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The suspension of the requirement to return to Lebanon is lifted with effect from 18 September 2026. This means that individuals with a final decision requiring them to return to Lebanon must now Norway.
UNE will also resume processing cases involving an assessment of return to Lebanon that have been put on hold.
"We now have sufficient and up-to-date information about the security and humanitarian situation in the Lebanon to process these cases and assess whethe a person needs protection if they return to the country", says Marianne Jakobsen, Director of UNE.
UNE currently has around seven cases under consideration that have been affected by the suspension and the decision to put cases on hold.
Background
Following the escalation of the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel in March 2026 and the unpredictable security situation, UNE decided to suspend the requirement to return to Lebanon for three monts. At the same time, cases requiring an assessment of whether a person could return to Lebanon were put on hold.
In June, both the suspension and the decision to put cases on hold were extended for a further three months, until 18 September 2026.
Why the suspension is being lifted
The secuirity situation in Lebanon remains serious. However, it is no longer as severe or unpredictable as it was when UNE introduced the suspension in March this year.
"The suspension has now been in place for six months, and individuals required to return to Lebanon have had sufficient time to ask UNE to reconsider an earlier decision or to obtain permission to stay in Norway on another basis. Any deferral of enforcement will now be considered individually until the case has been reassessed", says Jakobsen.
Individuals from Lebanon who are in Norway who are and are required to return, but believe that they cannot return to their place of origin, can ask UNE to reconsider their case by submitting a request for reversal.
Find more information about requests for reversal and how UNE process them here.
The police have been informed
The National Police Immigration Service (PU) has been informed of UNE's decision to lif the suspension of the requirement to return to Lebanon.