The information on this page is personalised for
Brunei Darussalam
Which group do you belong to?
-
Adults and families with children who have applied for protection (asylum)
Information about waiting times in multiple languages
- Information about waiting times in Arabic (pdf, 267 kB)
- Information about waiting times in English (pdf, 117 kB)
- Information about waiting times in Russian (pdf, 167 kB)
- Information about waiting times in Spanish (pdf, 132 kB)
- Information about waiting times in Tigrinya (pdf, 200 kB)
- Information about waiting times in Turkish (pdf, 132 kB)
- Information about waiting times in Ukrainian (pdf, 147 kB)
We are currently working on the following cases
Many applicants have been waiting a long time to get an answer regarding their application for protection. We know that waiting is difficult. Therefore, we are now working on the applications that have been with us the very longest.
UDI still has some applications from 2022 remaining to be completed. Most people who applied in 2022 will receive an answer by the end of July 2025. Some cases will not be ready because we are conducting further investigations. We will notify you by letter if this is the case with your application.
In addition to processing applications submitted in 2022, we are also processing applications from applicants who arrived in 2023. There are approximately 1,400 cases from 2023 that have not been processed, of which close to 400 are applications from the first half of 2023. As a general rule, we process the oldest cases first.
We will be conducting fewer interviews and issuing fewer decisions in July and August.
A number of the 1,400 cases from 2023 involve applications from Syrian citizens and stateless individuals from Syria. We are currently not processing these applications, so applicants from Syria will have to wait longer for a response.
Applications from Syria
UDI has decided to wait before processing applications for protection submitted by Syrian citizens and stateless individuals from Syria. Many other European countries have done the same. This means that the waiting times will be longer for applicants from Syria.
Everyone will receive an answer to their applications for protection. We will be back with more information when we start processing applications from Syria again.
UDI is working to cut down on the waiting times. We will provide applicants with regular updates on what we are working on and how far we have come.
Why do some applicants receive an answer before others?
There are many people seeking protection. UDI cannot manage to process all of their applications right away. Applications from certain groups of applicants must be processed more quickly than others. This includes:
- applications processed in accordance with the Dublin Regulation, which most often entails that an applicants have to travel to a different European country to have their applications processed.
- those who, in UDI’s estimation, clearly do not need protection because, for example, they come from a safe country.
- applications from families with children, and applications from children who arrived without parents or any caregivers.
UDI also sets out to interview as many applicants as possible while they are at the National arrival centre. This is to help reduce the waiting times over time. We interview applicants from prioritised groups first.
If you are not part of any of these groups, you might have to wait a long time for your interview and for your application to be processed. This does not mean anything is wrong with your case; we have not forgotten you.
How we process your case at UDI
What happens at the National Arrival Centre?
Anyone applying for protection in Norway must first register an application at the National Arrival Centre. The length of stay at the arrival centre is short because there must be room for newcomers. UDI’s goal is to interview most new applicants and process their applications while they are at the arrival centre. Since so many people have come in recent years to seek asylum, we have not managed to do so. Most applicants have to move to an ordinary asylum reception centre where they wait for their interviews and an answer to their applications.
Applicants have no choice or influence in the matter of whether they will be interviewed while at the National arrival centre. It all depends on how many people have applied for protection at the same time.
If you have to move into an ordinary reception centre before UDI can interview at the arrival centre, you should be prepared for a long wait for your interview and an answer regarding your application for protection.
It makes no difference for your waiting time if the reception centre you live in is in one part of Norway or another. If you are staying in a private living accommodation, it is very important that you provide your address and other contact details so that UDI can reach you about your interview and with an answer regarding your application.
What happens with your case while you wait?
When UDI receives an application for protection, we place it in a queue until one of our case officers has time to process the case. This means that your case will not be handled by a specific case officer at UDI until you are called in for your interview. No cases are forgotten.
Why does it take so long to get an interview?
The asylum interview is necessary for UDI to be able to assess your application for protection. It is the most important opportunity you have to explain your reasons for why you need protection. UDI allocates a lot of time for asylum interviews, and each case requires a good amount of planning and resources. As such, it takes us a long time to interview everyone who comes to Norway.
How long does it take to receive an answer after the interview?
In most cases, UDI can provide an answer fairly shortly after an interview. Sometimes, however, we need more time to look into a case. We may need to look more closely at the information in a case, or we might need to find out more about the situation in your home country before we can process your case. In such cases, it can take longer to receive an answer after an interview, but everyone will receive an answer.
