The information on this page is personalised for
Afghanistan
Which group do you belong to?
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Adults and families with children who have applied for protection (asylum)
Information about waiting times in multiple languages
- Information about waiting times in Arabic (pdf, 236 kB)
- Information about waiting times in English (pdf, 123 kB)
- Information about waiting times in Ukrainian (pdf, 138 kB)
- Information about waiting times in Russian (pdf, 189 kB)
- Information about waiting times in Spanish (pdf, 138 kB)
- Information about waiting times in Tigrinya (pdf, 161 kB)
- Information about waiting times in Turkish (pdf, 155 kB)
- Information about waiting times in Dari (pdf, 165 kB)
- Information about waiting times in Pashto (pdf, 174 kB)
- Information about waiting times in Farsi (pdf, 167 kB)
- Information about waiting times in Kurmanji (pdf, 192 kB)
We are currently processing the following cases
Many applicants have been waiting a long time for an answer to their applications for protection. We know that waiting is difficult.
In the period up to summer 2026, we will be processing applications submitted in:
- 2023
- January-June 2024
We will not be able to process all these cases before the summer. As a general rule, we process the oldest applications first.
How does UDI process your case?
Certain cases are processed faster
There are many people applying for protection from many different countries. UDI cannot manage to process all these applications right away. Applications from certain groups of applicants must be processed more quickly. This includes:
- applications processed in accordance with the Dublin Regulation, which in most cases means that the applicant must travel to a different European country to have their applications processed.
- applicants who, in UDI’s estimation, clearly do not need protection, such as those who come from a safe country where they can travel back right away.
- applications from families with children, and applications from children who arrived without parents or caregivers. These cases generally have to be processed faster.
If you are not part of any of these groups, it may take a long time for you to be interviewed and your application processed. This does not mean that anything is wrong with your case or that we have forgotten you.
While staying at the National arrival centre
Everyone applying for protection in Norway must first register an application at the National arrival centre. You will only be here a short time because there must be space for newcomers.
Most applicants will need to move to an ordinary reception centre and wait for their interview and an answer to their applications there.
Applicants cannot choose or influence whether they will be interviewed at the National arrival centre. It depends on how many people have applied for protection at the same time.
When living at an ordinary reception centre
If UDI did not interview you before you moved into an ordinary reception centre, it might be a long time before you are interviewed and receive an answer to your application for protection.
It makes no difference for your waiting time where in Norway your reception centre is.
If you live in private accommodations
If you live in private accommodations, such as with family or friends, your waiting time will be the same as for those living in an ordinary reception centre. It is very important that you provide us with your address, email address and telephone number so that UDI can contact you for your interview and with the answer regarding your application.
What does UDI do with your case while you are waiting?
When you apply for protection, we place your application in a queue until one of our case officers has time to process your case. This means that your case is not assigned to a case officer at UDI until you are called in for your interview. No cases are forgotten.
Why does it take a long time before being interviewed?
UDI allocates a lot of time for asylum interviews, usually an entire day. Each case requires a lot of planning. This is why it takes time to interview everyone who comes to Norway.
How long does it take to receive an answer after the interview?
In most cases, UDI can give you an answer rather soon after your interview. Sometimes, however, we need more time. We might need to look more closely at the information you provided in your case, or we might need to know more about the situation in your home country before we can process your case. In such cases, it can take longer to receive an answer after an interview, but everyone will receive an answer.
Is there anything you can do to make your case go faster?
- If you have original identity documents, you are to hand them in to your local police district.
- If you have copies and photos, you are to send them to UDI.
It is important that UDI has all the documents for your case before your interview. This can help you to avoid your case taking longer than necessary.
What information can UDI give you about waiting times?
Many people contact UDI to ask about the waiting time for their cases. We are not able to provide any information about waiting times over the phone other than what is published on udi.no.
If we need more information from you to process your case, we will contact you.
Can your case be moved to the front of the queue?
Most applicants for protection want their case to be processed quickly. However, there must be highly exceptional reasons for your case to be moved ahead in the queue.
