A law amendment enters into effect on 1 January 2025, allowing collective protection to be granted for up to 5 years. The Government has not yet decided whether this possibility for extension will apply to those who have fled the war in Ukraine. The question will be resolved before March 2025, when the first arrivals from Ukraine will have been in Norway for 3 years.

Your permit will be extended automatically

If you were granted collective protection, you will automatically receive an extension when your residence permit expires. You do not have to do anything to extend your permit. This applies for all extensions, regardless of whether it is the first or second time the permit is to be extended.

We will process most cases three weeks before the residence permit expires. You will receive a letter with more information when your case has been processed. If you have a digital mailbox (Digipost), you will receive the letter there. If you do not have Digipost, you will receive the letter by post. In such case, it will take 2-3 weeks before you receive the letter.

You will still have the same rights as before when it comes work, studies and so on while you wait for UDI to notify you that your residence permit has been extended. You will retain these rights until you have received a response from UDI, even if your residence permit expires in the meantime.

The new permit will be valid for one year from the expiry date of your previous one.

However, not everyone will receive an extension

As of 1 March 2024, you will not be granted an extension of your permit if, in addition to being a citizen of Ukraine, you are also a citizen of a country Norway considers safe. The exception to this rule is if you are a family member of someone who has been granted collective protection, and that person does not have citizenship in a safe country.

Also, your permit will not be extended if you are not a Ukrainian citizen, and you were granted collection protection as a family member of a Ukrainian citizen who is also a citizen of a country Norway considers safe.

By family member we mean the following.

• spouse or cohabitant
• children under 18 years of age
• other close family members, for instance childen over 18 years of age, grandparents or siblings.

In addition, your permit will not be extended in the following cases:

• you have been granted a different type of residence permit in Norway
• we have reason to believe that you have moved from Norway
• we obtain information showing that you did not actually meet the requirements for collective protection

You will be notified if we do not extend your collective protection permit.

You will be issued a new residence card

If you are granted an extension, you will receive a new residence card by post. Children who turn 6 years of age after their last permit was granted will be required to go to the police station to provide fingerprints. A separate letter will be sent out in such cases.

If you have registered your email address with UDI, you will receive an email when we extend your residence permit and when we order a new residence card. It may take up to 20 days from the date UDI or the police order order the residence card until the card arrives in your postbox. If you do not receive your residence card within 20 days from the date UDI or the police ordered your card, please contact your local police.

Make sure that your name is on your postbox

It is important that your name is visible on your postbox to ensure that your residence card is delivered. If you have children, their names must also be on the postbox.

Register for electronic identification (e-ID)

If you sign up for an electronic ID (e-ID) (eksternt nettsted), you will also be able to receive other communications from us online.

Make sure we that have your correct address

It is important that you keep your postal address up to date in the National Population Register (Folkeregisteret) (eksternt nettsted) so that we send your residence card to the right address.

If you have the wrong address registered, it will be difficult for public agencies to contact you. This can cause problems with your access to public services such as receiving information from health services, offerings for Norwegian courses, or your new residence permit and the like.

Once you get an e-ID, you will be able to update your address by logging into the National Population Register (Folkeregisteret).