What do you need to do?
If you have any identity documents that you have not given to the police, you need to hand them in as soon as possible.
- If you have original identity documents, you are to hand them in to your local police district.
- If you have copies and photos, you are to send them to UDI.
It is important that UDI have all the documents in your case before your interview. In this way, you can help to prevent your case from taking longer than necessary.
What information regarding waiting times can UDI give you?
There are many people who contact UDI to ask about the waiting time for their cases. We are not able to provide any other information about waiting times over the phone other than what is published on udi.no.
The people answering as part of UDI’s information service are the same people who process the cases. If we need more information from you to process your case, we will contact you.
In order to have time to process more cases, UDI’s information service is closed on Wednesdays.
Can my case be moved to the front of the queue?
Most applicants for protection want their case to be processed quickly. However, there must be highly exceptional reasons for your case to be moved ahead in the queue.
Information updates
This information on waiting times applies from 1 June 2025.
The information will be updated on 1 September 2025 or before if substantial changes occur.
-
Children under 18 years old who have applied for protection (asylum) and do not have parents in Norway
Information about waiting times in multiple languages
- Information about waiting times in Arabic (pdf, 150 kB)
- Information about waiting times in English (pdf, 114 kB)
- Information about waiting times in Dari (pdf, 146 kB)
- Information about waiting times in Pashto (pdf, 140 kB)
- Information about waiting times in Russian (pdf, 160 kB)
- Information about waiting times in Tigrinya (pdf, 192 kB)
- Information about waiting times in Ukrainian (pdf, 156 kB)
Who is UDI interviewing, and whose applications are being answered at present?
Syria
UDI is waiting to process applications for protection submitted by Syrian citizens and stateless individuals from Syria until further notice. Many other countries in Europe are doing the same.
The situation in Syria is unclear, but UDI is monitoring developments closely. We will be back with more information when we start processing applications again.
Everyone will receive an answer to their applications.
All countries other than Syria:
In the period up to September, we will:
- continue to respond to applications from applicants interviewed in 2024 and so far in 2025.
- conduct interviews on an ongoing basis with unaccompanied minors seeking protection. If you have a case that comes under the Dublin Regulation, it may take several months to determine whether your case is to be processed in Norway or in another country where you have provided your fingerprints.
If UDI does not need to investigate any further after the interview, we will reach a decision as soon as we can.
Why do some people receive an answer before me?
We are giving priority to the applicants who have been waiting the longest. In some cases, however, it takes us longer to carry out an interview and to process the application. Even though you may have been waiting longer than others, we have not forgotten your case. It may take longer to process a case for reasons such as:
- We need more time to investigate your case after the interview.
- We have determined that your case is to be processed by another country under the Dublin Regulation. This may result in you having to wait longer than others for an interview.
If you have not been interviewed or received an answer due to other reasons, we will inform your lawyer why it is taking more time.
We understand that waiting can be challenging, and we are working diligently to process all asylum applications as efficiently as possible.
It is not necessary to contact UDI to ask when your case will be finished. We will send the answer to your lawyer.
Is there anything I can do to cut down on the waiting time?
You can make sure that we receive your identity documents as soon as possible.
- If you have original identity documents, you are to present them at your local police station. You can ask your representative / legal guardian to help you submit all your documents.
- If you have copies and photos, you can take them with you to your interview. Alternatively, you can send them by post to UDI:
Utlendingsdirektoratet (UDI)
Postboks 2098 Vika
0125 OsloRemember to write your DUF number on the documents. Your representative can help you with this.
Information updates
This information on waiting times applies from 1 June 2025.
The information will be updated on 1 September 2025 or before if substantial changes occur.
-
Adults and children who have applied for renewal of their residence permit for protection (asylum) or strong humanitarian considerations
What cases do we process?
Most applications for renewal of residence permits are processed by the police. You will find information about their case processing times on the police's website. (external website)
Applications that the police cannot process are forwarded to UDI. This applies, among other things, to applications for everyone who has been granted a limited residence permit. If you have such a permit, it will be stated in the decision you previously received. The police also forward all applications where renewal has been applied for 6 months after the expiry of the previous permit. If the police forward your application to UDI, you will be notified by e-mail or SMS.
How long do you have to wait?
Most applications will be processed within 16 months after you have handed in the application to the police, but some cases may also take longer.
