If you are staying in Norway without a legal residence permit, you must return to your home country or another country where you have a residence permit. You can apply for support to return home and start a new life. This is called assisted return.
The information on this page is personalised for
You are returning to:
Syrian Arab Republic
If you have applied for protection and your application is being processed or has been rejected, you can apply for assisted return
If the application for assisted return is granted, we will purchase tickets for you and provide financial support at the airport (Oslo Airport Gardermoen) on the day of your departure.
If you have a valid travel document in your possession or with the police, UDI can assist you with your travel. If you are unsure whether you have a valid travel document, you may call us.
If you do not have a valid travel document, you can still apply for assisted return, and we will try to help you.
If your application is granted, the approval letter will ask you to send us an authorisation allowing us to send a copy of your documents to the Syrian Embassy. They need these to issue a travel document for you. The Syrian Embassy also wishes to speak with you to verify that your return is voluntary. Therefore, we need you to provide a phone number where they can reach you.
If you have a valid, renewable residence permit in a country other than Syria – and it is valid for at least another six months – you can apply for assisted return to that country. The country must be part of the assisted return scheme. We assess each application individually, and not everyone is granted assisted return.
Who are you?
-
Adult
You are eligible to apply for return if
- your application for protection (asylum) or for a residence permit has been rejected
- you are waiting for a decision on your application for protection (asylum)
- you do not have legal residency and you do not have an application registered with UDI
Not all applications will be approved.
What kind of support can you be given?
- a plane ticket to your home country
- health checks and necessary vaccinations
- help to obtain a passport and travel documents. You must cooperate on this.
- help to plan your journey
- a financial grant
Financial support
You have to apply early to receive as much financial support as possible.
- If you apply before your deadline for leaving the country has expired, or before you are given a deadline for leaving, you will receive NOK 15,000.
- If you apply after your deadline for leaving the country has expired, you will receive NOK 5,000.
How will your return be organised?
- You will be informed of your departure time in advance, and you will travel as an ordinary passenger on a scheduled flight.
- You can receive assistance during the journey.
How to apply?
- You are required to create a user account and complete the UDI application form for assisted return.
- The asylum reception centre where you live and the UDI regional office can help you to apply.
If your application for assisted return is rejected
- If you disagree with the decision from UDI, you can write an appeal. When you appeal, you should explain why the decision is wrong. You should also submit any new information or new documents, if applicable.
- You can submit your appeal on Appealing a decision (external website), or by post to:
UDI Returenheten – VARP
Postboks 2098 Vika
NO-0125 Oslo
Norway- If UDI does not reverse its decision after considering your appeal, it will be assessed again by the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security.
- You still have the obligation to leave Norway. If your deadline for departing Norway has passed, you do not have the right to stay in Norway while your appeal is being processed.
- If you leave Norway while your appeal is being processed, please send us an email at varp@udi.no with your contact information, so that we can get in touch with you.
If you wish to withdraw your application for assisted return
If you wish to withdraw your application for assisted return, you must notify UDI by email: varp@udi.no, or by phone: +47 23 35 16 00.
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Families with children under the age of 18
Who can apply for assisted return?
- families with children whose application for protection (asylum) or another application for residence has been rejected
- families with children who are waiting for a decision on their application for protection (asylum)
- families with children who do not have legal residence and have not previously been registered with a case with UDI
Not everyone will have their application granted.
What kind of support can you be given?
- a plane ticket to your home country
- health checks and necessary vaccinations
- help to obtain a passport and travel documents. You must cooperate on this
- help to plan your journey
- a financial grant for each family member who returns
Financial grants
You have to apply early to receive as much money as possible.
- If you apply before your deadline for leaving the country has expired, or before you are given a deadline for leaving, you will receive NOK 15,000 per adult and NOK 25,000 per child who was under the age of 18 when you applied for assisted return.
- If you apply after your deadline for leaving the country has expired, you will receive NOK 5,000 per adult and NOK 5,000 per child who was under the age of 18 when you applied for assisted return.
How will your return be organised?
- You will be informed of your departure time in advance, and you will travel as ordinary passengers on a scheduled flight.
- You can receive assistance during the journey.
How to apply?
- You must create a user account and complete the UDI application form for assisted return.
- You must fill in one form per person, also for children. You can use the same user account.
- The asylum reception centre where you live or the UDI regional office can help you apply.
- Normally, both parents and all their children in Norway who are under the age of 18 must apply at the same time. Contact UDI for advice if not all of you plan to apply.
If your application for assisted return is rejected
- If you disagree with the decision from UDI, you can write an appeal. When you appeal, you should explain why the decision is wrong. You should also submit any new information or new documents, if applicable.
- You can submit your appeal on Appealing a decision (external website), or by post to:
UDI Returenheten – VARP
Postboks 2098 Vika
NO-0125 Oslo
Norway- If UDI does not reverse its decision after considering your appeal, it will be assessed again by the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security.
- You still have the obligation to leave Norway. If your deadline for departing Norway has passed, you do not have the right to stay in Norway while your appeal is being processed.
- If you leave Norway while your appeal is being processed, please send us an email at varp@udi.no with your contact information, so that we can get in touch with you.
If you wish to withdraw your application for assisted return
If you wish to withdraw your application for assisted return, you must notify UDI by email: varp@udi.no, or by phone: +47 23 35 16 00.
-
Unaccompanied minors
What kind of support can you be given?
