Collective Protection for Ukrainians in Norway — Overview

Collective protection is a temporary protection scheme established under Section 34 of the Norwegian Immigration Act for people displaced from Ukraine because of the war. Instead of assessing every person's need for protection individually, Norway can assess applicants as a group when a situation of mass displacement exists.

For Ukrainians who meet the applicable requirements, collective protection provides a temporary residence permit in Norway. The permit gives important rights, including the right to work, access to public healthcare, and rights for children to attend school and kindergarten. People between 18 and 55 generally have the right to participate in an introduction programme, including Norwegian language and social studies training. People over 55 may also have a right to participate depending on the applicable rules and their situation.

Collective protection is different from individual protection (ordinary asylum). Under collective protection, UDI normally does not make a full individual assessment of whether each applicant has personally been persecuted. Instead, UDI first assesses whether the person belongs to a group covered by the collective protection rules. If a person is not eligible for collective protection, the application may instead be assessed under the ordinary rules for individual protection.

WHO CAN RECEIVE COLLECTIVE PROTECTION

The rules depend on when the person applied and on the person's circumstances.

A Ukrainian citizen may normally qualify if they were residing in Ukraine before 24 February 2022. A person who was temporarily outside Ukraine on 24 February 2022, for example on holiday or visiting another country, may also qualify if they had not been abroad for more than 90 days.

People who had been granted protection in Ukraine before 24 February 2022 may also qualify if their last permanent place of residence was in an area that the Norwegian authorities do not consider safe.

Certain Ukrainian citizens who already had legal residence in Norway before 24 February 2022 may also qualify if their previous residence basis has ended or is due to end shortly after the protection application and their last permanent place of residence in Ukraine was in an area that is not considered safe.

Certain close family members of a person who has been granted collective protection may also qualify. This can apply regardless of the family member's nationality or where that family member lived before coming to Norway, provided the applicable family and household requirements are fulfilled.

Close family members can include a spouse, cohabitant or child under 18. For spouses and cohabitants, the marriage or cohabitation normally must have existed before 24 February 2022. Certain other close family members, such as adult children, parents, grandparents or siblings, may qualify when they were part of the same household before 24 February 2022.

There are important exceptions and exclusions. Meeting one general criterion does not automatically mean that UDI will grant collective protection.

SAFE AREAS OF UKRAINE

For applications covered by the newer rules, the Norwegian authorities assess where the applicant last had permanent residence in Ukraine.

UDI currently considers the following Ukrainian regions to be safe areas for the purpose of the collective protection rules:

Cherkasy Chernivtsi Ivano-Frankivsk Khmelnytskyi Kirovohrad Kyiv region, but not Kyiv city Lviv Poltava Rivne Ternopil Vinnytsia Volyn Zakarpattia Zhytomyr

This list can change because UDI continuously monitors the situation in Ukraine.

For applications submitted under the rules introduced from 28 September 2024, a person whose last permanent place of residence was in an area that Norway considers safe will normally not receive collective protection. The application may instead be assessed under the rules for individual protection.

This safe-area restriction does not remove collective protection from people who were already granted collective protection under the earlier rules. In particular, people who applied before 28 September 2024 are not affected by the later safe-area requirement when their existing collective protection is extended.

HOW UDI ASSESSES THE LAST PERMANENT PLACE OF RESIDENCE

UDI may examine documents such as an internal Ukrainian passport, national identity card, international passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce certificate or other documentation.

If a person lived in several places in Ukraine, UDI makes an individual assessment. As a general guideline, the last permanent place of residence is normally the last place where the person lived for at least six months.

Simply travelling through or temporarily visiting an area does not normally make that place the person's permanent place of residence.

If the applicant cannot document a last permanent place of residence outside the areas considered safe, UDI may assess the application under the rules for individual protection.

IMPORTANT CHANGE FROM 5 MAY 2026

From 5 May 2026, men aged 18 to 60 who apply for protection in Norway are generally no longer covered by the temporary collective protection scheme. Their applications are instead assessed under the rules for individual protection.

This change applies to people who apply on or after 5 May 2026.

The change does not remove collective protection from people who already have collective protection, and it does not normally prevent their existing collective protection from being extended when they are otherwise entitled to an extension.

Some men aged 18 to 60 can still qualify for collective protection under specific exceptions.

An exception can apply to a man who has parental responsibility or is a legal guardian and will have sole day-to-day care of a child who is arriving with him or is already in Norway.

An exception can also apply to a person who is permanently exempt from military service in Ukraine or is clearly unable to perform military service, provided the required documentation is supplied.

