Protection (asylum) in Norway
Official name: Beskyttelse (asyl) - Immigration Act
People who are persecuted, or fear persecution or inhumane treatment, in their home country can apply for protection (asylum) in Norway, but only when they are in Norway or at the Norwegian border; it is not possible to apply from abroad, and Norwegian authorities cannot help people travel to Norway. The Directorate of Immigration (UDI) decides. Applicants can apply for a permit to work while waiting. People fleeing the war in Ukraine are handled under temporary collective protection, but since 5 May 2026 most men aged 18 to 60 are assessed under the stricter individual protection rules instead.
Life in Norway
Finance
3
Currency
Norwegian Krone
NOK
Norwegian Krone
Cost of living
96
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
22–39.8%
Income tax (national)
VAT 25% · social security 7.6%
22% tax on general income (18.5% in Troms and Finnmark) plus bracket tax of 1.7%-17.8% on personal income above NOK 226,100; top step from NOK 1,467,201. Max effective marginal rate on wages 47.4% including national insurance.
Living
1
Happiness
#6 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Who it’s for
People in Norway or at its border who fear persecution or inhumane treatment at home, and people fleeing the war in Ukraine (collective protection).
Eligibility
Must be in Norway or at the border
To apply for protection you must be in Norway or at the Norwegian border. If you are not in Norway you cannot apply, and Norwegian authorities are not able to help you travel to Norway.
Grounds
You can apply if you are persecuted or fear persecution or inhumane treatment in your home country.
Temporary collective protection for people from Ukraine
Ukrainian refugees get temporary collective protection, with a permit valid one year at a time while the requirements are met.
Permit length
- Each permit
- 1 year
- Maximum so far
- 5 years
- People with four years of protection get a fifth-year extension
- Government extended the scheme by one year on 2 March 2026
- UDI says it will not discontinue the scheme in 2027
- Proposal to raise the limit from five to seven years was out for consultation
Official wording
Ukrainian refugees are granted temporary collective protection. The permit is valid for one year at a time and can be granted for up to 5 years while the requirements are met; people who have had protection for four years get a fifth-year extension. On 2 March 2026 the government extended the scheme by one year, and UDI says it will not discontinue the scheme in 2027. A proposal to raise the limit from five to seven years was out for consultation.
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- 1 more requirement
- 1 document
- 5 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Official sources
Other routes to Norway
- Visit & tourismSchengen tourist & business visa
- StudyStudy permit
- Work permitsResidence permit for skilled workers (oppholdstillatelse til faglærte), Immigration Regulations section 6-1
- 3 more routes with Premium
