The Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion published updated forecasts on the settlement of Ukrainian refugees in municipalities. The latest forecasts indicate that more than 16,000 refugees may need to be settled in 2026, which is 3,000 more than municipalities were originally requested to accommodate this winter. According to the Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion, a high number of arrivals over the past 6 months, particularly among young men from Ukraine, have made it difficult to predict needs. She stated that Norway cannot receive more refugees than it has the capacity to integrate and noted that several municipalities are experiencing pressure on public services.
Municipalities were initially requested to settle just over 13,000 people in 2026. So far, only about one-half have responded to the request, though more responses, including from larger municipalities, are expected in the coming weeks, which may reduce the gap between the request and final decisions.
The government stated that it is prepared to introduce further restrictive measures if necessary. If settlement does not keep pace with arrivals and requests, more refugees will remain longer in reception centres, delaying their integration.