The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration
The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration, also called UDI, processes applications for residence in Norway. If an application for residence is rejected, and the applicant wishes to appeal the decision, the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) is the appellate body (external website, opens in new window).
Most people receive legal assistance to appeal to UNE. If your application is rejected again, you are obliged to leave Norway. You can then apply to UDI for assisted return, which involves receiving practical support and a financial grant in connection with the return.
UDI cooperates with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) (external website, opens in new window) on the implementation of assisted return.
The International Organization for Migration
International Organization for Migration (IOM) is UDI’s biggest partner on assisted return. The organisation is responsible for providing information to and advising people who wish to return to their home country. The IOM implements most assisted returns from Norway.
The IOM should therefore be contacted for more information about returns (external website). The IOM assists with practical travel arrangements. This includes assistance with obtaining travel documents, a transit visa, and plane tickets, as well as support during transit and upon arrival in your home country. The IOM will obtain tickets for your return journey. You cannot book the tickets yourself if the expenses are to be covered by the Norwegian authorities.
Read stories and experiences from people who have returned home with the assistance of the IOM on their website (external website) and contact the IOM if you would like more information.
The Immigration Appeals Board
The Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) considers appeals against rejections made by the UDI regarding immigration and citizenship. If UNE does not overturn a rejection by UDI, the person is given a deadline for leaving Norway, which they must abide by. The police often set the deadline to three weeks after UNE's rejection of the appeal.
It is important to leave Norway by this deadline. After the deadline expires, the person is staying illegally in Norway and can be expelled and/or deported by the police.
The National Police Immigration Service
The National Police Immigration Service (PU) will, in some cases, implement the assisted return in cooperation with UDI. The police then escort the person home.
Read more about what the police do in their work on return (external website, opens in new window)
PU implements forced returns to the home country (external website). If a person, whose application for residence in Norway has been rejected, is still in Norway after the deadline for leaving the country, he or she is staying illegally in the country and can be sent back home by force.
The Ministry of Justice and Public Security
The Ministry of Justice and Public Security has the overall responsibility for returns.
The Norwegian Organisation for Asylum Seekers
The Norwegian Organisation for Asylum Seekers (NOAS) works for asylum seekers’ rights in Norway. The organisation is not part of the Norwegian authorities. NOAS provides free legal aid in asylum cases.
The asylum reception centre
If the person is living in an asylum reception centre, the people working there can help them find more information about assisted return and how to apply for it. It is important to inform the residents that their application can be rejected, and that if their application is rejected, they have to return to their home country. It is important to provide information at an early stage about the return options.
Lawyers
Everyone who receives a final rejection of an application for protection (asylum) will be assigned a lawyer. The lawyer will inform their client about the duty to return to their home country and the option of applying for assisted return.
UDI processes applications for assisted return and assesses whether the applicant meets the requirements for receiving practical support and a financial grant in connection with the return.