Norway: Government Introduces Biometric Residence Card; Immigration Processing Resumes After Strike Ends
The new residence card requires applicants to submit biometrics in person. In other news, a strike of public sector workers has ended, and Norwegian immigration authorities have resumed processing work and residence permit applications.
The Norwegian government has introduced a new biometric residence card that requires applicants to submit biometrics in person. In other news, Norwegian immigration authorities have resumed processing work and residence permit applications and are working through application backlogs, following the end of a public sector workers strike.
New Biometric Residence Card Requires In-Person Registration
On June 4, 2012, the Norwegian government began issuing new biometric residence cards to non-European nationals age 18 or older, replacing the residence permit stickers previously in use. Foreign nationals applying for an initial or renewed residence permit must submit biometrics in person.
Foreign nationals submit their resident permit applications as usual. After the application is approved, the applicant will be scheduled for a biometrics appointment at a local police station. The card is issued by mail within ten days of the appointment.
Foreign nationals who already possess a residence permit sticker do not need to obtain the new biometric card until renewing their current permit. Later this year, a voluntary process will be introduced allowing foreign residents to replace their existing valid stickers with the new cards if they chose to do so.
Immigration Processing Resumes After Strike Ends
Norwegian immigration authorities have resumed accepting and adjudicating work and residence permit applications, now that a strike by the main public sector labor union has ended. The strike brought all immigration processing to a standstill and created a backlog of pending cases. Foreign nationals are now experiencing delays when scheduling appointments to submit supporting documents for initial or renewal residence permit applications.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen Global or send an email to emea@fragomen.com.
Source: Fragomen