fleeing the war in Ukraine and their family members collective protection. This ensures that Ukrainians fleeing the war will get the help they need faster.

The permit is limited and is granted for one year at a time, for up to three years. The permit does not form the basis for a permanent residence permit during these three years. After three years, it is possible to obtain a new temporary permit forming the basis for a permanent residence permit. UDI must make an individual assessment of who this applies to.

Ukrainians who receive collective protection do not receive refugee status and refugee travel documents.

More information about your rights and obligations when you have received collective protection is available here.

Individual protection (asylum)

Usually, all applications for protection (asylum) are processed individually. This means, among other things, that everyone must have an asylum interview for UDI to process their application for protection. If the application is granted, the permit will usually form the basis for a permanent residence permit.

It is also common to obtain refugee status and travel documents with individual protection.

You cannot get collective protection if you:

• were a resident in a country other than Ukraine or Norway until 24 February 2022.
• stayed illegally in Norway or had a duty to return on 24 February 2022.
• have another residence permit in Norway that you can continue to have. A supplementary list of eligibility requirements for collective protection is available here.
• are not a Ukrainian citizen, but have had a residence permit in Ukraine. Please note that you may be entitled to collective protection in Norway if you had protection in Ukraine. If so, you must provide documentation confirming that you have residency for protection there.

If the list above applies to you, you may still apply for protection accessed individually. If so, UDI will consider whether you meet the requirements for obtaining a permit as a refugee.

You must contact your home country for help, unless you fear persecution in your home country.

If you are ineligible for collective protection, you may still apply for individual protection, and your application will be assessed individually. You will find an overview of who can apply for collective protection here.

If you apply for protection in Norway and meet the conditions for collective protection, we will process your application in Norway. If you are not eligible for collective protection, you may apply for protection and individual assessment of your application. However, if you have already applied for protection, or have a residence permit in another European country, then that country may still be responsible for processing your application, and you may be required to return there. This is covered by the Dublin Regulation. You can read more about how the Dublin Regulation works here.

Example of when the Dublin Regulation applies: You have a residence permit in another European country and left Ukraine long before 24 February 2022. As a result, you are not eligible for protection in Norway.  We will then contact the country you received your resident permit from so that your application for protection is processed there.

With a permanent residence permit or permanent right of residence, you can reside and work in Norway indefinitely. Collective protection is a permit that does not form the basis for permanent residence. You can therefore not apply for permanent residence after three years. 

If UDI decides that you still need protection after three years, you can get a new temporary permit. UDI will assess the application on an individual basis. If you receive a new permit after three years of collective protection, the new permit will provide a basis for you to later apply for a permanent residence permit.

You have the right to be safe in Norway. You can get free help if:

• you feel unsafe where you live and need a new place to live
• someone pressures you to do something you don't want in return for travel or housing
• someone exploits or pressures you sexually
• someone forces or pressures you to do work, favours or a criminal act
• you are a victim of violence or abuse

Are you in danger? / Is your life at risk in Norway?

Please call the police at 112 if you need immediate help. If there is no urgency, you can call 02800.

When you register, you will have rights as an asylum seeker.

You must register with the police (external website) to obtain legal residency and access to rights. You have the right to a safe place to live for free, and you will receive financial support to live on.

You may be entitled to collective protection

If you are from Ukraine, you may be entitled to collective protection. Collective protection grants you a residence permit and the right to a place to live in a municipality in Norway.

Do you live in a private residence and need a new place to live?

Contact UDI's guidance service by phone: (+47) 23 35 16 00.
Open Monday to Friday from 10:00 - 14:30.

Is someone acting violent or pressuring/forcing you to do something you do not want to do?

