The government has proposed removing temporary collective protection for men aged 18 to 60
Norway has announced plans to tighten residency rules for Ukrainian men of conscription age and restrict their access to temporary collective protection. The measure aims to reduce the disproportionately high number of men among incoming Ukrainian refugees.
The Ukrainian military is struggling to make up for battlefield losses in its conflict with Russia, while Kiev’s controversial mobilization campaign has led to a large exodus of fighting-age Ukrainian men from the country.
According to a statement released Thursday, with some exceptions, Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 and 60 will no longer receive temporary residence permits based on group assessment, but will have to apply for asylum under general rules.
“Norway has already received the largest number of Ukrainians in the Nordic region” said Justice and Public Security Minister Astri As-Hansen. “To ensure that we do not receive a disproportionately large share, drastic measures are needed.”
According to the latest government data, about 83,000 Ukrainians live under temporary protection in Norway.
Commenting on the proposal, MP Erlend Viborg told NRK that able-bodied Ukrainians should stay in Ukraine and participate in the struggle. He specified that the measure would be put to a vote on March 12.
In 2024, Norway stopped automatically granting asylum to Ukrainians arriving from regions considered safe, including Lviv, Volhynia, Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankovsk, Ternopol and Rivne.
The latest proposal comes as many other countries in Europe face challenges dealing with the influx of Ukrainian migrants. According to Eurostat, more than 4.35 million Ukrainians have registered for temporary protection across the EU.
Other European countries, such as the UK, have accepted 230,000 Ukrainians, while Poland, Germany and Hungary have recently taken steps to clamp down on social programs. They cite protracted conflict and the number of migrants straining national budgets and housing markets as key reasons for the breakdown.
Germany has cut benefits for new arrivals, limited cash aid and relegated many to lower levels “refugee” Rates while suspending family reunification rights. Poland has linked child and social payments for Ukrainians to employment and ended some one-off payments, while the Czech Republic has shortened free housing periods and tightened eligibility for housing assistance.
