Content
About the statistics
Definitions
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Name and topic
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Name: Immigration regulation - StatRes (discontinued)
Topic: Population
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Responsible division
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Division for Population Statistics
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Definitions of the main concepts and variables
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Own production: Indicates the costs a body has and which are used to carry out activities and produce services. Consists of wage costs, purchase of goods and services and capital costs. Data on capital costs, i.e. depreciation, amortisation and imputed interest as a result of tied-up capital, is not available for the majority of bodies included in StatRes, including the UDI and UNE. Capital costs are not therefore included in the calculation of the figures for own production. Since the bodies within the sub-area only lease the premises that they use, the remaining costs for depreciation, amortisation and tied-up capital are probably so marginal that the lack of data has little bearing on the calculation of own production. The basis for the figures is items 1-29 in the national accounts. Costs of purchasing goods and services that replace the bodies’ own production of corresponding services, however, are not included in own production. Such costs are instead included in transfers . This means that the UDI’s costs when buying places from private and municipal refugee reception centres are classified as transfers (see the paragraph on transfers below).
Estimated contributions to Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund: In conformity with most other employers in public administration, the UDI and UNE do not pay pension contributions directly to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, where the employees are members. These contributions are instead paid through a collective transfer from the Treasury to the Pension Fund. Since these contributions are not included in the recognised wage costs, the recognised wage costs show a lower level than is actually the case. A 15 per cent mark-up is therefore added to the recognised wage costs (excluding recognised employer’s national insurance contributions), which roughly corresponds to the level that directly paying bodies charge to their accounts. A corresponding mark-up is made in StatRes for all bodies that do not have pension premium costs included in their accounts.
Purchase of goods and services: Covers the value of applied input goods and services in the production. The basis for the figures is the recognised amounts in items 1-29, sub-items 21-29, ref. R101.
Transfers: Covers subsidies and other cash transfers to the private and municipal sector, i.e. items 60-79 in the national accounts. The basis for the figures is the recognised amounts in these items. Transfers of the purchase of goods and services that are not included in the production are also included here, ref. the aforementioned description of own production and purchase of goods and services. Within immigration regulation, transfers consist of payments to refugee reception centres run by the private and municipal sector.
Investments : Acquisitions and major maintenance work in connection with property, or major acquisitions of fixed assets. The basis for the figures is the recognised amounts in items 30-49, ref. R101. Any income from corresponding sales is deducted.
Activities and services and results
UDI
Processed cases
Cases where the UDI has issued a decision. With regard to asylum cases, only one decision is counted per case. For other cases, the initial decision on the case is counted in addition to the processing of any appeals received.
Asylum applications
Applications for protection and recognition as a refugee. Only covers applications that are submitted in Norway.
Resettlement refugees
Cases that cover refugees who are allowed to come to Norway in accordance with an organised arrangement, normally in collaboration with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). On the government’s recommendation, the Storting sets annual quotas for how many resettlement refugees Norway can accept.
Other cases
Other cases include cases relating to the Public Administration Act, expulsion cases and cases relating to identity. In UDI Other cases includes travel documents.
Work and residence
Applications for work permits where the purpose of the stay is to work in Norway. Permits granted in accordance with EEA regulations are included.
Permanent residence
Applications for permits based on a person having been in Norway for three years with a valid residence or work permit which forms the basis for such permission. The permit entitles the holder to permanent residence and general entitlement to accept work in Norway.
Family immigration
Applications for permits where the applicant is or will be a close family member of a Norwegian national or a foreign national who is legally domiciled in Norway.
Citizenship
Application for Norwegian citizenship.
Studies
Application for permits where the applicant is to study in Norway. Also includes applications for au pair permits and apprentice/trainee permits.
Deportation
Cases where consideration is given to whether a foreign national must leave Norway and can only return if special criteria are met. As a general rule, the decision is also valid in other countries covered by the Schengen agreement, and for a minimum of two years.
Visas
Applications to stay in Norway for a specific period of time, normally up to three months. Visas are normally granted for just one visit, but may be granted for more. During the period that the visa is valid, the applicant is also entitled to visit other countries in the Schengen area.
Approvals
Various types of permits and citizenship are granted by the UDI. With regard to residence cases, only cases where the UDI granted a permit after the initial processing are included. Permits granted by the UDI on appeal are not included. For asylum applications, permits granted by the UDI after initial rejection are included.
Processing time
Shows the median in number of days. The time is calculated from when the case was initially registered with the UDI until the first decision is made in the case. For asylum cases, the processing time is calculated from the application date.
Unit costs
The average cost per case within a specific type of case. Based on a breakdown of costs (ref. section 3.6) and the number of cases on which a decision has been issued by the UDI. For asylum cases, only one decision per case is counted. For other cases, the initial decision in the case is counted in addition to the processing of any appeals received. The unit costs are calculated by the UDI and not by Statistics Norway.
