Information for lawyers and representatives

If your client's application for protection has been rejected, you must inform him or her about the obligation to return to his or her home country and the possibility of applying for assisted return.

Who can apply?

  • people whose application for protection (asylum) or another application for residence has been rejected
  • people who are waiting for an answer to their application for protection (asylum)
  • people who are staying in Norway without legal residence and have not preciously been registered with a case with the UDI
  • people who have been given a decision about transfer to another country in accordance with the Dublin Regulations, but wish to return to their home country instead.

Not everyone will have their application granted. This applies, among others, to people who come from countries where the UDI process the application for protection within 48 hours. 

What happens to people who do not return voluntary?

People who have received a final rejection of their application for protection must leave Norway. If they do not leave Norway by the deadline for leaving, they will be forcibly returned by the police and expelled from Norway and the Schengen area for 1–5 years. Someone who is forcibly returned will also owe the cost of the travel expenses to the Norwegian authorities.

People who apply for assisted return before the deadline for leaving, and are granted assisted return, will as a general rule not be expelled from Norway.

Resources for lawyers

Information for guardians