Government publishes amendments in the field of migration and asylum

The government published a series of amendments within the areas of responsibility of the Ministry of Labour and Inclusion and the Ministry of Justice and Public Security. The main changes include:

• Implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum: In line with Norway's agreements with the EU, Norway has incorporated several legal acts forming part of the Pact on Migration and Asylum, including the Screening Regulation, relevant provisions of the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation (AMMR), the new Eurodac Regulation, and the Crisis and Force Majeure Regulation.
• Appeals concerning collective protection: Decisions refusing an extension of collective protection can no longer be appealed. However, individuals whose extension is refused may request an individual assessment of their original asylum application under Section 28 of the Immigration Act. The right to appeal a negative decision under the ordinary asylum procedure remains unchanged.
• Expanded grounds for waiving asylum interviews: The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) is granted broader authority to decide asylum applications without conducting an asylum interview. In addition to existing exemptions (such as Dublin cases, first-country-of-asylum cases, manifestly well-founded grants and manifestly unfounded applications), the UDI may now also waive interviews where country information and established practice indicate a high likelihood of rejection, provided the applicant has had an opportunity to explain the basis of their protection claim and their fear of return.
• Trade union referrals for resettlement: Amendments to the Immigration Regulations will allow trade unions to propose candidates for Norway's annual resettlement refugee quota, strengthening protection opportunities for trade unionists facing persecution. These amendments are expected to enter into force in August 2026.
• Strengthening judicial independence: The principle that court cases should, as a general rule, be allocated randomly among judges is now enshrined in law, reinforcing judicial independence, impartiality and public confidence. The amendments also establish the number of Supreme Court judges in legislation, transfer responsibility for dividing the Supreme Court into chambers to the Chief Justice and allow all Courts of Appeal to play recordings from District Court proceedings where available.
• Extension of temporary Ukraine-related measures: Temporary legislative amendments introduced in response to the arrival of displaced persons from Ukraine have been extended until 1 July 2028. The amendments also provide a legal basis for temporary regulations adapting integration measures for individuals who initially held collective protection but later become asylum seekers.