Talk to us – we can help you: 

• Healthcare professionals
• UDI or the police when you register (external website) as an asylum seeker
• Staff or volunteers at the reception centre where you are staying
• The refugee service or others who work in the municipality where you are staying

Orientation videos from the police:

• Welcome to Norway! (Available in Ukrainian) -  (external website)
• Not everyone who helps you has good intentions (available in Ukrainian) -  (external website)
• Welcome to Norway! (Available in Russian) -  (external website)
• Hi and welcome to Norway! (available in Russian) -  (external website)

Do you want to talk to someone who is not from the government? Do you want to speak anonymously?

You can call these helplines and talk with volunteer organisations. You do not have to give your name.

• Caritas helpline is available free of charge in Ukrainian and Russian  through WhatsApp. Open Monday-Thursday (10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m). Please call (+47) 31 40 23 00.
• ROSA helpline on human trafficking available in Norwegian and English. Always open. They can assist with an interpreter. Please call: (+47) 22 33 11 60.

Are you a child or a youth?

You can call Alarmtelefonen (emergency phone service) for children and young people at 116111. It is a 24-hour telephone and chat service in Norwegian and English. They can assist with an interpreter.

Do you need health care?

After arriving in Norway, you have the right to health care if you need it. Find out more about health services and your rights here: Health care for asylum seekers and refugees in Norway - helsenorge.no (external website).

Are you experiencing violence or abuse?

Find information on how to get help at www.dinutvei.no (external website). The site is available in many languages, including Russian and Ukrainian.

Do you want to know more about working in Norway and what rights and obligations you have?

Information from the Norwegian Labor Inspection Authority is available at www.knowyourrights.no (external website). You can select from a variety of languages ​​on the webpage, including English, Ukrainian and Russian.

Do you want to help others who may be vulnerable?

See UDI's refugee-crisis webpage for resources for authorities and others interested in helping.

As long as the duty to return to Ukraine is suspended, you as a Ukrainian citizen may apply for all types of permits from Norway. UDI will process all applications that Ukrainians submit from Norway due to the situation in your home country. Usually, applying from Norway will not be taken into consideration.  

If you have a valid residence permit in another safe country, where it is possible to return, we will not accept your application for a residence permit from Norway now.  

If you apply for protection and are granted collective protection, you can still apply for other types of residence permits.

Please consider which residence permit may be relevant for you to apply for. If you have family here, you may apply for family immigration. Another option may be a work permit. Please consider what you want to apply for.  

You will find an overview of all residence permits you may apply for here.

When a child of foreign parents is born in Norway, the parents must apply for a residence permit for the child. This is to be done as early as possible following the birth.

The type of residence permit you may apply for on your child's behalf depends on the type of Norwegian residence permit you and the child's other parent hold.

Select the alternative that suits you as the child's parents:

If both parents have been granted collective protection

The following information explains the various possibilities you have for your child:

Protection (asylum)

You may apply for protection (asylum) for your child.

If the child is eligible for collective protection, we will grant collective protection to the child. Read more about applying for protection.

If you are living in an asylum reception centre you must present the confirmation of birth document you received from the hospital to those working at the centre. The asylum reception centre will send it to its respective UDI regional office, and UDI will register an application for the child.

If you do not live in an asylum reception centre, you are to visit the local police station where you live to hand in the confirmation of birth document you received from the hospital. The police will then register an application for the child.

Family immigration

You can apply for a family immigration residence permit for your child.

If a child is granted a family immigration residence permit, its parents will normally have to obtain a passport for the child from their home country in order to travel outside Norway. If the child holds such a passport, then it can visit the home country of the parents.

If contacting the authorities or the embassy of the parents' home country in order to obtain a passport puts the parents at risk, it is possible to apply for a Norwegian immigrant passport (blue) for the child instead.

If neither the mother's nor the father's residence permit forms the basis for a permanent residence permit, then the child's permit will not form the basis for permanent residency either.

If one parent has been granted protection (asylum), and the other parent has been granted collective protection

The following information explains the various possibilities you have for your child:

Protection for family members of refugees (derived refugee status)

You may apply for protection for family members of refugees (derived refugee status) on behalf of the child.

