You stayed in another country before coming to Norway

You have applied for protection, and UDI has assessed whether you can be granted collective protection here in Norway. Since you stayed in another country before coming to Norway, you can not be granted collective protection here. It is a requirement in order to be granted collective protection in Norway that you resided in Ukraine on 24 February 2022, when the war broke out.

Why has UDI not assessed whether I can be granted individual protection?

The regulations in Norway state that if you have stayed in a safe country just before you came to Norway, you will not have your application processed here, and you must travel back to the country you stayed in and possibly seek protection there. There is no requirement that you have or have had a valid residence permit in the country in which you stayed.

How do I appeal the decision?

You can appeal the decision and ask to stay in Norway while the appeal is processed. You must appeal within three weeks of receiving your decision. If you wish to make an appeal, you must send the appeal to UDI by post. You can either fill in the form attached to the decision, or write an appeal yourself. The appeal must be written in Norwegian or English.

The appeal is sent to: Utlendingsdirektoratet, PO Box 2098 Vika, 0125 Oslo.

If UDI does not change the decision, we will forward the appeal to the Immigration Appeals Board (Utlendingsnemnda, UNE). If UDI or UNE changes the decision and grant the appeal, you may have the right to have your legal expenses covered, for example, if you have used a lawyer.

You have the right to see the documents in your case.

Can I get assistance from a lawyer to make an appeal?

You will not be assigned a lawyer. It is not a requirement that you have a lawyer to make an appeal, but you can get a lawyer yourself if you wish. You will not be reimbursed for the lawyer's fees.

If you want assistance to make an appeal, but you do not have the money for a lawyer, there are organisations you can contact to ask if you can get assistance for free. Examples of organisations you can contact are:

What happens if I am not allowed to stay in Norway while my appeal is processed?

If you are not allowed to stay in Norway while your appeal is processed, you must leave the country within the deadline you have been given. If you are going to return to a country which the Norwegian authorities consider it is obvious that it is safe for you to return to, you will probably not be allowed to stay in Norway while the appeal is processed.

What happens if I do not leave Norway by the deadline?

If you do not leave Norway, the police can forcibly send you out of Norway. You can be expelled from Norway and other Schengen countries. Once you have been expelled, you cannot travel to Norway or another Schengen country. You cannot travel back to Norway until you have paid the cost for your deportation out of Norway.

If you are over the age of 18, you get fewer rights to healthcare. You can find more information about this at Helsenorge (eksternt nettsted).

You can still stay at the asylum reception centre until you leave Norway, but you will receive less money if you do not leave within the deadline.

How can I get my passport back so I can travel?

If you have handed in your travel documents to the Norwegian authorities and have questions about the handing over of your documents, you can contact the police by calling 22 34 24 00.

UDI cannot answer questions about your travel documents.

I do not have a valid passport. How can I travel?

If you do not have valid travel documents, you must obtain them yourself.

I do not have the money to travel, or need assistance organising the journey. What do I do?

It is the police who check that you travel, and who are responsible for the practicalities concerning your departure from Norway. If you have questions related to the departure, you can contact the police by calling 22 34 24 00.

UDI cannot answer questions about financing or the practicalities concerning your departure.

Can I get an extension of the deadline for leaving the country?

If you need an extended deadline for leaving the country, you can apply for an extension of the deadline with the police. The police will assess whether the deadline for leaving the country can be extended. If you have questions related to the departure or the deadline for leaving the country, you can contact the police by calling 22 34 24 00.