# Withdrawing an application to UDI: can you get the fee refunded?

Want to stop a UDI application? Learn the difference between a registered and submitted application, how to withdraw it in writing and when the fee may be refunded.

Canonical: https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/trekke-udi-soknad-refusjon-gebyr
Language: en
Publisher: SamfunnPrep
Author: Hlib Suslov
Published: 2026-10-02T11:50:44.059+00:00
Modified: 2026-10-09T09:23:08.474433+00:00
AI use policy: https://samfunnprep.no/ai-policy.txt

## Key takeaways

- Check the submission status Registration and payment are not always the same as submitting an application.
- Contact the right recipient The police or embassy handles refunds; UDI receives a signed withdrawal of a submitted case.
- Clarify your right to stay Check your valid permit and deadlines before stopping the case.

You can withdraw a UDI application. **A fee refund depends on whether the application has been submitted:** for an in-person application, whether you attended and submitted it; for a fully digital submission, whether the documents were uploaded. Check your residence rights and deadlines before stopping the case. Checked **2 October 2026**.

## First find out what stage your application has reached

Many people say “I have applied” after filling in the form and paying the fee. But UDI distinguishes between **registration/payment** and **submission of the documents**. For applications submitted in person, you submit them to the police, embassy or application centre according to the instructions for your case. For some digital applications, you submit the documents electronically. Log in to **My applications** and find the receipt, application type, time of payment and whether the documents were actually submitted.

| Status | What UDI says about the fee | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Registered and paid, but you have not attended and submitted the application | Under UDI's rule, the fee may be refunded. | Contact the police district or embassy responsible for the application. |
| A simple digital renewal of a work, study or family permit has been submitted | UDI says the fee is not refunded after payment, document upload and submission. | If you want to stop the case, ask UDI in writing to withdraw it. |
| Application submitted at an in-person appointment | The fee is normally not refunded. | Send UDI a signed, written request to withdraw the application. |

For residence applications submitted in person, UDI says **the police or embassy handles the refund**, not UDI. UDI's fee page has special rules for other application types, including digital notification of Nordic citizenship. Check the correct category before requesting a refund. Ask the recipient what proof of payment is needed and what process applies to your application. Do not pay for a new application before checking whether the old one can be corrected or amended through an official process.

## How do you withdraw an application that has already been submitted?

If you submitted your application in person, UDI says you must send a **written notice** that you want to withdraw it. A short letter is enough, but it must be **signed by the applicant**. Send it electronically through [UDI's document service](https://www.udi.no/dokumenter), linked to the correct case. When UDI receives the notice, it **closes the case without processing it** and sends written confirmation. This means the case is ended without UDI deciding whether you would have been granted the permit.

A practical template:

> To UDI. I, [full name and date of birth], wish to withdraw my application for [application type], DUF/case number [number]. Please send written confirmation when the case has been closed. Date: [date]. Signature: [signature].

Keep a copy of the signed letter, upload receipt and UDI's confirmation. If you do not see a confirmation, first check that the document was linked to the correct application. If you have authorised someone in your UDI case, agree on who will receive the reply. UDI says the representative normally receives letters and decisions in the case.

## If you have not submitted the documents yet

If you have only registered and paid for an application that must be submitted in person, contact the police district or embassy responsible for it. Explain that you want to withdraw the application **before personal submission** and ask how to get the fee refunded. Provide the application reference and payment receipt. If you have booked an appointment, ask whether it must also be cancelled. Do not send passport copies by ordinary email unless the recipient asks you to use a secure channel.

If you have a **simple digital renewal** with eID for work, study or family immigration, UDI says the fee is not refunded after you have paid, uploaded the documents and submitted the case. Other digital application types may have special rules on UDI's fee page. A paid form may therefore be at a different stage from a completed digital submission. Clicking “cancel appointment” is also not the same as withdrawing an application that has already been submitted. Ask for written clarification if the status in the portal is unclear.

## Can a partner or reference person withdraw the application for you?

**As a general rule, the applicant must withdraw the application in writing.** This is especially important for family immigration. A reference person, sponsor or host parent can state that they withdraw their **consent**, but this is not necessarily the same as the applicant's case being closed. UDI explains that the case may then be processed and refused because consent is missing. Do not assume a partner can cancel your residence application with a phone call.

If another person acts in your case, check what power of attorney is registered. If a relationship ends, the applicant should contact UDI about their own residence basis rather than simply wait for the reference person to notify UDI. [The article about separation and residence](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/samlivsbrudd-oppholdstillatelse-norge) explains possible next steps without assuming all family permits are the same.

## Check your right to stay before stopping the case

**Withdrawing an application may have consequences greater than the fee.** An application for renewal or a new permit may be the reason you have rights while waiting. An application for permanent residence may run at the same time as a renewal of a temporary permit. UDI assesses these under different rules. Before withdrawing, find the expiry date of your current permit and clarify whether you still have a valid permit or need to apply for something else. [How renewal deadlines work](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/oppholdstillatelse-fornye-frister) can help you understand the timeline.

Example: Sara has paid for an application for a new work permit but has not attended an appointment with the police. She learns that she selected the wrong application type. Before registering a new application, she contacts the police district and asks whether the old fee can be refunded. She also checks the expiry date on her existing permit. **The question of a refund and the right to live or work while waiting are separate issues.**

## Four questions before you proceed

1. Is the application only registered and paid, or has it actually been submitted?
2. Were the documents submitted in person or electronically?
3. Which police district or embassy is responsible for the payment and any appointment?
4. What is the status and expiry date of your current residence permit?

SamfunnPrep has a [family immigration topic page](https://samfunnprep.no/en/tema/familieinnvandring), but cannot withdraw a UDI application or decide on a refund. Use UDI's channel for your case and ask the police or embassy about fee questions.

## FAQ

### Can I get the fee back if I have not attended the police appointment?

UDI says the application fee may be refunded if you have not yet attended and submitted the application. Contact the police district or embassy responsible for the case.

### Will I get the fee back after uploading the documents?

For a simple digital renewal of a work, study or family permit, UDI says the fee is not refunded after you have paid, uploaded the documents and submitted the application. Check the fee page for other types of cases.

### How do I withdraw an application that has already been submitted?

Send UDI a short letter signed by you as the applicant through the official document service. UDI closes the case without processing it and sends written confirmation.

### Can my spouse withdraw my family immigration application?

As a general rule, the applicant must withdraw the application. A reference person can withdraw their consent, but UDI may then process and refuse the case instead of closing it without processing.

### Will I lose my right to stay if I withdraw an application?

It depends on which permit you already have and which application you withdraw. Clarify your rights and deadlines with UDI before stopping a residence or renewal application.

## Sources

- [Timebestilling og oppmøte](https://www.udi.no/ord-og-begreper/timebestilling/)
- [Har søkt: Arbeidsinnvandring](https://www.udi.no/har-sokt/arbeidsinnvandring/)
- [Har søkt: Familieinnvandring](https://www.udi.no/har-sokt/familieinnvandring/)
- [Send dokumenter til UDI](https://www.udi.no/dokumenter)
- [Skal fornye: Arbeidsinnvandring](https://www.udi.no/skal-fornye/arbeidsinnvandring/)
- [Gebyr – tilbakebetaling](https://www.udi.no/ord-og-begreper/gebyr/)

Citation: Hlib Suslov, "Withdrawing an application to UDI: can you get the fee refunded?", SamfunnPrep, 2026-10-02T11:50:44.059+00:00, https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/trekke-udi-soknad-refusjon-gebyr