If the child is granted derived refugee status, he or she will be issued a refugee travel document (green). The child will not be able to visit the parents' home country.

If the parents lose their refugee status at a later point in time, the child will lose its refugee status as well.

Protection (asylum)

You may apply for protection (asylum) for your child

If the child is eligible for collective protection, we will grant collective protection to the child. Read more about applying for protection.

In order to apply you must visit the local police station where you live and hand in the confirmation of birth document you received from the hospital. The police will then register an application for the child.

Family immigration

You can apply for a family immigration residence permit for your child.

If a child is granted a family immigration residence permit, its parents will normally have to obtain a passport for the child from their home country in order to travel outside Norway. If the child holds such a passport, then it can visit the home country of the parents.

If contacting the authorities or the embassy of the parents' home country in order to obtain a passport puts the parents at risk, it is possible to apply for a Norwegian immigrant passport (blue) for the child instead.

One of the parents has protection status (asylum), and one of the parents is an EU/EEA citizen:

The following information explains the various possibilities you have for your child:

Protection (asylum)

You may apply for protection (asylum) for your child.

If the child is eligible for collective protection, we will grant collective protection to the child. Read more about applying for protection.

In order to apply you must visit the local police station where you live and hand in the confirmation of birth document you received from the hospital. The police will then register an application for the child.

The registration scheme for EU/EEA nationals and applications for a residence card for family members of EU/EEA nationals

Because one or both of the child's parents hold citizenship in an EU/EEA country, it is not necessary to apply for a residence permit for the child, but you must register the child with the police or apply for a residence card on the child's behalf. This applies also even if the child was born in Norway and has been issued a Norwegian personal number.

• If the child is a citizen of an EU/EEA country, you may register the child via the registration scheme for EU/EEA nationals. Please note that the child must have its own passport before you can attend an appointment with the police.
• If the child is a citizen of a country outside the EU/EEA, you may apply for the child to receive a residence card as a family member of EU/EEA nationals. Please note that the child must have its own passport before you can attend the appointment with the police.

There is no deadline for registering your child/applying for a residence card for children under the EU/EEU regulations. UDI recommends registering children or applying for a residence card on their behalf as soon as they have a passport.

Family immigration

You may apply for a family immigration residence permit for your child.

If a child is granted a family immigration residence permit, its parents will normally have to obtain a passport for the child from their home country in order to travel outside Norway. If the child holds such a passport, then it can visit the home country of the parents.

If contacting the authorities or the embassy of the parents' home country in order to obtain a passport puts the parents at risk, it is possible to apply for a Norwegian immigrant passport (blue) for the child instead.

One of the parents has protection status (asylum), and the other parent has permanent residency (on the original basis of refugee status):

The following information explains the various possibilities you have for your child:

Protection for family members of refugees (derived refugee status)

You may apply for protection for family members of refugees (derived refugee status) on behalf of the child.

If the child is granted derived refugee status, he or she will be issued a refugee travel document (green). The child will not be able to visit the parents' home country.

If the parents lose their refugee status at a later point in time, the child will lose its refugee status as well.

Protection (asylum)

You may apply for protection (asylum) for your child.

If the child is eligible for collective protection, we will grant collective protection to the child. Read more about applying for protection.

In order to apply you must visit the local police station where you live and hand in the confirmation of birth document you received from the hospital. The police will then register an application for the child.

Family immigration

You may apply for a family immigration residence permit for your child

If a child is granted a family immigration residence permit, its parents will normally have to obtain a passport for the child from their home country in order to travel outside Norway. If the child holds such a passport, then it can visit the home country of the parents.

If contacting the authorities or the embassy of the parents' home country in order to obtain a passport puts the parents at risk, it is possible to apply for a Norwegian immigrant passport (blue) for the child instead.

