From Wednesday, Ukrainian refugees can register in the police districts – VG

Less than 20 minutes ago

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Due to the large number of Ukrainian refugees in Europe, the government is arranging for asylum seekers to register in several places in the country. This will make it easier for Ukrainians to seek asylum where they are. In a press release Saturday The Ministry of Justice states that the changes will take effect from Wednesday 16 March at 08.

Until that happens, the Police Immigration Unit, which is responsible for registration, informs VG that refugees can register at the national arrival center, until an arrangement is put in place in the districts.

At a press conference on Monday, director of the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) Frode Forfang urged all unregistered Ukrainians staying in private homes to stay where they are and await registration information.

Now more details are clear about which measures will take effect, the government writes:

• The police’s immigration unit (PU) will be strengthened with about 100 positions that will further strengthen the police’s capacity at Råde.
• PU has expanded its capacity to take care of asylum seekers before registration at Scandic Helsfyr hotel.
• The police will initially register asylum seekers in several places in eight police districts: Agder, southwest, West, Møre og Romsdal, Trøndelag, Nordland, Troms and Finnmark.
• The remaining districts, Oslo, East, South-East and Inland, will offer the same service through the arrival center at Råde.

– Will reduce the pressure

– We are rigging Norway ready for a refugee crisis that can be very large and demanding. Therefore, the government is now ensuring that asylum seekers can register in several places in Norway. This will reduce the pressure on the national arrival center in Råde and make it easier for the Ukrainians who are already staying elsewhere than in Eastern Norway to register, says Minister of Justice and Emergency Management Emilie Enger Mehl in the press release.

The Ministry of Justice writes that the changes will not take effect until Wednesday since the police will need some time to prepare for this to ensure a correct and equal practice throughout the country.

– It may be relevant to establish registration in several places if there is a need for it, Mehl says in the press release.

She encourages refugees to register so that the Norwegian authorities have control over who is in the country, and so that the registered persons receive a temporary social security number to gain access to services.

Visa freedom for 90 days with a biometric passport

Until now, the travel obligation for Ukrainian citizens has been suspended, so that Ukrainian refugees can stay in Norway until new information is available.

The Ministry of Justice states that Ukrainians who have a biometric passport have visa-free travel to Norway for 90 days. They can stay on their own on a tourist visa during that period, but must register if they want access to follow-up from the authorities.

The Government of Norway allows for temporary collective protection of Ukrainian refugees, which makes the process easier for the immigration authorities. Initially, a residence permit will be granted for up to one year at a time, and can be extended for up to three years.

It will give Ukrainian refugees the same rights as people with ordinary asylum decisions – to work, go to school and receive health care.

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