Asylprosessen

Asylprosessen is the legal and administrative procedure through which a person seeks international protection in a country. The process is designed to determine whether the applicant meets the criteria for asylum or other forms of protection and to decide where and how the person may stay.

Typical stages in the process include registration and reception after the initial contact with authorities, submitting an asylum application, and providing evidence through documentation and interviews. A case is then assessed by the competent asylum authority, which considers whether the applicant risks persecution or serious harm if forced to return to their home country. International law principles, such as the 1951 Refugee Convention and related instruments, often guide the assessment, and some systems also apply mechanisms for determining responsibility under regional regulations like the Dublin Regulation.

Outcomes of the process usually fall into several categories: refugee status, subsidiary protection, humanitarian protection, or refusal of the asylum claim. If protection is granted, the applicant may receive residence rights and access to certain services; if refused, there is typically an opportunity to appeal or request reconsideration within a specified timeframe. In some jurisdictions, temporary protection or other forms of protection may be available.

Appeals are generally handled by an independent appeals body or by the national courts after the initial decision. The process is governed by national laws and human rights obligations, and may be influenced by EU/EEA regulations where applicable. Even during processing, asylum seekers often receive reception services and essential health care, and in many cases children have access to education.

In Norway, for example, the Directorate of Immigration (UDI) processes asylum applications; decisions can be appealed to the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE), with further avenues to the courts if needed. Reception accommodation and basic services are provided during the process.