If the parents are granted permanent residency

If both parents

• are granted a permanent residence permit or Norwegian citizenship before the child reaches one year of age, or
• fulfil the requirements for permanent residency or Norwegian citizenship and submit their applications for a permanent residence permit or Norwegian citizenship to the police before the child reaches one year of age

then it is also possible to apply for a permanent residence permit for your child. You must submit your child's application before the child reaches one year of age.

One of the parents has collective protection status, and the other parent has permanet residency (not based on refugee status):

The following information explains the various possibilities you have for your child:

Protection (asylum)

You may apply for protection (asylum) for your child

If the child is eligible for collective protection, we will grant collective protection to the child. Read more about applying for protection.

In order to apply you must visit the local police station where you live and hand in the confirmation of birth document you received from the hospital. The police will then register an application for the child.

Family immigration

You may apply for a family immigration residence permit for your child

If a child is granted a family immigration residence permit, its parents will normally have to obtain a passport for the child from their home country in order to travel outside Norway. If the child holds such a passport, then it can visit the home country of the parents.

If contacting the authorities or the embassy of the parents' home country in order to obtain a passport puts the parents at risk, it is possible to apply for a Norwegian immigrant passport (blue) for the child instead.

If the parents have permanent residency

If both parents

• have been granted a permanent residence permit or Norwegian citizenship before the child reaches one year of age, or
• fulfil the requirements for permanent residency or Norwegian citizenship and submit their applications for a permanent residence permit or Norwegian citizenship to the police before the child reaches one year of age

then it is also possible to apply for a permanent residence permit for your child. You must submit your child's application before the child reaches one year of age.

The mother has collective protection status but the father's identity is unknown or he resides outside Norway:

The following information explains the various possibilities you have for your child:

Protection (asylum)

You may apply for protection (asylum) for your child

If the child is eligible for collective protection, we will grant collective protection to the child. Read more about applying for protection.

If you are living in an asylum reception centre you must present the confirmation of birth document you received from the hospital to those working at the centre. The asylum reception centre will send it to its respective UDI regional office, and UDI will register an application for the child.

If you do not live in an asylum reception centre, you are to visit the local police station where you live to hand in the confirmation of birth document you received from the hospital. The police will then register an application for the child.

Family immigration

You may apply for a family immigration residence permit for your child

If a child is granted a family immigration residence permit, its parents will normally have to obtain a passport for the child from their home country in order to travel outside Norway. If the child holds such a passport, then it can visit the home country of the parents.

If contacting the authorities or the embassy of the parents' home country in order to obtain a passport puts the parents at risk, it is possible to apply for a Norwegian immigrant passport (blue) for the child instead.

If the mother's residence permit does not form the basis for a permanent residence permit, then the child's permit will not form the basis for permanent residency either.

You cannot work while we process your application for collective protection. You can also not apply to work while we process your application.

You are only allowed to work if you are granted collective protection in Norway.

Here you can find information from the Tax Administration (external website) about what you must do if you want to work in Norway after being granted collective protection.

Here you can read more about what you need to know if you want to travel outside Norway or move from Norway.

When granted collective protection, you have the right to follow an introduction programme, which includes Norwegian and social studies training.

You must contact the municipality where you reside to get information about your rights to participate in the introduction programme. The municipality will give you guidance on this.

You can find information about the introduction programme in English, Ukrainian and Russian on IMDi's website (external website).

Emergency accommodation is a type of accommodation for asylum seekers used when many asylum seekers arrive at the same time. This type of accommodation has a simple standard but will ensure your basic needs.

In the emergency accommodation, you will get:

• a bed (not in a tent)
• some money
• food, or money for food
• food for young children and babies, or money for food
• equipment for young children, such as baby bottles
• access to facilities to wash and dry clothes
• hygiene items if needed, including diapers for children
• internet access in the room and the common areas
• offer of primary school for children from 6-16 years

The people who work in the emergency accommodation will give you practical information about settlement, leisure activities, health care and services in the local community.

