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IMMIGRATION

Norway brings in tough new immigration curbs

Norway wants to make foreigners wait an extra two years before they become eligible for permanent residency, as part as stiff new curbs brought in by the ruling right-wing coalition.

Published: 31 March 2015 17:37 CEST

Norway brings in tough new immigration curbs

Justice Minister Anders Anundsen wants to make it harder for newcomers to Norway to win permanent residency. Photo: Trond Reidar Teigen / NTB scanpix

The proposal, which the Ministry of Justice put out to consultation on Tuesday, will come as a blow both to expats brought to Norway for employment and to asylum seekers fleeing persecution.

Justice Minister Anders Anundsen, from the anti-immigrant Progress Party, said he expected the longer wait to mean greater numbers of foreigners being forcibly expelled from the country.

“The proposal will probably result in more foreigners being expelled as a result of criminal offences and violations of the Immigration Act, since it will take longer before the foreigner obtains greater protection against expulsion, he told VG newspaper.

At present, anyone who lives in Norway for three years is eligible to apply for a permanent residence and work permit, so long as they have achieved proficiency in Norwegian and completed a series of compulsory courses.

According to Anundsen, who represents the anti-immigration Progress Party, the proposal has the backing of the Conservatives, the Christian Democrats and the the Liberal party.

Under the tough new rules, foreign nationals risk losing their permanent residency status if they become divorced from a Norwegian citizen within the five-year period.

How the families of Norwegians leaving the UK for Norway can apply for residence

The family members of Norwegians who stayed in the UK under the Withdrawal Agreement rules after Brexit can now apply for residence cards in Norway under the EEA regulations.

READ MORE: Norway tweaks residence rules for families of Norwegians who return from the UK

What does this mean?

There are two methods for family immigration to Norway. The first is under the EEA regulations.

These allow the spouses, cohabitants, fiancées, children, and, in some cases, parents and other family members to move to Norway with a Norwegian or EEA citizen if they have lived in an EEA country other than Norway.

The other method is the family immigration residence permit issued by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). These permits have stricter rules, such as earnings requirements, and require an application fee of 11,900 kroner for first-time applicants.

Before the rules were changed, the family of Norwegians returning to Norway from the UK had to apply for a family immigration permit as the UK was no longer an EU member.

Now the rules have been changed (effective August 23rd), meaning the families of Norwegians moving from the UK can apply for a residence permit under the more lenient regulations.

Who can apply under the new rules

The specifics on which type of family members can apply can be found on the UDI’s website.

One of the main things to be aware of is the rules surrounding the person the family are moving to be with.

The applicant’s reference person (the person they are moving to be with) will need to have had continuous residence in the UK following the transition period and will need to return to Norway directly from the UK.

This means that if their permit has lapsed or they have lived somewhere else since securing it, the regular family immigration rules will apply.

How to apply under the new rules

You will need to head to the UDI’s website and, head to the “want to apply section” and select “Residence card for family members of EU/EEA nationals”

From there, you will input your nationality and the nationality of your Norwegian partner. To apply under the new rules, you must also select that you have lived in an EEA country other than Norway (even though the UK has left the EU).

After that, you will be able to see the list of requirements for the various family members and can select an application form to fill out.

Once you’ve begun the process, you’ll be asked whether you’ll hand in the application from Norway or overseas. Based on your choice, you’ll be given slightly different instructions.

If the new rules don’t apply to you

You will need to apply under the general family immigration rules if the new rules are not relevant for you. These generally come with longer case processing times, the aforementioned application fee, and different requirements.

More information on the family immigration permit can be found on the UDI’s website.

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