Approvals in the immigration administration
Includes decisions by the police, UDI and UNE. Various types of permits are renewable, but such renewals are not included in the figures. As from 1 October 2009, nationals from non-Nordic EEA countries, excluding Bulgaria and Rumania, no longer need a permit to stay in Norway. Rumanian and Bulgarian nationals needed until 15 June 2012 a residence permit for stays longer than 3 months.
Kroatia became member of the EU 1 July 2013, however not member of the EEA before 1 January 2014.
UNE
Processed appeals
The number of appeals processed by the UNE against decisions made by the UDI.
Processed requests for decision reversals
A request for a decision reversal after an appeal is not upheld is in the form of a letter to the UNE, where the UNE is requested to reverse the decision. It is the content of such a request that determines whether it is appropriate to change an earlier decision. New information, new documentation, new circumstances – all of these help determine whether something should be considered which has not been considered previously.
All cases are included; appeals cases and requests for decision reversals. (Note: one person can have more than one case.)
Method of decision when processing cases in the UNE
The methods of decision in the UNE are regulated in Section 78 of the Immigration Act. The following methods of decision are used:
- Grand board hearing with appellant present (where the appellant is present in person).
- Grand board hearing without appellant (where the decision is made without the appellant being present).
- Appeals board hearing. Consists of a board leader and two board members. One board member is selected from those appointed
on the recommendation of humanitarian organisations. One member is selected from those appointed on the recommendation of
the ministry with overall responsibility for the immigration administration; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The final member
is selected from the Norwegian Association of Lawyers. The meetings can be set with or without the appellants in attendance.
- Board leader. Cases without any major areas of dispute can be determined by a board leader after preparations by the legal
secretariat.
- Legal secretariat. Cases without any major areas of dispute can also be delegated to the legal secretariat. All cases are
reviewed by two persons.
- Grand board hearing. Cases can be determined in the grand board hearing where there are special grounds. Three board leaders and four permanent board members make up the grand board hearing. Two of these are appointed on the recommendation of humanitarian organisations and two are selected from those appointed on the recommendation of the ministry with overall responsibility for the immigration administration; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Norwegian Association of Lawyers and the humanitarian organisations. The meetings can be set with or without the appellants in attendance.
Request for decision reversal
Request for the UNE to reconsider a case after the final decision.
Processing time
The processing time is calculated from the date an appeal is registered with the UNE until it is decided by the UNE. The UNE reports the average processing time for appeals cases. The processing time for requests for decision reversals is not included in the average processing time, but would in that case contribute to a reduction [T2] since the UNE prioritises these cases.
Related indicators
Voluntary returns (IOM)
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the leading inter-governmental organisation in the field of migration. The IOM carries out a number of projects commissioned by the UDI in close collaboration with other authorities and organisations, both in Norway and in the immigrants’ native countries.
Forced returns, by police
Persons who are illegally domiciled in Norway can apply to the UDI for economic and practical assistance to return to their native country. The police have the authority to forcibly return asylum seekers to another country in Europe where the asylum application is to be processed there. Policy may also return previous asylum seekers to their native country, as well as others who are illegally domiciled in Norway and who do not leave voluntarily.
Number of immigrations to Norway
The population statistics show the number of immigrations as they are registered in the population register. The requirements for qualifying as registered as domiciled in the population register are that the intention exists to stay in Norway for at least six months, to have a fixed abode, to demonstrate sufficient funds for a six-month stay and to be in possession of the registry certificate or permit that is needed for the relevant category of citizenship or family unification.
First-time immigration is defined here as immigration by persons who have not been domiciled in Norway previously. By this definition, all foreign-born (and only foreign-born) persons have had one first-time immigration. The term “first-time immigration´´ therefore refers to persons as the unit (first-time immigrants), and this is coterminous with the category “foreign-born´´.
Immigration undertaken by persons who have previously lived in Norway is referred to as re-entry to Norway, and includes Norwegian-born persons who return after their first period of emigration and everyone who has immigrated to Norway at least once before (both Norwegian-born and foreign-born).
Norwegian nationals and other Nordic nationals do not need a residence permit or any other permit from the immigration administration, and when they are or will be domiciled in Norway they are registered only in the population register.
As from 1 October 2009, nationals from EEA countries and Switzerland, and their family members with other citizenship (“third country nationals´´) have the right of residence in Norway, and do not therefore need a residence permit. However, they need to register with the immigration administration, attend the police offices and receive a certificate of registry/residence card. If they want to live in Norway for at least six months they must go to the population register office and submit their certificate of registry.
Rumanian and Bulgarian nationals needed until 15 June 2012 a residence permit for stays longer than 3 months. Kroatia became member of the EU 1 July 2013, however not member of the EEA before 1 January 2014.
All non-Nordic nationals before October 2009, and from then on all persons who are not Nordic nationals or covered by the EEA regulations, must apply to the immigration administration for a residence permit. In order to be registered as immigrated in the population register, they must present a residence permit that is valid for at least six months.
- Grand board hearing with appellant present (where the appellant is present in person).
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Standard classifications
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Not relevant.