On 2 June 2025, the Ministry of Justice and Public Security implemented amendments to the Immigration Regulations to extend the storage period for fingerprints. The aim is to strengthen identity control and prevent misuse.
Fingerprints are now routinely collected and stored in most immigration cases, including asylum, residence, rejection and expulsion cases. The use of biometrics ensures that individuals maintain a single identity in Norway, helping to combat ID fraud, welfare abuse and work-related crime. Biometrics can also be reused for permit renewals and residence cards.
The changes address concerns from the Directorate of Immigration that previous storage periods were too short for effective control. Under the new rules, all fingerprints in visa, residence, rejection, revocation and temporary expulsion cases will be stored for 20 years from the last registration. The rules have also been simplified and made more consistent.