Information updates
This information on waiting times applies from April 2026.
The information will be updated on 1 July 2026 or before if substantial changes occur.
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Children under 18 years old who have applied for protection (asylum) and do not have parents in Norway
Information about waiting times in multiple languages
- Information about waiting times in Arabic (pdf, 159 kB)
- Information about waiting times in English (pdf, 115 kB)
- Information about waiting times in Dari (pdf, 167 kB)
- Information about waiting times in Pashto (pdf, 165 kB)
- Information about waiting times in Russian (pdf, 168 kB)
- Information about waiting times in Tigrinya (pdf, 126 kB)
- Information about waiting times in Ukrainian (pdf, 171 kB)
Who is UDI interviewing, and whose applications are being answered at present?
UDI will conduct interviews with unaccompanied minors who are seeking protection on an ongoing basis. If your case comes under the Dublin Regulation, it may take several months to determine whether your case is to be processed in Norway or in another country where you have registered your fingerprints.
If UDI does not need to carry out further investigations after the interview, we will reach a decision as soon as we can.
Special information concerning applications for protection from applicants from Syria
UDI has resumed processing asylum applications from Syrian citizens and stateless individuals from Syria. We will call in the first applicants for an interview during January. There are many applicants waiting to be interviewed, so it may still be a long time before you are called in for an interview.
The situation in Syria has changed significantly. UDI has to evaluate applications based on the current situation. Therefore, it will take more time to process these cases. You may also experience that some people receive an answer before you, even if they applied after you. Some cases take more time than others.
Most applicants from Syria have not had their asylum interview. If you have not had your asylum interview yet, you will be called in for it. We will notify you when it is your turn to be interviewed. You do not need to contact us; we will contact you.
Why do some people receive an answer before me?
We are giving priority to the applicants who have been waiting the longest. In some cases, however, it takes us longer to carry out an interview and to process the application. Even though you may have been waiting longer than others, we have not forgotten your case. It may take longer to process a case for reasons such as:
- We need more time to investigate your case after the interview.
- We have determined that your case is to be processed by another country under the Dublin Regulation. This may result in you having to wait longer than others for an interview.
If you have not been interviewed or received an answer due to other reasons, we will inform your lawyer why it is taking more time.
We understand that waiting can be challenging, and we are working diligently to process all asylum applications as efficiently as possible.
It is not necessary to contact UDI to ask when your case will be finished. We will send the answer to your lawyer.
Is there anything I can do to cut down on the waiting time?
You can make sure that we receive your identity documents as soon as possible.
- If you have original identity documents, you are to present them at your local police station. You can ask your representative / legal guardian to help you submit all your documents.
- If you have copies and photos, you can take them with you to your interview. Alternatively, you can send them by post to UDI:
Utlendingsdirektoratet (UDI)
Postboks 2098 Vika
0125 OsloRemember to write your DUF number on the documents. Your representative can help you with this.
Information updates
This information on waiting times applies from 15 January 2026.
The information will be updated in mid-June 2026, or before if substantial changes occur.
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Adults and children who have applied for renewal of their residence permit for protection (asylum) or strong humanitarian considerations
What cases do we process?
Most applications for renewal of residence permits are processed by the police. You will find information about their case processing times on the police's website. (external website)
Applications that the police cannot process are forwarded to UDI. This applies, among other things, to applications for everyone who has been granted a limited residence permit. If you have such a permit, it will be stated in the decision you previously received. The police also forward all applications where renewal has been applied for 6 months after the expiry of the previous permit. If the police forward your application to UDI, you will be notified by e-mail or SMS.
How long do you have to wait?
Most applications will be processed within 16 months after you have handed in the application to the police, but some cases may also take longer.
Until the end of March 2026, we are processing cases where applications for renewal of protection (asylum) were submitted before February 2025. This means that if you applied for renewal of protection before February 2025, you may receive a decision on your application by March 2026.
Once your permit has been renewed, it usually takes about 4 weeks before you receive your new residence card.
