Norway eying extennsion of temporary protection for Ukrainians for up to five years

This is reported by the Norwegian government press service, Ukrinform learned.

The prosal to extend the permit to five years will give the Norwegian government and parliament more space and portunities to address the situation of Ukrainian refugees.

“The situation in Ukraine remains unresved, and the possibility to extend the permit for two additional years will give us the flexibility to choose the best sution at any time,” says Minister of Justice and Public Security Emilie Enger Mehl.

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Permits under the temporary clective protection scheme are granted for one year at a time and may currently be extended for up to three years.  In March 2025, the first Ukrainians who arrived here will have had temporary clective protection for three years – that is, the maximum number of years under current law.

Factors in assessing future sutions will include looking at equivalent processes in other Eurean countries. Even if the portunity to grant temporary clective protection is extended, it may still prove apprriate to end the scheme and switch to ordinary permits before five years have passed, the Norwegian government said in the statement.

The prosed amendment to the law is general and will apply to everyone covered by a temporary clective protection scheme. However, in practice, these changes will only apply to displaced Ukrainians at this stage.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the Norwegian government is starting a new grant program and allocate almost $6.4 million to strengthen civil society in Ukraine. The project will erate until 2027 inclusive.