What happens to Ukrainians in Norway after March 2027?

The future for Ukrainians in Norway after 2027: what the minister's answer and the EU's position mean

Hlib SuslovPublished:May 19, 2026 at 11:42 PM GMT+2Last updated:August 5, 20268 min read

The clarification many Ukrainians in Norway have been waiting for

The clarification many Ukrainians in Norway have been waiting for has come one small step closer. It does not give a final answer, but it changes the picture: the government now clearly states that if the scheme for temporary collective protection is still in place when the first Ukrainians reach the five-year limit in March 2027, they may receive a new residence permit that forms the basis for permanent residence.

The question was raised in Stortinget by Jonas Andersen Sayed from the Christian Democratic Party. On 5 May 2026, he asked the Minister of Justice and Emergency Management, Astri Aas-Hansen, what the government is planning when the first Ukrainian refugees reach five years of temporary collective protection in March 2027, if the war is still ongoing. He also asked whether the government is considering permits that can form the basis for permanent residence, other arrangements, or a possible end to the scheme and return. The question was answered on 12 May 2026.

The minister's answer

The answer is short, but politically important. Aas-Hansen refers to the fact that people displaced from Ukraine have temporary collective protection under Section 34 of the Immigration Act. She emphasises that the King in Council decides when and how the scheme will end, and that no date has been set yet. She also confirms that a one-year permit under the scheme can be renewed up to four times, meaning until the individual has been in Norway for five years from the date of the first permit.

The most important sentence comes after this: if the scheme is still in force, a new residence permit can be granted under the same provision, and that permit forms the basis for a permanent residence permit.

The minister also writes that this transition follows from the Immigration Act, and that it may become relevant for the first displaced people from Ukraine to arrive, in March 2027. If the scheme has not been ended by that time, the ministry will provide more detailed guidance on how the transition will take place.

What does this mean in practice?

This does not mean that Ukrainians will automatically receive permanent residence in March 2027. Nor does it mean that the government has already guaranteed a specific solution. But it does mean that the government publicly recognises the legal possibility that many lawyers, organisations, and Ukrainian communities have pointed to: after five years of collective protection, a new type of temporary permit may become available — one that counts towards permanent residence.

For Ukrainians in Norway, this is an important detail. The current collective protection is temporary and does not in itself form the basis for permanent residence. UDI explains that the permit is granted one year at a time and can be renewed or extended for up to five years. After five years, a temporary permit may be granted that can form the basis for a permanent residence permit.

The key question is therefore not only whether the war continues. The key question is also whether the Norwegian scheme is still in force when the five-year limit is reached. If the scheme remains in place, the minister's answer points towards a regulated transition. If the scheme ends before March 2027, the situation is more uncertain. In that case, many people may be directed to other grounds: work permits, family immigration, studies, individual protection, or any transitional rules the government might create later.

This is why the answer is being read as cautiously positive in Ukrainian communities. It does not contain a rejection of continued residence. Nor does it contain a plan for mass deportation. At the same time, the answer is not detailed enough to remove the uncertainty. It does not say what practical requirements will apply, how UDI will handle the cases, or whether people who have weak ties to working life will have a safe transition.

Tightening of rules from May 2026

At the same time, the answer must be read in light of the restrictions that have already been adopted. From 5 May 2026, Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 and 60 can, as a general rule, no longer receive temporary collective protection in Norway. UDI clarifies that the change applies to people who apply from 5 May 2026 onwards, and that it does not apply to those who already have collective protection or who are having their residence permit extended.

The government explains the tightening of rules by saying that since autumn 2025, Norway has received many new arrivals, particularly young men, and that municipalities are reporting pressure on services and housing. In the government's press release, it states that men between 18 and 60 years old, with certain exceptions, no longer fall under the collective protection scheme, and that applications are instead to be processed under ordinary rules. The government also writes that very few people normally qualify for individual protection.

This creates a two-part picture. Ukrainians who already have collective protection in Norway are in a different situation from new male applicants of military age. For those already in Norway, the main question is the transition after five years. For new applicants, the threshold has become higher.

The EU perspective

The EU dimension is also important. Even though Norway is not an EU member and has its own national scheme, Norwegian policy is influenced by developments in Europe. The EU has extended temporary protection for displaced people from Ukraine until 4 March 2027. As of 31 March 2026, 4.33 million people who had fled Ukraine were under temporary protection in the EU. The largest receiving countries were Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic.