- a plane ticket to your home country
- health checks and necessary vaccinations
- help to obtain a passport and travel documents. You must cooperate on this.
- help to plan your journey
- a financial grant of up to NOK 20 000 in cash
- a financial grant of NOK 22 000, in services for example for housing, education, starting a business, work training, medication, food and clothes.
- NOK 10 000 in cash to caregivers, if they collaborate on the return
How will your return be organised?
- You will be informed of your departure time in advance, and you will travel as an ordinary passenger on a scheduled flight.
- You can receive assistance during the journey.
How to apply?
- You are required to create a user account and complete the UDI application form for assisted return.
- The asylum reception centre where you live and the UDI regional office can help you to apply.
If your application for assisted return is rejected
- If you disagree with the decision from UDI, you can write an appeal. When you appeal, you should explain why the decision is wrong. You should also submit any new information or new documents, if applicable.
- You can submit your appeal on Appealing a decision (external website), or by post to:
UDI Returenheten – VARP
Postboks 2098 Vika
NO-0125 Oslo
Norway- If UDI does not reverse its decision after considering your appeal, it will be assessed again by the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security.
- You still have the obligation to leave Norway. If your deadline for departing Norway has passed, you do not have the right to stay in Norway while your appeal is being processed.
- If you leave Norway while your appeal is being processed, please send us an email at varp@udi.no with your contact information, so that we can get in touch with you.
If you wish to withdraw your application for assisted return
If you wish to withdraw your application for assisted return, you must notify UDI by email: varp@udi.no, or by phone: +47 23 35 16 00.
-
Vulnerable adults
You can be granted support as a vulnerable applicant if you
- are a young adult in the 18 to 23 age group who came to Norway as an unaccompanied minor asylum seeker
- are a possible victim of human trafficking
- are a victim of violence, coercion or exploitation
- have special medical needs
- are single and over the age of 60
What kind of support can you be given?
- a plane ticket to your home country
- health checks and necessary vaccinations
- help to obtain a passport and travel documents. You must cooperate on this.
- help to plan your journey
Financial support
To get as much money as possible, you must apply early.
- If you apply before the deadline for leaving the country, or before getting a deadline, you can get NOK 15 000
- If you apply after the deadline for leaving the country, or before getting a deadline, you can get NOK 5 000
- A financial grant of up to NOK 22 000 in services. For example, for housing, education, starting a business, work training, medication, food and clothes.
How will your return be organised?
- You will be informed of your departure time in advance, and you will travel as an ordinary passenger on a scheduled flight.
- You can receive assistance during the journey.
How to apply?
- You are required to create a user account and complete the UDI application form for assisted return.
- The asylum reception centre where you live and the UDI regional office can help you to apply.
If your application for assisted return is rejected
- If you disagree with the decision from UDI, you can write an appeal. When you appeal, you should explain why the decision is wrong. You should also submit any new information or new documents, if applicable.
- You can submit your appeal on Appealing a decision (external website), or by post to:
UDI Returenheten – VARP
Postboks 2098 Vika
NO-0125 Oslo
Norway- If UDI does not reverse its decision after considering your appeal, it will be assessed again by the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security.
- You still have the obligation to leave Norway. If your deadline for departing Norway has passed, you do not have the right to stay in Norway while your appeal is being processed.
- If you leave Norway while your appeal is being processed, please send us an email at varp@udi.no with your contact information, so that we can get in touch with you.
If you wish to withdraw your application for assisted return
If you wish to withdraw your application for assisted return, you must notify UDI by email: varp@udi.no, or by phone: +47 23 35 16 00.
-
Dubliner
- You are a 'Dubliner' if you have been registered as an asylum seeker in another European country before you applied for asylum in Norway, or if you have been granted a visa or residence permit in another European country.
- You can apply for voluntary return if you wish to return to your home country instead of being sent back to the European country where you are registered.
- You must apply as soon as possible after your arrival in Norway. If not, you will be sent back to the European country where you are registered.
- If you are granted assisted return you will get a deadline. Then, you must travel within that deadline.
Not everyone will have their application granted.
What kind of support can you be given?
- a plane ticket to your home country
- help to obtain a passport and travel documents. You must cooperate on this.
- help to plan your journey
- a financial grant of NOK 5,000
How will your return be organised?
- You will be informed of your departure time in advance, and you will travel as an ordinary passenger on a scheduled flight.
- You can receive assistance during the journey.
How to apply?
- You are required to create a user account and complete the UDI application form for assisted return.
- The asylum reception centre where you live and the UDI regional office can help you to apply.
If your application for assisted return is rejected
- If you disagree with the decision from UDI, you can write an appeal. When you appeal, you should explain why the decision is wrong. You should also submit any new information or new documents, if applicable.
- You can submit your appeal on Appealing a decision (external website), or by post to:
UDI Returenheten – VARP
Postboks 2098 Vika
NO-0125 Oslo
Norway- If UDI does not reverse its decision after considering your appeal, it will be assessed again by the Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security.
- You still have the obligation to leave Norway. If your deadline for departing Norway has passed, you do not have the right to stay in Norway while your appeal is being processed.
- If you leave Norway while your appeal is being processed, please send us an email at varp@udi.no with your contact information, so that we can get in touch with you.
If you wish to withdraw your application for assisted return
If you wish to withdraw your application for assisted return, you must notify UDI by email: varp@udi.no, or by phone: +47 23 35 16 00.