We cannot provide any additional information about when your case will be processed if you contact us.
We are considering new information in your case
It is important that you have read the decision you last received from UDI or UNE and submitted the information you were asked to provide in the decision. If we lack information from you when we start processing your case, it will take longer before your case is fully processed.
If you have a limited temporary residence permit, and you have submitted your passport to the police or submitted other information that is relevant to your case, we will consider whether we can now grant you a residence permit that is not limited.
Have you also applied for a travel document or an immigrant's passport?
If you have also applied for a travel document or an immigrant´s passport for a single journey, we will process this application at the same time as the application for renewal of a temporary residence permit. You cannot get a new travel document or an immigrant´s passport until you have obtained a new residence permit. The waiting time for processing these applications will therefore be the same.
You should not book tickets to travel abroad until you have received a response to your application and have received a new residence card and travel document.
An immigrant's passport for a single journey
We continuously process applications for immigrant's passports for a single journey in connection with acute and life-threatening illness, death or other reasons (such as school trips or travel in connection with organised leisure activities). These applications do not follow our ordinary waiting time for case processing. If you are applying for an immigrant's passport for a single journey, we ask that you use the checklist and check that all relevant documentation is attached to the application. That way, we can process your application without unnecessary waiting time.
We have not forgotten you!
There are many people who have an application for renewal with UDI who have waited a long time for a response. Even if you have waited a long time, it does not mean that we have forgotten about your application. Unfortunately, we do not know when you will receive an answer, and we will not be able to give you any information about this if you call us. You will be notified when we have finished processing your application.
If you applied within a month before your previous residence permit expired, you will still have the same rights as before to work, study, and so on while you wait for us to process your application.
What do you do if your residence card expires while you are waiting?
You cannot get a new residence card until you have obtained a new residence permit. If you need confirmation that you have legal residence in Norway while you wait for a response, you can order it from UDI.
Can my case be moved to the front of the queue?
Most applicants for protection want their case to be processed quickly. However, there must be highly exceptional reasons for your case to be moved ahead in the queue.
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Applications for renewal for children under the age of 18 who have been given a limited residence permit because they do not have ID documents
In the letter from UDI, there was a deadline for renewing your residence permit.
You will receive the answer to your application for renewal before your first permit expires if
- you apply before this deadline, and
- we have all the information we need to process your application
We will prioritise applications from those who have submitted their identity documents.
You may have to wait longer if we need to carry out extra investigations in your application. This could, for example, mean additional checks of your documents or to have your identity confirmed. Sometimes we must also carry out other types of investigations. We will contact your lawyer or your representative if we need any more information from you.
We will notify your lawyer as soon as we have finished processing your application.
Can my case be moved to the front of the queue?
Most applicants for protection want their case to be processed quickly. However, there must be highly exceptional reasons for your case to be moved ahead in the queue.
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Family member of a refugee and have applied for refugee status and travel document
How long must you wait?
We must first decide whether you can be granted a residence permit as a refugee. If you are, you will also get a travel document for refugees.
Most cases will be processed within 4 months, but some cases may also take longer.
It may take longer before you receive an answer if we are waiting for documentation. You may also have to wait longer if your family member with refugee status has a case in processing. This is because your family member must have a valid residence permit before we can consider if you can get a residence permit as a refugee.
Can my case be moved to the front of the queue?
Most applicants for protection want their case to be processed quickly. However, there must be highly exceptional reasons for your case to be moved ahead in the queue.
If you have received a rejection letter and you have appealed
We process appeals continuously. When we process your appeal, we will either grant your appeal and give you a residence permit or forward your case to the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) for consideration.
If we forward your appeal to UNE, you will be notified by email or SMS. You can find information on UNE’s website about how long it takes from UNE receives your appeal, until you receive an answer from them (external website).
This information was last updated on
23 April 2026
. It will be updated again on
21 May 2026
.
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Applicants in the Dublin procedure
If you are in the Dublin procedure, we will need about four months to decide which country is responsible for considering your asylum application. Some cases may also take longer.