Municipalities have been asked to settle 8,680 refugees in 2027. IMDi sent the requests on 23 October 2026. The figure is based on expected need and may change. It is not an individual decision about a residence permit, municipality or moving date.
What have municipalities been asked to do?
299 municipalities have been asked to settle a total of 8,680 people in 2027. Of these, 400 are unaccompanied minors without an accompanying person. The figures refer to requests, not people who have already been settled.
This is stated in IMDi’s overview for 2027, published on 23 October and checked on 2 November 2026. Integrerings- og mangfoldsdirektoratet, IMDi, is the Norwegian directorate responsible for settlement with public assistance.
A request here means that IMDi asks a municipality to receive a specific number of people. Municipalities participate in settlement voluntarily. IMDi explains the process and says that needs can change during the year.
On SamfunnPrep, you can find more explanations of Norwegian services and schemes.
What has changed in the criteria for 2027?
Employment, services and municipal capacity should carry considerable weight when requests are distributed. The criteria concern settlement planning, not a promise of a particular job for each person.
The announcement from Arbeids- og inkluderingsdepartementet, the Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion, on 23 October 2026 describes stricter criteria from 2027. Greater consideration will be given to employment and education, living-condition challenges, a high immigrant share and secondary migration.
Secondary migration means that a refugee moves to a different municipality from the one where they were first settled. Under the criteria, municipalities with a high proportion of unwanted inward secondary migration should, as a general rule, not receive a request.
IMDi’s criteria also mention services for children and young people and capacity in health and care services. Fredrikstad, Sarpsborg and Halden are among the municipalities that have not been asked to settle refugees in this round. This appears in both the ministry’s announcement and IMDi’s overview.
Does the target mean your case has been decided?
No. A national target or a figure in a municipal table does not decide your residence permit or your specific settlement. It is important to distinguish the different stages:
| Information | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Expected settlement need | How many people the state expects may need settlement |
| Request to the municipality | How many people the municipality is asked to receive |
| Municipality’s decision | How many people the municipality agrees to settle |
| Agreement concerning a particular person | Specific planning of that person’s settlement |
The target is therefore not a cap on the number of people who can receive asylum. In its practical settlement guidance, IMDi explains that individuals are allocated after the necessary residence permit and assessment of their circumstances are in place. Utlendingsdirektoratet, UDI, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration, processes residence cases.
What can you do while you wait?
Ask the contact person handling your settlement case to explain the next step. A general news article cannot tell you exactly when you will move.
For example, you can ask:
- Has a settlement agreement been made for me?
- Who will tell me about the timing and practical preparations?
- Do you need updated information from me?
Keep written messages and use them when following up your case. If you have already been settled, a new round of requests is not, by itself, an instruction for you to move.
SamfunnPrep’s practical tools can help you navigate Norwegian services. Questions about your specific settlement must be clarified with those handling your case.
