Waiting times for interviews will probably be longer than previously stated

Because of the corona situation, the UDI has been unable to conduct asylum interviews in the normal way since 13 March 2020. Unfortunately, we had to cancel the scheduled interviews. We apologize for this.

The UDI is now carrying out most interviews on Skype due to the Coronavirus situation. This applies both to people who are staying in a reception centre and those living at a private address. Our capacity is unfortunately reduced due to practical limitations on how many Skype interviews we can carry out in each reception centre at a time. The waiting time will therefore be longer.

We have previously stated that all persons who arrived in Norway before 2020 will be interviewed by the end of June, and that those who arrived in 2020 will be interviewed by the end of the year. The current situation means that the waiting time will be longer, but we hope to interview people who arrived before 2020 by the end of November 2020.

The waiting time for those who arrived in 2020 will be even longer.

You will be contacted about your interview appointment by us or the reception centre.

Information on change in waiting times in English (pdf, 87 kB).

Information on change in waiting times at Tigrinja (pdf, 123 kB).

Information on change in waiting times in Turkish (pdf, 123 kB).

Information on change in waiting times in Arabic (pdf, 346 kB).

Information on change in waiting times in Persian (pdf, 94 kB)

Have you been interviewed by the UDI and not received an answer?

If you were interviewed before March 2020, and you have not received an answer by the end of July 2020, we are unfortunately unable to say how long you will have to wait. If your case takes longer, it is often because we need to carry out further investigations.

If you were interviewed after March 2020, you will need to wait longer. Unfortunately, we are unable to say how long you will have to wait.

This information was updated on 18 December 2020.

Do you have documents that you have not handed to the police?

We want you to send copies of your documents to UDI as soon as possible, and preferably before you are going to be interviewed by UDI. You can ask the employees at the reception center for help. UDI will not take original documents, only copies.

We ask you to write your DUF number on the copies. You can find your DUF number on your asylum seeker certificate. You must send the copies by mail to:

Utlendingsdirektoratet, Postboks 2098 Vika, 0125 Oslo

If you are from Turkey, we want you to send us copies of all legal documents, documents on employment, school, and so on.  

Can your case be moved to the front of the queue? (be given priority)

Many people want to have their case processed quickly. However, very special circumstances are required for your case to be moved to the front of the queue.

How long must you wait?

Before we can process your application for protection, we must interview you. If you have not attended an interview yet, you must therefore first wait for us to summon you for the interview. After you have attended the interview, you must wait for us to finish processing your application.

We understand that it can be very difficult to wat for so long for an answer, and we are working hard to process all the asylum applications.

We will notify your lawyer as soon as we have finished processing your case.

Why do some people receive an answer more quickly than others?  

When possible, we process the applications of those who have waited the longest first. However, we sometimes must make additional investigations before we can finish processing an application. Therefore, you might have to wait longer than someone from the same country as yourself, or others who live at the same asylum reception centre as you.

Can your case be moved to the front of the queue? (be given priority)

Many people want to have their case processed quickly. However, very special circumstances are required for your case to be moved to the front of the queue.

How long must you wait?

Most applications for renewal of a residence permit will be processed by the police. You can find information about their waiting times on the police website (external website).

The police cannot process all such applications, and must therefore send some applications to the UDI. For example, they must send the applications of everyone who has been given a limited residence permit to the UDI. If you have been given such a permit, this will be written in the title of the decision letter which you received.

If the police cannot process your application themselves, they will send it to the UDI. If the police send your application to the UDI, you will be notified by email or SMS. Most applications will be processed within 10 months after you handed in the application to the police, but some cases may also take longer.

Why must you wait for so long?

Before we can process the application, we assess whether there is any new information which is important to your case. Sometimes we must make new investigations, or ask other public authorities to examine your documents. These assessments and investigations can take a long time.

If you have a limited residence permit, we will assess whether we can now give you a residence permit which is not limited.

If you are a refugee from Somalia who was given a residence permit before 1 October 2014 or a refugee from Sri Lanka we must make a new assessment of your residence permit. Therefore, you should not book any tickets for travel abroad until you have received an answer to your application and got a new residence card and travel document.

Many of those whose applications have been sent to the UDI has been waiting a long time for an answer.  Even if you have waited a long time, this does not mean that we have forgotten your application. Unfortunately, we do not know when you will receive an answer to your application. We will notify you when we have finished processing your application.

How long you must wait does not have any effect on whether your residence permit will be renewed.  If you applied no later than one month before your residence permit expired, you will have the same rights as before relating to work, studies etc. while you are waiting for us to decide your application.

Can your case be moved to the front of the queue? (be given priority)

Many people want to have their case processed quickly. However, very special circumstances are required for your case to be moved to the front of the queue.

What to do if your residence card expires while you are waiting?

It is not possible for you to get a new residence card until you have been given a new residence permit. If you need a confirmation which shows that you have legal residence in Norway while you are waiting for an answer, you can order this from the UDI.

It is also not possible for you to get a new refugee travel document or immigrant’s passport until you have been given a new residence permit. 

In the cover letter that followed the decision letter from the 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.

If we need to make extra investigations in your application, you may have to wait longer. Extra investigations can for example be to make additional checks of your documents or to have your identity confirmed. Sometimes we must also make 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 your case be moved to the front of the queue? (be given priority)

Many people want to have their case processed quickly. However, very special circumstances are required for your case to be moved to the front of the queue.

How long must you wait?

We must decide whether you can be granted a residence permit as a refugee. If you are, you will also get a travel document for refugees. Such applications can take longer to process than for those who only apply for a travel document.

Most applications will be processed within 2 months, but some cases may also take longer.

The case may take longer to process if we are waiting for documentation. The case may also take longer to process 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. The case processing time depends on how many cases we have.

Can your case be moved to the front of the queue? (be given priority)

Many people want to have their case processed quickly. However, very special circumstances are required for your case to be moved to the front of the queue.

Is your family member from Somalia?

Is the family member you are applying to be united with a Somali citizen who was given refugee status in Norway before 1 October 2014 and do not have a permanent residence permit? In that case, we must first assess whether he or she still has a need for protection. We cannot process your application until after we have processed your family members' case. This means that it will take longer before you will receive an answer. 

Is your family member from Sri Lanka?

Is the family member you are applying to be united with a citizen of Sri Lanka who has refugee status and do not have a permanent residence permit? In that case, we must first assess whether he or she still has a need for protection. We cannot process your application until after we have processed your family members' case. This means that it will take longer before you will receive an answer. 

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.