You will be informed when and where to move from the emergency accommodation. We do not know how long it will take before you should move.

You will find more information about emergency accommodation here 

Velkommen til akuttinnkvartering (norsk) (pdf, 176 kB)

Ласкаво просимо в центр термінового розміщення (ukrainsk) (pdf, 253 kB)

Добро пожаловать в место экстренного размещения (russisk) (pdf, 240 kB)

An asylum reception centre is a simple and temporary accommodation where you can stay while you wait for an answer to your application for collective protection. It is voluntary to live in an asylum reception centre.

When you arrive at the asylum reception centre, you will receive information about:

• house rules
• safety conditions, such as fire protection and safety
• practical conditions at the reception, including resident participation
• money and basic benefits
• the local community and offers in the local community, including transport, shops and other services

The people who work at the asylum reception centre will facilitate, guide, and help you if you need it. They will also guide you in obtaining current information from the public sector and voluntary organizations.

At the asylum reception centre, you will get:

• a bed (not in a tent)
• access to a kitchen
• equipment for small children, such as prams and beds
• access to facilities to wash and dry clothes
• internet access in the room and in the common areas
• access to use a computer/tablet at the asylum reception centre
• money (basic benefits) for food, clothing, hygiene items and transport
• offer of primary school for children from 6-16 years
• adapted school offers for young people between 16-18 years
• offers of leisure activities
• participate in information programs

At some asylum reception centres, there will be

• offer of child care for children between 0-6 years
• offer of kindergarten for children between 1-6 years

We do not know how long it will take before you move from the asylum reception centre to a municipality.

An alternative to reception centres means that you can live in a standard home, instead of in a reception centre or an emergency accommodation offered by UDI.  

UDI has expanded the scheme for an alternative to reception centres for Ukrainians in the target group for temporary collective protection who live privately or in other temporary places until they are settled.

To apply for an alternative to reception centres, you must have registered with the police and received a DUF number and D number. You also must have found a place to live in a municipality. Examples of different housing solutions can be 

• living with family members in a municipality 
• other people who have offered housing provided by voluntary organisations, or  
• the municipality, which is not a part of the reception system.  

Unaccompanied minors are not covered by the extended scheme for an alternative to reception centres. If you are an unaccompanied minor asylum seeker, you can apply for an alternative to a reception centre according to the usual (ordinary) scheme. 

How to apply for the extended scheme of an alternative to reception centres 

Here you can find information on how to apply for an alternative to receptions centres.

The municipality must agree that you settle there. When UDI has received the application, we will contact the municipality and ask if they will accept the application for an alternative to reception centres. If you already have contacted the municipality in advance and the municipality has approved and signed the application form, UDI will approve the application immediately.  

The municipalities choose whether they give people permission to live in an alternative to a  reception centre or not. If the municipality does not accept the inquiry, you will have your application rejected. You will still have the right to stay in an emergency accommodation or an asylum reception centre. If you are granted an alternative to a reception centre by UDI and the municipality, you can receive money for housing expenses and subsistence from the municipality. 

UDI offers everyone who applies for protection in Norway a place to live. Asylum reception centres and emergency accommodations are simple and temporary accommodations where you can stay while you wait for an answer to your application for collective protection. Many people are arriving from Ukraine now, and we can therefore not process applications for relocation between asylum reception centres and between emergency accommodations.

You can live privately

Even if we do not process relocation applications between asylum reception centres and emergency accommodation, you can still choose to live elsewhere. You can move, for example, to friends or family.

Are you going to stay privately after registering at the National Arrivals Center?

If you are moving to a private address after registering at the National Arrivals Center, please notify LINK of the new address you are moving to. You must do this before moving. LINK then notifies the police and UDI of your new address. UDI must know where you are when we send out the decision letter granting protection and other important information. If we do not know where you are, we will not process your application for protection.

Are you moving from an asylum reception centre or an emergency accommodation to a private address?

