If you have fled the war in Ukraine and applied for protection in Norway, the immigration authorities will process your application either as part of a group assessment (collective protection) or individually (ordinary protection).

You will be granted collective protection if you meet the conditions for such a permit. If you are not among those who can receive collective protection, UDI will make an individual assessment of your application.

It is the immigration authorities who decide whether your case should be assessed as part of the group assessment, or individually. You cannot choose for yourself.

Waiting times if you are entitled to collective protection

Most applications for collective protection are processed automatically, and not by a case process worker. Some cases must however be processed by a case process worker.

Applications that are processed automatically

If your application is processed automatically, you can expect to receive an answer shortly.

Applications processed by a case process worker

If your application needs to be processed by a case process worker, the waiting time will be longer.

The vast majority of applicants in this group receive an answer within 4 months. Many applicants will have an answer earlier. Some cases may take longer.

We do not always process the oldest cases first, so you may find that someone who applied after you receives an answer before you. Having to wait longer does not mean that there is anything wrong with your case.

How do you know if your case is processed automatically or by a case manager?

You will normally not find out whether your case will be processed automatically or by a person until you receive an answer to the application.

A case process worker must assess your case if

• your case lacks documents or information
• you are not a Ukrainian citizen
• you have not provided the correct residential address in Norway

The fact that your case cannot be processed automatically does not mean that there is anything wrong with it.

Waiting times if you are not entitled to collective protection

If your application does not meet the criteria for collective protection, the waiting time will be significantly longer.

Unfortunately, we cannot say anything about how long it will take to process such cases. The reason is that UDI is working to establish a practice. We cannot provide more information about this now, even if you contact UDI.

How do you know that you do not meet the criteria for collective protection?

If you are not entitled to collective protection, you will either be informed of this when you register with the police, or you will receive a letter from UDI once we have looked into your case. In the letter you will find information on what to do next.

If you are not entitled to collective protection, UDI will initially consider your case as a regular application for protection.

Do you have documents that you have not handed in?

You can find information on how to hand in documents at udi.no/docasylum

The waiting times were updated in December 2022. The next update will be in March 2023.

When you contact the police, they will help you with transportation to the National Arrival Centre in Råde municipality.

When you arrive at Råde, you will be welcomed by the staff at the arrival centre and receive information about what will happen while you are at the arrival centre.

The police will forward your application for collective protection to UDI for processing. Once UDI has reached a decision, we will notify you. If you are granted collective protection, you will receive a letter with information about your permit and about your rights and obligations. If you are not granted collective protection, you will receive a letter informing you that your application will be assessed on an individual basis.

UDI is processing your case

UDI processes most applications quickly. In some cases, we may need to do some additional examinations, or we may need to have a conversation with you. You will then be notified.

UDI will inform you when we have finished processing your application.

Here you can read information about the waiting time for applications for collective protection.

To withdraw your application, you must write a letter to UDI in which you clearly state that you are withdrawing your asylum application. The letter must include your DUF number and your signature. You can find your DUF number on your residence card or on case papers from UDI.

Send the letter to UDI by post to:

Utlendingsdirektoratet 
Postboks 2098 Vika 
0125 Oslo

When we receive your letter, we will remove your application from consideration. You can apply for protection again later if your other residence permit loses its validity.

In general, the duty to return applies if your application is rejected or if you choose to withdraw your application without having any other legitimate basis for staying in Norway, which entails that you have to leave the country.

However, the duty to return to Ukraine has been suspended as a result of the war in Ukraine. This means that individuals who have fled the war in Ukraine may remain in Norway even though they would no longer have legal grounds to stay in the country under normal circumstances. UDI will notify you if this exemption does not apply in your case, which will require you to return to your country of legal residence.

It is important to understand that your rights in Norway will be limited if you choose to remain here without a valid residence permit. For example, you will not have the right to settle (i.e. to register as a resident) in a municipality or the right to work.

If you receive collective protection, you will get a decision letter in the mail with information about your residence permit. You will also receive a letter with a QR code that links to a video. You will be asked to watch the video, which is in your language. It explains your rights and obligations. It is important that you watch the video. To watch the video, you must either use your phone to scan a QR code or go to the link in the letter you receive.

Here you can read about your rights and obligations.

Once you have been granted a residence permit, you will receive an email.

Once you have been granted a permit, you will also receive a residence card as proof that you have a residence permit in Norway. Some must go to the police station to take a picture and fingerprint for their residence card. Some have already taken a photo and fingerprints for their residence card when they applied for protection and do not have to go to the police again. You will be notified if you must report to the police. Your residence card will be sent to you by post. It is important that your name is visible on the mailbox for you to receive the letters we send to you. If you move before you get your residence card, you must inform the police about your new address.

After you have attended the appointment with the police, you will receive a letter stating that you have been assigned a national identity number.

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.