Politics Norway restricts collective protection for Ukrainians
Fewer Ukrainians than before will automatically be granted asylum in Norway in future.
27.09.2024, 14:56
SDA
As announced by the government in Oslo, six areas in western Ukraine will be considered safe by the Norwegian Immigration Directorate (UDI) - asylum seekers from these areas will now be considered according to the same rules that apply to other countries.
The government claimed that the changes to the collective protection status were made in order to help those who still need protection. It continues to actively support Ukraine.
Since the start of the Russian war of aggression in February 2022, most people who came to Norway from Ukraine have been granted temporary collective protection without their applications being individually assessed. The need for protection of people from areas considered safe is now decided on a case-by-case basis - which means that their asylum applications can also be rejected.
Norway, with a population of just under 5.5 million, says it has taken in more Ukrainians than the other Nordic countries. In the past two and a half years, 85,000 people have arrived in the country from Ukraine. Around 10 percent of Ukrainians who have come to Norway so far in 2024 come from the six affected areas.