Suppose you live in an asylum reception centre or an emergency accommodation and move to a private address. In that case, you must report your new address to the reception centre and the police where you will live. UDI must know where you are when we send out decisions on protection and other important information. If we do not know where you are, we can not process your application for protection.

If you live in private housing, you can apply for an alternative to reception centres.

If you have brought your pet from abroad, your pet must be checked at the border by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

If your pet has not been checked at the border when you arrived, you must immediately contact the Norwegian Food Safety Authority by telephone: +47 22 40 00 00.

You can read more about controlling pets from abroad on the Norwegian Food Safety Authority's website (external website). The information is available in Norwegian, English and Ukrainian.

Here you can find information in English and Ukrainian about financial help from the Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals (pdf, 2,3 MB).

You are responsible for your own pets under almost all circumstances.

The vast majority of animals coming to Norway from Ukraine do not arrive in accordance with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority's guidelines and must therefore be held in quarantine. The quarantine period may be carried out either in a kennel or in a home, following specific requirements for "home quarantine" set by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority is responsible for this stage of the process. It is not allowed to carry out home quarantine at a reception centre.

Your pet might clear quarantine before you leave the reception centre. In such case, your pet may stay with you at the centre for a short period of time if the centre allows it. Certain reception centres have made preparations for pets to be accommodated at the centre. It is the decision of the reception centre itself whether or not to allow animals in.

You should stay at the National Arrival Centre until you have done several activities. It may take up to 21 days. The activities are part of the process of applying for protection. 

Examples of activities you will go through are:  

• registration of your application   
• establishing your identity

If the police have your phone, you will get it back when the police have finished their investigations. If you leave the arrival centre before the police have finished their investigations, they will send the phone to you in the mail when it is ready.

If you live in the big tent hall, you will only be there for a few days before you get moved. You will be notified when you can leave.

Read more about the different activities you will go through at the arrival centre.   

You do not have to stay at the National Arrival Centre the entire time. But we recommend that you stay there until you have done all the necessary activities. If you leave the National Arrival Centre before the whole process is finished, your application process might come to a halt. It may then take longer for you to receive an answer to your application. 

It is voluntary to stay at the reception centre. 

If you register at the National Arrivals Centre, we recommend that you stay there until these activities are completed: 

• Registration of application 
• Identification of identity

If you choose to stay in private housing

If you stay in private housing, you may apply for alternative to reception centre (external website). 

You are entitled to health care from a doctor or hospital and the right to receive certain types of medication. If you need medical attention, you can contact a doctor where you live. If you have children, they have the right to go to school. 

At the National Arrival Centre you will get food, a bed to sleep in, and food suitable for children and babies. You will also get clothes and hygiene items if you need them. You can not cook your own food at the centre. You can freely go out shopping for food for your own money. 

At the National Arrival Centre, you will sleep in a tent hall. That is the accommodation everyone gets. There are a few rooms that particularly vulnerable people can use. We will evaluate the individual need to decide if a person needs a room.  

Read more about the different activities you will go through at the arrival centre. 

Your children have the right to go to school when you have applied for asylum in Norway. The right to go to school applies to your children from the age of six until they are 16 years old.

If you are a parent to a child under 16, you must send your child to school. The right to go to school applies as long as it is a high possibility that you will stay in Norway for more than three months. Talk to the municipality where you live regarding help sending your children to school.

You have the right to the same health care as everyone in Norway, such as going to the doctor or hospital and receiving certain types of medication. The right to health care applies when you come to Norway and ask for protection (asylum).

You can get a GP. Meaning that you can go to the same doctor every time. To get a GP, you can call the GP phone, +47 810 59 500.

How to get in touch with a doctor

• Contact a doctor where you live if you need health care.
• If you have an urgent need for medical help, you can contact the emergency room.
• Call telephone number +47 116 117 to contact the nearest emergency room.
• You can ask for help from the staff at the asylum reception to book an appointment.