From 5 May until 1 July, we are processing the following cases where renewal has been applied for before 1 July 2024:
- Cases where both renewal of a residence permit and a travel document or an immigrant's passport have been applied for.
- Cases where renewal of a residence permit has been applied for and where documents from your home country have been submitted.
If your application falls under the description above, you may receive a decision on your application during this period. If you have an application where only renewal has been applied for, you cannot expect to receive a decision on your application during this period.
When you get your permit renewed, it usually takes 4 weeks before you are sent a new residence card.
We cannot give you any further information about when your case will be processed if you contact us.
We are considering new information in your case
It is important that you have read the decision you last received from UDI or UNE and submitted the information you were asked to provide in the decision. If we lack information from you when we start processing your case, it will take longer before your case is fully processed.
If you have a limited temporary residence permit, and you have submitted your passport to the police or submitted other information that is relevant to your case, we will consider whether we can now grant you a residence permit that is not limited.
Have you also applied for a travel document or an immigrant's passport?
If you have also applied for a travel document or an immigrant´s passport for a single journey, we will process this application at the same time as the application for renewal of a temporary residence permit. You cannot get a new travel document or an immigrant´s passport until you have obtained a new residence permit. The waiting time for processing these applications will therefore be the same.
You should not book tickets to travel abroad until you have received a response to your application and have received a new residence card and travel document.
An immigrant's passport for a single journey
We continuously process applications for immigrant's passports for a single journey in connection with acute and life-threatening illness, death or other reasons (such as school trips or travel in connection with organised leisure activities). These applications do not follow our ordinary waiting time for case processing. If you are applying for an immigrant's passport for a single journey, we ask that you use the checklist and check that all relevant documentation is attached to the application. That way, we can process your application without unnecessary waiting time.
We have not forgotten you!
There are many people who have an application for renewal with UDI who have waited a long time for a response. Even if you have waited a long time, it does not mean that we have forgotten about your application. Unfortunately, we do not know when you will receive an answer, and we will not be able to give you any information about this if you call us. You will be notified when we have finished processing your application.
If you applied within a month before your previous residence permit expired, you will still have the same rights as before to work, study, and so on while you wait for us to process your application.
What do you do if your residence card expires while you are waiting?
You cannot get a new residence card until you have obtained a new residence permit. If you need confirmation that you have legal residence in Norway while you wait for a response, you can order it from UDI.
Can my case be moved to the front of the queue?
Most applicants for protection want their case to be processed quickly. However, there must be highly exceptional reasons for your case to be moved ahead in the queue.
-
Applications for renewal for children under the age of 18 who have been given a limited residence permit because they do not have ID documents
In the letter from UDI, there was a deadline for renewing your residence permit.
You will receive the answer to your application for renewal before your first permit expires if
- you apply before this deadline, and
- we have all the information we need to process your application
We will prioritise applications from those who have submitted their identity documents.
You may have to wait longer if we need to carry out extra investigations in your application. This could, for example, mean additional checks of your documents or to have your identity confirmed. Sometimes we must also carry out other types of investigations. We will contact your lawyer or your representative if we need any more information from you.
We will notify your lawyer as soon as we have finished processing your application.
Can my case be moved to the front of the queue?
Most applicants for protection want their case to be processed quickly. However, there must be highly exceptional reasons for your case to be moved ahead in the queue.
-
Family member of a refugee and have applied for refugee status and travel document
How long must you wait?
We must first decide whether you can be granted a residence permit as a refugee. If you are, you will also get a travel document for refugees.
Most cases will be processed within 4 months, but some cases may also take longer.
It may take longer before you receive an answer if we are waiting for documentation. You may also have to wait longer if your family member with refugee status has a case in processing. This is because your family member must have a valid residence permit before we can consider if you can get a residence permit as a refugee.
Can my case be moved to the front of the queue?
Most applicants for protection want their case to be processed quickly. However, there must be highly exceptional reasons for your case to be moved ahead in the queue.
If you have received a rejection letter and you have appealed
We process appeals continuously. When we process your appeal, we will either grant your appeal and give you a residence permit or forward your case to the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) for consideration.
If we forward your appeal to UNE, you will be notified by email or SMS. You can find information on UNE’s website about how long it takes from UNE receives your appeal, until you receive an answer from them (external website).
This information was last updated on
22 May 2025
. It will be updated again on
19 June 2025
.
-
Applicants in the Dublin procedure
If you are in the Dublin procedure, we will need about four months to decide which country is responsible for considering your asylum application. Some cases may also take longer.