UDI may withdraw your citizenship if you have given incorrect information or withheld important information, for example about your identity or the basis for your citizenship.

If you have provided incorrect information about, for example:

• Identity
• Asylum grounds
• Marriage or cohabitation
• Did not intend to remain in Norway at the time of the decision
• Had moved from Norway at the time of the decision
• Punishable circumstances in Norway or abroad
• Residence abroad
• Employment

If you travel to your home country, UDI may consider whether your permit should be withdrawn.

The UDI can also withdraw your citizenship if the UDI has made an error in the processing of the case or the application of the law.

The UDI cannot withdraw your citizenship if it is disproportionate to you and your immediate family, considering the seriousness of the relationship and your connection to Norway. The best interests of the child will be a fundamental consideration in this assessment.

As a general rule, a child's citizenship is not withdrawn.

As a general rule, a child's citizenship shall not be withdran due to a mistake made by parents or grandparents. This also applies to persons who have reached the age of majority but were under 18 when they applied for or were granted Norwegian citizenship. In a few exceptions, a child's citizenship may be withdrawn if the child does not have a strong connection to Norway.

If the child's citizenship is not withdrawn and the child is registered with the wrong identity, the UDI can change it to the child's correct identity.

A child's citizenship cannot be withdrawn if one of the child's parents is still Norwegian. The same applies if the child becomes stateless.

The rules on withdrawal of citizenship are set out in Section 26 of the Citizenship Act.

UDI may need to prepare the case before we decide whether to give advance notice of withdrawal. If we need more information on your case, the police or UDI may call you in for an interview.

It is usually parents or guardians who are called in for an interview with UDI or the police.

If UDI believes that your citizenship should be withdrawn, UDI will notify you in advance and ask you to give your perspective on the case.

It is important that you read the advance notice in your case. The advance notice states why UDI believes you may lose your citizenship and what information UDI needs from you.

You may receive legal assistance to write the reply. If you have received an advance notice, your legal fees will be covered. You must contact a lawyer yourself. You can find a lawyer at www.advokatenhjelperdeg.no (external website) or www.tilsynet.no (external website).

If you would like to see the documents in your case, you can go to www.udi.no/access-information.

As a child, you have the right to be heard (see Section 104 of the Constitution).

You choose yourself whether you want to speak out or not. A statement from you may have an impact on your decision. You can be heard through your parents, guardians, lawyer or another representative who can speak out on your behalf. You can also write a letter yourself.

The statement should contain information about your attachment to Norway and your health, as this may be important for the assessment of a new residence permit in Norway.

UDI decides whether your residence permit should be withdrawn or not.

If UDI decides that you will lose your citizenship, you will receive a decision from UDI. The decision states why UDI is withdrawing your citizenship.

UDI will consider whether you can get a new permit, for example if:

• you are caring for minor children who retain Norwegian citizenship
• you have a special attachement to Norway
• there are strong humanitarian considerations in your case, or
• if you are protected against return to your home country

If you do not receive a new permit, you must leave Norway when the decision is final.

It is possible that the UDI will not withdraw your citizenship, in which case you will receive a decision stating “No withdrawal”.

You can appeal the decision about withdrawal. See www.udi.no/appealing-a-decision/.

If you appeal and the Directorate of Immigration does not change the decision, your appeal will be sent to the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) for reassessment of the appeal.

If you do not appeal, the UDI's decision applies. This means that you are no longer a Norwegian citizen and must comply with the decision.

If you receive a decision of withdrawal, you have the right to have your lawyer's fees covered, see Section 27 of the Citizenship Act. You must contact a lawyer yourself. You can find a lawyer at www.advokatenhjelperdeg.no (external website) or www.tilsynet.no (external website). 

You have the right to free legal advice without a means test, see Section 27 of the Citizenship Act.

If you appeal the decision about withdrawal, you can initially remain in Norway until the Immigration Board (UNE) has processed your appeal.

If you would like to see the documents in your case, you can go to www.udi.no/access-information.