Another exception applies to people who have been offered medical evacuation to Norway through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, as well as certain accompanying family members.

Applicants who rely on an exception must provide the documentation required by UDI. For example, a person relying on sole day-to-day care may need original documents from Ukrainian authorities and documentation concerning the other parent.

DUAL CITIZENSHIP

Ukrainian citizens who also have citizenship in a country that UDI considers generally safe may be excluded from collective protection under the applicable rules.

Russia is not currently treated by UDI as a generally safe country for this purpose. A person with Ukrainian and Russian citizenship may therefore still be eligible if the other requirements for collective protection are met, including the applicable residence requirement in Ukraine.

If a person has citizenship in a country considered safe by UDI, the application may be rejected under the collective protection rules and may be handled under the applicable individual protection procedure.

PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR COLLECTIVE PROTECTION

A person may not receive collective protection if, among other circumstances, they are a man aged 18 to 60 and none of the applicable exceptions apply.

Collective protection may also be unavailable if the person's last permanent place of residence was in an area that Norway considers safe, if the person had residence in another country rather than Ukraine or Norway at the relevant time, if the person was staying illegally in Norway or had a duty to return on 24 February 2022, if the person has certain other residence rights in Norway, or if another rule excludes them from the scheme.

A person who does not qualify for collective protection may instead have their need for protection assessed individually.

APPLYING FOR COLLECTIVE PROTECTION

A person must be in Norway or at the Norwegian border to apply for protection.

Since 15 July 2024, Ukrainian citizens seeking protection must register their application through the current registration procedure. The National Arrival Centre is located at Mosseveien 58, 1640 Råde.

If a person already has a place to live in Norway and can support themselves while waiting for registration and after registering, special registration arrangements may apply. The police currently provide information about registration at the National Arrival Centre and, for eligible applicants with private accommodation, the Gardermoen Registration Centre.

Applicants must follow the current instructions from the police and should arrange an appointment where required. They should bring all available identity documents.

At registration, the police may record personal information, take fingerprints and a photograph, examine identity documents and carry out other required registration activities. Applicants may also undergo tuberculosis testing and receive information about their rights and obligations.

The authorities need enough information to establish the applicant's identity and determine whether the person meets the requirements for collective protection.

IDENTITY DOCUMENTS

A Ukrainian passport, whether biometric or non-biometric, can be used to document identity. Other documents may also be relevant, including a Ukrainian national identity card, birth certificate or expired passport.

If a person does not have identity documents, the police may need to conduct additional investigations to establish identity.

A person who had protection in Ukraine must also provide documentation showing that residence in Ukraine was based on protection.

WHILE THE APPLICATION IS BEING PROCESSED

A person who has an application for collective protection under consideration is not allowed to work while waiting for the decision.

The right to work begins after collective protection has been granted, subject to the applicable rules.

Applicants should follow the instructions from UDI and the police and keep their contact information updated.

THE RESIDENCE PERMIT

Collective protection is granted as a temporary residence permit.

The permit is normally granted for one year at a time.

The collective protection scheme has been extended by one year. People who already have collective protection can normally have their permit extended automatically when it expires if they continue to meet the requirements.

UDI states that most eligible extensions are processed automatically. A person normally does not need to submit a new application for each extension.

UDI processes most automatic extensions approximately three weeks before the existing permit expires. The person receives information from UDI when the extension has been processed.

The new permit is normally valid for one year from the expiry date of the previous permit.

People should keep their address in the National Population Register (Folkeregisteret) correct so that public authorities can send important information and residence cards to the correct address.

HOW LONG CAN COLLECTIVE PROTECTION LAST?

Collective protection can be granted for a total of up to five years, provided that the person continues to meet the requirements and the collective protection scheme continues.

After five years, the collective protection permit cannot be extended further under the current five-year limit.

The Norwegian authorities have not yet determined a general solution for everyone who reaches five years of collective protection. UDI will publish information when the government decides what residence options may be available after the collective protection period.

Collective protection does not itself give a person a permanent residence permit.

RIGHT TO WORK

Once collective protection has been granted, the person has the right to work in Norway.

People waiting for a decision on an application for collective protection do not have this right.

People who work in Norway must follow Norwegian employment and tax rules. This includes requirements concerning tax registration, tax deduction cards, employment contracts and reporting of income.

RIGHT TO HEALTHCARE

People who have been granted collective protection are entitled to healthcare through the Norwegian public health service, subject to the ordinary rules that apply to the healthcare service.

The exact healthcare rights and payment rules depend on the type of healthcare and the person's circumstances.

CHILDREN, SCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN

Children with collective protection have the right to attend school and kindergarten under the applicable Norwegian rules.

