The Norwegian government has approved changes to legislation concerning the rules for granting temporary collective protection to Ukrainian citizens. From now on, men aged 18 to 60, with some exceptions, will not be able to receive collective protection in Norway.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Reasons for Strengthening Restrictions for Ukrainian Men
As noted by Minister of Justice and Public Security Astrid Aas-Hansen, the flow of displaced persons in Norway has significantly increased over the past year, particularly among young men. Norway has accepted the largest number of Ukrainian refugees among the Scandinavian countries, leading to increased demand for social services and a housing shortage in municipalities.
“We also believe it is important for as many people as possible to remain in Ukraine to contribute to the defense efforts and support Ukrainian society,” she added.
The minister emphasized that the new rules will help avoid a situation where Norway accepts an disproportionately large number of displaced persons, making it easier for Ukrainians already in the country to integrate into the labor market.
Features of the New Rules and Exceptions
From now on, men of draft age from Ukraine will no longer be entitled to collective protection, which includes group assessment and simplified residence permit acquisition. Their applications will be processed individually according to standard procedures. According to the government press service, only a small portion of such applicants actually receive protection based on individual grounds.
The new restrictions apply only to those who will submit applications for protection after the new rules come into effect and do not affect men who have already received temporary collective protection in Norway. Exceptions include men who have documentation for exemption from military service, individuals with medical indications for inability to serve, those evacuated under medical programs, as well as men who are the sole guardians of children (father or close relative).
The Norwegian government announced its intention to change the approach to protection for Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60 back in February 2026.
Since the large-scale aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, Norway has been providing political, military, and humanitarian support to Ukraine. At the same time, there are restrictions in Ukraine on the departure of men of draft age abroad due to martial law and general mobilization.