At the same time, the EU has begun to prepare for the period after temporary protection ends. In September 2025, the Council adopted a recommendation on a coordinated transition out of temporary protection. It recommends that member states facilitate the transition to other lawful residence statuses — for example on the basis of work, education, training, or family — for those who meet national requirements. It also recommends voluntary return programmes, information campaigns, and so-called Unity Hubs as contact points for Ukrainians abroad.

The EU's approach is therefore not a policy of sudden forced return. It is a transition policy. It combines three considerations: continued legal predictability for Ukrainians, a gradual transition to ordinary grounds for residence for those who can stay, and support for voluntary return when conditions in Ukraine make it possible.

The Council explicitly states that Ukrainians who cannot return because of Russia's war shall have temporary protection in the EU until 4 March 2027.

The latest Ukrainian-European signals point in the same direction. On 7 May 2026, Ukraine's Minister of Social Policy, Denys Uliutin, met with the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner. According to Ukraine's Ministry of Social Policy, they discussed the possible expiry of temporary protection after March 2027, the need to avoid legal uncertainty and fragmented solutions, and the need for clear, predictable, and lawful options for continued residence in the EU until return is possible.

Political lessons for Norway

For Norway, this provides several political lessons. First, the authorities should not wait until the winter of 2027 to clarify the transitional rules. Municipalities, employers, schools, families, and Ukrainians themselves need predictability.

Second, Norway should clearly explain what pathways exist: work, education, family, individual protection, and the possible Section 34 transition after five years.

Third, return policy, if it becomes relevant, should be coordinated, voluntary for as long as the security situation requires, and linked to genuine reintegration in Ukraine.

Practical advice for Ukrainians

The practical advice for Ukrainians in Norway is therefore clear: keep track of information from UDI and the ministry, make sure your address and contact details are up to date, document your work, education, language training, and family situation, and consider early on whether you may qualify for other grounds for residence.

UDI states that people with collective protection can also apply for other types of residence permits, if they wish to and meet the requirements.

Conclusion

The main conclusion as of 18 May 2026 is this: there is still no final Norwegian decision on what will happen after March 2027. But Stortinget's written answer shows that the government does not rule out a transition to a permit that can form the basis for permanent residence, if the collective protection scheme is still in place.

At the same time, the EU is pointing towards coordinated transitional arrangements, lawful pathways for continued residence, and voluntary return when conditions allow. For Ukrainians in Norway, this is not full security, but it is a more important and more concrete signal than they have had before.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What did Norway's Minister of Justice say about the situation of Ukrainians after March 2027?

On 12 May 2026, Justice Minister Astri Aas-Hansen confirmed that if the collective protection scheme under Section 34 of the Norwegian Immigration Act (utlendingsloven) is still in force in March 2027, Ukrainians who reach five years of residence will be able to obtain a new residence permit that forms the basis for a permanent residence permit.

Will Ukrainians automatically receive permanent residence in March 2027?

No. The minister's answer does not guarantee automatic permanent residence. It only confirms the legal possibility of moving to a new temporary permit, which may form the basis for permanent residence if the collective protection scheme is still in force at that time.

How many times can temporary collective protection be extended in Norway?

A permit under the collective protection scheme is granted for one year at a time and can be renewed up to four times, that is, for a total of up to five years from the date the permit was first granted.

What do the new restrictions introduced on 5 May 2026 apply to?

From 5 May 2026, Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60 can, as a rule, no longer be granted temporary collective protection in Norway. The change applies only to new applicants and does not affect those who already have collective protection or whose collective protection will be renewed.

What is the EU's position on Ukrainians after temporary protection ends in March 2027?

The EU has extended temporary protection until 4 March 2027 and recommends that member states facilitate the transition to other legal residence statuses, in particular on the basis of work, education or family. Voluntary return programmes and information campaigns are also recommended.

What happens to Ukrainians in Norway if the collective protection scheme is ended before March 2027?

If the scheme is ended earlier, the situation becomes more uncertain. People may be referred to other grounds for residence: a work permit, family reunification, studies, individual protection, or transitional rules that the government may introduce later.

What practical steps should Ukrainians in Norway take now?

Follow information from the UDI and the ministry, update your address and contact details, document your work, education, language learning and family circumstances, and check in good time whether you may qualify for other grounds for residence.

Can people with collective protection apply for other types of residence permits in Norway?

Yes. The UDI confirms that people with collective protection can apply for other types of residence permits if they wish to do so and meet the relevant requirements.