mottakssted

Mottakssted is a Norwegian term for a place designated to receive people or goods, functioning as an intake point with facilities for basic services and information. In public administration, the word is most commonly used in connection with reception centers for asylum seekers and refugees, though it can also refer to temporary facilities established during disasters or emergencies to shelter evacuees or displaced persons.

Functions at a mottakssted typically include registration of individuals, provision of initial housing or distribution of accommodation and meals, basic health screening, and access to information about rights, duties, and available services. The site may serve as a link to further administrative steps, such as processing of asylum applications, referrals to language courses, or placement in longer-term housing.

Governance and operation vary by context. Asylum-related mottaks are usually managed by municipal authorities in cooperation with national immigration authorities and funded through a combination of state and local budgets, with oversight to ensure safety and lawful treatment. In other contexts, mottakssteder may be established by local or national authorities, humanitarian organizations, or private partners under emergency management arrangements.

Because the term is broad, its precise meaning depends on sector and context, but in Norwegian usage it emphasizes reception and initial intake rather than long-term residence or processing.

Related terms include asylmottak (asylum reception center), flyktningmottak (refugee reception center), and mottakssenter (reception center).