I want to know more about extensions of residency in Norway

It is now possible to be granted collective protection for up to five years, provided that the requirements for the permit are still met.

• You may have your permit renewed even if you are from an area that the Norwegian authorities now consider safe.

If you are a man aged 18–60

• You may have your permit renewed if you have been granted collective protection and have a permanent exemption from military service.
• You may also have your permit renewed if you applied for collective protection before 5 May 2026.
• If you applied for collective protection after 5 May 2026 and were granted collective protection on the basis that you would have sole day-to-day care of your child, you may have your permit renewed if you still have sole day-to-day care in Norway. You may be granted a renewal even if the child turns 18 while you are in Norway. However, if the child’s mother comes to Norway, your permit will be revoked and it will not be renewed.

Yes. If you have already been granted collective protection, you can have your permit extended.

Your permit will be extended automatically

If you were granted collective protection, you will automatically receive an extension when your residence permit expires. You do not have to do anything to extend your permit. This applies for all extensions, regardless of whether it is the first or second time the permit is to be extended.

We will process most cases three weeks before the residence permit expires. You will receive a letter with more information when your case has been processed. If you have a digital mailbox (Digipost), you will receive the letter there. If you do not have Digipost, you will receive the letter by post. In such case, it will take 2-3 weeks before you receive the letter.

You will still have the same rights as before when it comes work, studies and so on while you wait for UDI to notify you that your residence permit has been extended. You will retain these rights until you have received a response from UDI, even if your residence permit expires in the meantime.

The new permit will be valid for one year from the expiry date of your previous one.

However, not everyone will receive an extension

As of 1 March 2024, you will not be granted an extension of your permit if, in addition to being a citizen of Ukraine, you are also a citizen of a country Norway considers safe. The exception to this rule is if you are a family member of someone who has been granted collective protection, and that person does not have citizenship in a safe country.

Also, your permit will not be extended if you are not a Ukrainian citizen, and you were granted collection protection as a family member of a Ukrainian citizen who is also a citizen of a country Norway considers safe.

By family member we mean the following.

• spouse or cohabitant
• children under 18 years of age
• other close family members, for instance childen over 18 years of age, grandparents or siblings.

In addition, your permit will not be extended in the following cases:

• you have been granted a different type of residence permit in Norway
• we have reason to believe that you have moved from Norway
• we obtain information showing that you did not actually meet the requirements for collective protection

You will be notified if we do not extend your collective protection permit.

You will be issued a new residence card

If you are granted an extension, you will receive a new residence card by post. Children who turn 6 years of age after their last permit was granted will be required to go to the police station to provide fingerprints. A separate letter will be sent out in such cases.

If you have registered your email address with UDI, you will receive an email when we extend your residence permit and when we order a new residence card. It may take up to 20 days from the date UDI or the police order order the residence card until the card arrives in your postbox. If you do not receive your residence card within 20 days from the date UDI or the police ordered your card, please contact your local police.

Make sure that your name is on your postbox

It is important that your name is visible on your postbox to ensure that your residence card is delivered. If you have children, their names must also be on the postbox.

Register for electronic identification (e-ID)

If you sign up for an electronic ID (e-ID) (external website), you will also be able to receive other communications from us online.

Make sure we that have your correct address

It is important that you keep your postal address up to date in the National Population Register (Folkeregisteret) (external website) so that we send your residence card to the right address.

If you have the wrong address registered, it will be difficult for public agencies to contact you. This can cause problems with your access to public services such as receiving information from health services, offerings for Norwegian courses, or your new residence permit and the like.

Once you get an e-ID, you will be able to update your address by logging into the National Population Register (Folkeregisteret).

You can have collective protection for a total of five years. After five years have passed, this permit cannot be extended further.

The government has not yet decided what will happen after a person has had collective protection for five years. You will receive information well before the five-year period ends about whether there will be other residence permits you can apply for, or whether you must request that your application be processed on an individual basis.

We will publish updated information when we know more.

No. The Government has decided to extend the collective protection scheme for another year. Your residence permit will be extended automatically. This means that most people who were granted collective protection in Norway will automatically receive an extension of their permits when the current ones expire.

Consequently, you cannot apply for an extension and UDI cannot provide confirmation that you have done so.

The new permit will be valid for one year from the date your previous permit expires.

This question refers to other types of residence permits than collective protection. If you want to apply for a different type of residence permit than the collective protection you already have, you should answer “no” to the question about whether you have a valid residence permit that has not yet expired. This applies regardless of which other type of residence permit you are applying for.