The government plans to tighten residence rules for displaced people from Ukraine. It will propose that Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60 will, with certain exceptions, no longer be granted temporary collective protection. Instead, they will have to apply for asylum under ordinary procedures.
Minister of Justice and Public Security stated that immigration to Norway must be controlled, sustainable and fair, noting an increase since autumn 2025 in the number of young Ukrainian men arriving. She also highlighted that Norway has received the highest number of displaced Ukrainians in the Nordic region and that rules should not be more lenient than in neighbouring countries.
Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion said Norway should not accept more people than it can integrate. She referred to pressure on municipal services and housing shortages, and noted that municipalities have settled close to 100,000 Ukrainian displaced persons in recent years.
The proposal will be sent for consultation. The tightening will apply only to new applicants and will not affect those who already have temporary collective protection. Exceptions are proposed for men exempt from or unable to serve, those evacuated through the medevac scheme, and men with sole custody of children. The government aims to adopt the changes before Easter and implement them as soon as possible.