Norwegian residence permits to be extended for people displaced from Ukraine

The Ministry of Justice and Public Security has adopted an amendment to the Immigration Regulations today that means that displaced people from Ukraine who have been granted temporary collective protection will have their residence permits extended by one year from the date on which their first permit expires.

'The situation in Ukraine continues to be extremely difficult and the Norwegian Government would like to offer predictability to people who have temporary protection, so that they know that they can continue to be safe in Norway,' says Minister of Justice and Public Security Emilie Enger Mehl.

On 11 March last year, the Norwegian Government introduced a scheme offering displaced people from Ukraine temporary collective protection. The scheme means that people covered by the scheme are granted a residence permit by means of a simplified procedure not involving any individual assessment of their need for protection. These permits are valid for one year. The first permits that were granted pursuant to the scheme will expire in March 2023.

Today's amendment to the regulations gives people who continue to meet the conditions for temporary collective protection the right to a one-year extension of their permits. Upon expiry, the permits will automatically be extended and the people to whom this applies do not need to apply for an extension.

The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) and the police will renew the expired residence cards, so that people can still provide documentation of legal residence in Norway.