Parents and guardians should contact the municipality where they live for information about kindergarten, school placement and other local services.

INTRODUCTION PROGRAMME AND NORWEGIAN LANGUAGE

People granted collective protection who are between 18 and 55 generally have the right to participate in an introduction programme.

The programme includes Norwegian language training and social studies. The municipality is responsible for providing information about the programme and explaining the person's rights and obligations.

People over 55 may also have a right to participate depending on the applicable rules and their circumstances.

People should contact their municipality after receiving collective protection to find out what programme and language-training rights apply to them.

TRAVEL OUTSIDE NORWAY

Collective protection is connected to residence in Norway. Long periods outside Norway can affect the residence permit.

UDI states that a collective protection permit may be revoked if the person has resided outside Norway for more than six months during a year.

Before travelling, a person should check the current UDI rules and make sure that their residence permit and travel documents are valid.

TRAVEL TO UKRAINE

People with collective protection are generally not allowed to travel to Ukraine simply for a visit.

UDI may accept a short trip to Ukraine when there is a legitimate and strictly necessary reason, for example visiting a close relative who is seriously ill. The person must be able to document the legitimate reason.

Travelling to Ukraine without a legitimate reason can lead to the collective protection permit being revoked.

People who are considering travelling to Ukraine should check the current UDI rules before travelling.

PASSPORTS AND TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

People with collective protection normally keep their Ukrainian passport.

Collective protection does not normally give the person refugee status or a refugee travel document.

If a person needs a new Ukrainian passport, they should contact the Embassy of Ukraine in Norway.

CHANGES THAT CAN AFFECT THE PERMIT

A collective protection permit can be affected by changes in the person's circumstances.

Examples include receiving another type of residence permit, moving permanently out of Norway, information showing that the original requirements were not met, certain forms of dual citizenship, or circumstances that lead to revocation under the collective protection rules.

UDI can also refuse to extend a permit in specific situations.

If UDI does not extend or revokes a permit, the person will receive information about the decision and applicable rights and obligations.

MOVING TO ANOTHER MUNICIPALITY

After collective protection is granted, the integration authorities and municipalities are responsible for settlement and local services.

The municipality where a person lives is important because many services are provided locally, including introduction programmes, schools, kindergarten and access to municipal services.

A person should inform the relevant authorities when moving and keep their registered address updated.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND NAV

Collective protection itself does not mean that everyone automatically receives every type of financial benefit.

Eligibility for NAV benefits, introduction support, housing support and other financial assistance depends on the specific benefit and the person's circumstances.

People should contact NAV and their municipality to determine which support schemes they may qualify for.

COLLECTIVE PROTECTION AND INDIVIDUAL PROTECTION

A person cannot simply choose between collective protection and individual protection.

When a person applies for protection, the authorities assess whether the person falls within the collective protection scheme. If not, the application may be assessed under the ordinary rules for individual protection.

Individual protection has significantly stricter requirements.

A person may qualify for individual protection if they have a well-founded fear of persecution because of ethnicity, descent, colour, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, or if there is a real risk of the death penalty, torture or other inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

For individual protection, UDI may also assess whether the authorities in the person's home country can provide effective protection and whether there is another safe and accessible area where the person could live.

Unlike collective protection, an approved individual protection case will normally provide refugee status and a residence permit that normally forms the basis for permanent residence.

CAN I CHOOSE TO APPLY FOR INDIVIDUAL PROTECTION INSTEAD?

No. Applicants cannot simply choose whichever protection scheme they prefer.

The authorities determine whether the application falls under collective protection or must be assessed under the ordinary rules for individual protection.

If a person has already been granted collective protection, they may in some circumstances apply for another type of residence permit, provided they meet the requirements for that permit.

OFFICIAL AUTHORITIES

The Police are responsible for registering applications for protection.

The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) decides whether the applicant is eligible for collective protection or individual protection and makes decisions concerning residence permits.

The Directorate of Integration and Diversity (IMDi) is responsible for important parts of the integration and settlement system and provides information concerning the introduction programme.

Municipalities provide many local services, including introduction programmes, schools, kindergarten and other services.

NAV administers many social security and employment-related services.

Helsenorge provides official information about healthcare rights and services.

Skatteetaten provides official information about tax, tax deduction cards and registration for people who work in Norway.

IMPORTANT

The rules for collective protection can change quickly. This article is intended as a structured overview of the official rules, but the current decision from UDI and the latest information on official government websites always take priority in an individual case.

Always check the current official information before making important decisions about applying for protection, travelling outside Norway, travelling to Ukraine, renewing residence or changing residence status.

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