Recent changes

The circular is only available in Norwegian, and describes the amendments to the Immigration Regulations section 7‑5 a concerning temporary collective protection for persons displaced from Ukraine.

The scheme will no longer apply to men between the ages of 18 and 60, unless the applicant has parental responsibility for, or is a guardian or another close family member of, accompanying children or children residing in Norway and is to exercise the care alone, or is documented as exempt from or manifestly unfit for military service in Ukraine. Exceptions are also made for applicants who are offered medical evacuation to Norway through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), or who are accompanying relatives of applicants offered such evacuation.

The amendments enter into force on 4 May 2026 and apply only to applications submitted after this date. Asylum seekers from Ukraine who fall outside the scheme for temporary collective protection may have their asylum applications processed in the ordinary manner pursuant to section 28 et seq. of the Immigration Act.

The annex has been updated with new rates. 

The subsistence requirement for students at folk high schools for the academic year 2026-2027 is NOK 130 745. The rate for pocket money is NOK 3 922 per month for the academic year 2026-2027.

The subsistence requirement for students at folk high schools for the academic year 2025-2026 is NOK 122 371. The rate for pocket money is NOK 3 671 per month for the academic year 2025-2026.

The Immogration Regulations section 17-10. Fee for processing an application for a temporary or permanent residence permit or for renewal of a residence permit, was amended 27 February 2026.

The amendment entails an exemption from fees for children under 18 who apply for family immigration with a reference person who holds an independent residence permit under the Immigration Act section 53 (the provision concerning abuse), or with a reference person who has been granted a reflection period, or who, in a decision from the UDI or UNE, is considered a former victim of human trafficking.

The amendment enters into force on 1 April 2026.

Changes in the Immigration Regulations section 7-5a. Temporary collective protection for persons displaced from Ukraine, were adopted friday 27 March.

The amendment to the second paragraph provides that the Immigration Act section 34. Collective protection in a mass flight situation – shall not apply if the applicant is a man between the ages of 18 and 60, unless the applicant

- has parental responsibility or is the legal guardian, or another close family member, of accompanying children or children in Norway and will exercise care alone;

- is documented as exempt from, or clearly unable to perform, military service in Ukraine; or

- is offered medical evacuation to Norway through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), or is an accompanying relative of an applicant who is offered such evacuation.

The Ministry of Justice and Public Security will determine the date of entry into force, which is estimated to be around 1 May 2026. The Ministry is also preparing a circular.

The guideline has been updated in section 4.2, where it has been clarified when a visa application is considered lodged.

The guideline has expired. The foreign missions are in possession of all necessary information as set out in the updated version of UDI 2020‑011 Application for and issue of entry visas (D-visas), and entry deadlines.

The Ministry of Justice and Public Security has amended the Immigration Regulations section 7-5 a, regarding temporary collective protection for persons displaced from Ukraine.

The amendment in the fifth paragraph means that persons who have a residence permit on this basis can have it extended a fourth time.

The amendment enters into force 2 March 2026.

The text in chapter 14, Information to the applicant when an entry visa has been granted, has been separated into an information sheet, which is now included as a new annex to the guidelines: UDI 2020-011V1 Information for holders of an entry visa (available in English only). Chapter 14 now states that the foreign service mission shall provide the applicant with the new information sheet after granting an entry visa pursuant to Immigration Regulations section 3-13 second to fourth paragraphs.

The guideline and annexes have been amended to reflect changes to section 87 of the Immigration Act. DNA testing is no longer based on consent, and the immigration authorities may require applicants to provide a DNA sample. Amendments have also been made due to the introduction of a new DNA analysis provider. Information previously contained in an annex listing embassies assisting with DNA testing has been incorporated into the guideline. Linguistic improvements have been made. 

The guideline has been corrected under chapters 7 and 10.5.

The entire guideline has been updated in connection with the development of new application forms for D-visas/entry visas in the application portal, checklists for the various application categories, and a solution for transferring information from the application portal to Norvis. These changes must be viewed in light of the amendments in UDI 2020-011 Application for and issue of entry visas (D-visas), and entry deadlines.

Several changes and simplifications have been made to the guideline; here are the most important ones:

• All entry visas, except those issued on the basis of an approved permit, must be registered using the new application form.

• Biometrics must, as a general rule, be collected for all these application types in accordance with the requirement in the Immigration Regulations section 18-1, with the exception of diplomats and similar holders of official passports.

• Entry visas will be granted with a 30-day period of stay, instead of the current division between 7 days and 30 days.

• In the new chapters 11 to 14, we consolidate information on decision-making authority, the content of entry visas, appeals, and information for applicants, with the aim of removing this from the guidelines on entry visas pursuant to section 3-13, third and fourth paragraphs, of the Immigration Regulations (UDI 2010-004, UDI 2013-001, UDI 2010-046, and UDI 2010-001).

These changes are linked to the development of new application forms for D-visas/entry visas in the application portal, checklists for the various application categories, and a solution for transferring information from the application portal to Norvis. This follows recommendations from the Schengen evaluation of the visa field in 2024.

The guidline has been changed in section 4.

The guideline has been updated in section 1.2. An explanation of the word "rejection" has been added.

It is now possible to add a comment to the Norwegian visa sticker when issuing visas to family members of EU/EEA/Swiss/qualifying UK citizens, cf. Directive 2004/38/EC or the Separation agreement between Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein and the United Kingdom. This change is in line with the best practice presented in the Visa handbook. The remarks will appear on the physical sticker in a shortened form as: 2004/38/EF and EØS/EFTA-UK

It is now possible to add a comment to the Norwegian visa sticker when issuing visas to family members of EU/EEA/Swiss/qualifying UK citizens, cf. Directive 2004/38/EC or the Separation agreement between Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein and the United Kingdom. This change is in line with the best practice presented in the Visa handbook. The remarks will appear on the physical sticker in a shortened form as: 2004/38/EF and EØS/EFTA-UK