On 27 March 2026, the Supreme Court handed down a judgment in an asylum case. The court clarified that the fact that a person already has a residence permit in Norway does not provide grounds for rejecting an application for protection.
This clarification establishes that the interpretation of the law previously relied upon by the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) and reflected in the practice of the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) was incorrect. As a result, the clarification may affect numerous cases that were rejected on the same grounds. Applicants who were denied protection because they already held a residence permit may now be eligible to submit a new application for protection.
Applicants that want to have their case reassessed, must contact the police to submit a new application for protection.
- Immigration Appeals Board | Utlendingsnemnda (1 June, 2026), Enkelte kan søke om beskyttelse på nytt etter dom i Høyesterett [Some people can apply for protection again after a judgment in the Supreme Court],