The Ministry of Justice and Public Security has made an amendment to the Immigration Regulations, which means that Ukrainians who have had temporary collective protection for three years can continue to stay for another year.
The scheme implies that those who are covered are granted a residence permit for one year according to a simplified procedure and without an individual assessment of the need for protection. The permits will be renewed by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) upon expiry, and those who are covered do not need to apply for such an extension. The UDI and the police will also ensure that expired residence cards are renewed.
The Norwegian government has decided to extend its temporary collective protection scheme, aligning with the EU's extension until March 2026, due to ongoing uncertainty in Ukraine. In September 2024, the scheme was tightened to exclude new applicants from areas deemed safe by immigration authorities.
Currently, the UDI considers 14 Ukrainian counties safe. The government will continue to assess potential further adjustments to the policy.