The information on this page will be up to date at all times, which means that any and all guidelines from UNE to the National Police Immigration Service (NPIS) in relation to the implementation of negative decisions will be published on this page.
When the duty to return is temporarily suspended for a defined and limited group, it is called a 'suspension of the duty to return'. One example is if events in an appellant's country of origin indicate that new information should be obtained or that restraint should be shown pending developments. A suspension of the duty to return will then apply regardless of whether a request for reversal has been submitted following a previous rejection, meaning that it covers more factors than just the question of whether to grant deferred implementation in connection with the consideration of submitted requests for reversal.
When UNE refrains from making a decision in a defined and limited type of cases, it is called to 'put on hold'. A case can be put on hold pending new or updated information, or because the Government has issued instructions to that effect because it is considering whether to make changes to rules that may have a bearing on this type of cases.
People who are not obliged to return voluntarily will not be forcibly returned. The opposite is not always true, however, because it may be inadvisable to implement forced returns even if the duty to return voluntarily has not been suspended.
Lebanon:
With effect from 18 March 2026, UNE has temporarily suspended the obligation for applicants to return to Lebanon following the rejection of an apllication for a residence permit.
UNE will closely monitor developments in Lebanon and will decide within three months whether the suspension should be extended or lifted.
UNE has also decided to place cases that may involve return to Lebanon on hold. This means that the processing of such cases will be postponed until further notice.
Iran:
UNE has temporarily suspended applicants' duty to return to Iran following the rejection of an application for a residence permit. The decision applies to both former asylum seekers and individuals who are obliged to leave Norway following a rejection of an application for residence under other provisions of the regulations.
UNE will closely monitor developments in the situation in Iran and will, by 20 September 2026, assess whether the suspension should be extended or lifted. UNE has also decided to put on hold cases that may involve return to Iran. Putting cases on hold means that UNE will postpone processing until sufficient and reliable information is available.
EU/EEA:
With effect from 15 May 2023, the Government has instructed the UDI, POD and UNE to put cases on hold where certain types of family members of EEA nationals in Norway have applied for either:
- Residence card
- Permanent residence certificate or permanent residence card
- To preserve the right of residence in Norway
You can read our statement here. The instruction from the government can be found at regjeringen.no (Norwegian only).
The family members this applies to are those mentioned in section 19-7 of the Immigrant Regulation. We can still process cases where the current conditions are clearly met, or where there is clear abuse of the EEA rules. The instruction apply to cases we have started processing as well as future cases.