Norway’s rejection rate for asylum applications has risen from 42% in 2023 to 78% in 2026. Only around 2 in 10 applicants are currently granted protection.
The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) attributes the increase to several factors:
- Ukraine: A significant share of rejections concerns Ukrainian applicants. Most ordinary Ukrainian applicants are not considered entitled to a residence permit, while collective protection is assessed separately.
- Türkiye, Colombia and Venezuela: Changes in practice have contributed to a significant increase in rejections.
- Stateless applicants: Refusals of stateless applicants have increased substantially since 2024, mostly in Dublin cases involving those who had already sought protection in another country.
- Syria: Following the change of regime, the UDI introduced a new assessment practice. Around 2,500 cases by Syrian nationals are currently being processed, with refusals constituting the majority of decisions.
The UDI reported that the UNE has largely upheld the UDI’s decisions.
Source(s)
- Norwegian Directorate of Immigration | Utlendingsdirektoratet (15 September, 2026), UDI avslår langt flere asylsøknader [UDI rejects far more asylum applications],