A new 4-year cooperation agreement (2026–2029) was signed between the government and the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS) to support the reception of asylum seekers and the settlement of refugees.
The agreement recognises the central role of municipalities as host communities for asylum reception centres and settlement locations for refugees. It establishes a mechanism to monitor municipal costs related to refugees and asylum seekers, which are used to calculate government grants to municipalities. Municipalities will continue to determine how many refugees they are able to receive, while the state is expected to provide predictable support.
Several ministries are involved in the cooperation, including those responsible for labour and social inclusion, justice and public security, children and families, and the local government. The agreement comes in the context of increased arrivals in recent years, including more than 100,000 refugees since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
- Government | Regjeringen (9 March, 2026), Ny avtale for bosetting og mottak [New agreement for settlement and reception],