Has UDI refused your application for permanent residence? You can appeal. The deadline is normally three weeks from when you or your representative received the decision. Send the appeal to UDI, which reviews the case before it may be forwarded to UNE. Check your temporary permit separately.
Read the refusal as a task list
Find the decision date, the date you actually received the letter, your DUF number, case number and the section explaining which requirement UDI believes you have not met. Mark each specific point. An appeal that only says “I disagree” without responding to the reasons is of little use.
For example, UDI may believe that your residence period is too short, that a previous period of residence does not count, that evidence of self-support is missing, that you have not met the test requirements, or that the conditions for your temporary permit are no longer met. These are examples, not a complete list. Check which rules, dates and permit the decision is actually based on. From 1 September 2025, UDI's rule for applications submitted after that date is that most requirements for permanent residence must be met when the decision is made; the self-support requirement may be met when applying or later, before the decision. Do not rely on old advice about the “application date” without checking when you submitted your application.
| If the decision refers to ... | Check this before writing |
|---|---|
| Residence period or absence | Dates of permits, time abroad and any gaps between permits. |
| Self-support | Which period UDI assessed, which income it counted and whether evidence is missing. |
| Tests or exemptions | The correct test certificate, language, age and basis for any exemption. |
| Temporary permit | Whether the basis still applies, such as work or family circumstances, and whether you need to apply for another permit. |
You can use SamfunnPrep's guide on reading a UDI decision to identify the basis for residence. This article covers responding to a refusal, not every requirement for permanent residence.
Three weeks: submit the appeal even if an attachment is missing
UDI says the appeal must be in writing, in Norwegian or English, and signed by hand by you or your representative. A lawyer may also submit it through eDialog. State which decision you are appealing, what change you want, and your DUF number (12 digits) and case number (3 digits). If the date may be unclear, state when you received the decision.
Scan the signed appeal and upload it through UDI's document submission service, or send it by post to the address UDI provides. Save the receipt or tracking proof. There is no fee to appeal.
Do not delay the appeal because a certificate has not arrived. UDI says you must still appeal before the deadline and explain why the documentation is missing. You may then be given up to two additional weeks to submit it. This extra time is not automatic; follow the response in your case. If the letter was received by your representative or lawyer, the deadline is counted from when they received it, not from when you read a copy.
Respond to the reasons point by point
A strong appeal links each counterargument to evidence. Refer to page numbers in the decision and name the attachment. Distinguish between facts UDI has misunderstood, documents that were not included, and new circumstances arising after the decision. If you believe the rules were applied incorrectly, explain which part of the reasoning you disagree with. UDI says new information or documents are especially important: without anything that changes the assessment, the refusal is likely to stand. You can also point to a specific error in the assessment of information already in the case.
Example: UDI writes that income during a relevant period has not been documented. You earned wages from two employers, but only one employment contract was attached. In your appeal, identify the exact period UDI assessed and attach payslips and information documenting the other income. Do not simply write “I earn enough” or calculate annual income for the wrong period. See the self-support requirement for permanent residence for a separate explanation, and follow the document list for your case.
Short template:
I appeal UDI's decision dated [date], received [date], DUF [number], case [number]. I ask that the refusal of permanent residence be changed. UDI gives this reason for the refusal: [point]. I believe it should be reassessed because [specific explanation]. Attachment [name] shows [what the document proves]. [Other points]. I will submit [document] by the deadline confirmed to me because [reason]. Date and handwritten signature.
Adapt the template to your decision. If the refusal is due to a change in the basis for your temporary permit, you must also clarify whether you need a separate application on a different basis; an appeal does not automatically create a new permit.
What happens at UDI and UNE?
UDI first reviews the appeal and may change its own decision. If UDI does not change it, the case is sent to UNE. You will be notified when it has been forwarded. UNE considers the appeal and may request relevant information. You should submit any new relevant information while the case is being processed. UNE's waiting time for permanent residence varies; use UNE's own updated page instead of planning around an old estimate.
UNE has access to documents already sent to UDI or the police; you normally do not need to copy everything again. Still provide a clear list of what you refer to. If UNE upholds the refusal, there is no further ordinary appeal round in the immigration administration. A new application may be possible later when you meet the requirements, but it is treated as a separate case. The general guide to appealing a UDI decision also explains the appeal process.
Check your residence while the appeal is being processed
Check whether you have a valid temporary permit, how long it is valid and whether you still meet its conditions. An appeal against a permanent residence refusal does not automatically extend a temporary permit. If you have also been refused renewal or received a decision requiring you to leave, read that part of the decision and the question of deferred implementation carefully. Do not assume that you can always remain in Norway while UNE considers the appeal; this depends on your decisions and the basis for your residence.
Before submitting: (1) confirm the date of receipt and deadline, (2) respond to every reason for refusal, (3) label your evidence clearly, (4) sign and save proof of submission, and (5) check your temporary permit separately. Sources checked 2 October 2026. SamfunnPrep explains Norwegian administrative terms and offers social studies practice. Send the appeal to UDI, not SamfunnPrep.
