Tanzanian Association Oslo

Processing asylum cases

from Southern Somalia

The Directorate of Immigration (UDI) is now starting to process applications for renewal from asylum seekers from Southern Somalia who were granted temporary and limited residence permits in 2007. This is being done as a result of the Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion having instructed the Directorate about how the applications are to be processed.

Because of the uncertain situation in Southern Somalia in 2007, asylum seekers who did not satisfy the requirements for ordinary residence were instead granted a one-year, limited residence permit. The immigration authorities would then be able to carry out new case processing in connection with applications for renewal.

In 2007, approximately 350 temporary permits of this type were issued, and the UDI has awaited clarification from the Ministry with respect to how the cases were to be processed. The Ministry has now instructed the UDI to stop granting limited permits to this group. This means that the UDI will assess the need for protection and humanitarian considerations in relation to each individual applicant and no longer grant permits exclusively on the basis of the general situation in the region.

It will take several months to process the 350 applications for renewal from asylum seekers from Southern Somalia. The asylum seekers in question will be able to live in Norway on the same conditions as before while waiting for their cases to be processed.

Asylum seekers whose applications are rejected by the UDI can appeal to the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE). The UDI will then decide whether the appellant will be allowed to stay in Norway until the case has been considered by the Appeals Board. 

Last updated: 11.02.2009 
Published: 11.02.2009

Courtsey of the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration