The Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security has launched a consultation on proposed amendments to the Immigration Act and Regulations to incorporate the updated 2024 Eurodac Regulation into national law. Eurodac is a shared database used by EU countries, Norway, and other associated states to store fingerprints (and now facial images) of asylum seekers and individuals who have crossed borders irregularly. The updated regulation expands the categories of individuals to be registered and adds new types of biometric and personal data, enhancing the ability to identify asylum seekers and determine the responsible country under the Dublin system.
The changes aim to strengthen migration management and improve the detection of irregular migration, while also supporting the fight against serious crime. The Eurodac Regulation is a key part of the EU's Pact on Migration and Asylum, which Norway is partly bound by through its agreements with the EU. The consultation period ends on 2 July 2025.