mottaket

Mottaket is the definite form of mottak, a Norwegian term for a reception center that houses asylum seekers and other displaced persons while their cases are considered. The word is commonly used in Norway to refer to a specific facility or the network of such centers. The noun mottak describes the facility in general, while mottaket means “the reception center” in the definite form. The term is primarily used in Norwegian public discourse and administration.

Derived from the verb motta, “to receive,” mottak literally denotes a place established to receive people. The definite suffix -et marks a specific center rather than a general concept.

Reception centers provide accommodation, meals, basic health services, clothing, and support with administrative procedures, language instruction, and orientation to Norwegian society. They are typically operated by municipalities within a national framework and are intended as temporary housing during asylum adjudication; residents may apply for longer-term housing or integration programs after decisions.

The system arose in the mid-20th century to handle postwar and later asylum flows. Over time, policies evolved to distinguish reception centers from transit facilities and from long-term housing, with reforms aimed at speeding asylum processing and improving living conditions. Debates have focused on crowding, rights to legal assistance, and the balance between welfare responsibilities and border controls.

Today mottaket remains part of Norway’s asylum system, though many centers have been restructured or repurposed, and some residents are accommodated in municipal housing or alternative arrangements while their cases are processed.