Until 1982 Norway received around 50 asylum seekers a year. In 1983 this number increased to approximately 150 persons. In the following years, the numbers kept increasing, and in 1987 a total of 8 700 applied for asylum in Norway. This led to a change in Norwegian asylum policies.
Refugees from Bosnia
In 1993, a large number of asylum seekers arrived from Bosnia. The UDI faced a big challenge finding accommodation to the 13 000 who came to Norway and even classrooms had to be used. This period did not last for long and shortly after the number of asylum seekers decreased.
In 1995 the number of asylum seekers to Norway was low for two reasons. UNHCR declared that the international situation for refugees was better and European measurements started to show results. Reception centres for asylum seekers were closed down, but this situation did not last for long.
The Kosovo crisis
During the big crisis in Kosovo in 1999, 60 000 – 70 000 refugees managed to flee over the mountains to Macedonia. This could possibly lead to a unstable situation in Macedonia and the refugees had to go somewhere else. The Norwegian government decided to welcome 6 000 asylum seekers from Kosovo. The UDI established a base in Macedonia and started air shuttle traffic to get the refugees here. In six weeks, 6 100 refugees came to Norway from Kosovo.
At the same time the UDI also had to handle all the other asylum seekers coming to Norway. This year 10 000 asylum seekers came to Norway, in addition to the refugees from Kosovo. At most, Norway had 144 reception centres for asylum seekers with 15 000 people.
Big changes
In 2001 the number of asylum seekers from Eastern European countries increased. In two summer months Norway received 1 000 asylum seekers from Bulgaria. They arrived in busloads organized by tour operators in Bulgaria. Very few of these were granted asylum.
The number of asylum seekers declined from 2001 to 2006 in Norway, as well as the rest of Europe. Norway had an average of 6 000 asylum seekers a year this period. Towards the end of 2007 there was a yet a shift and the numbers increased.
The situation today
The number of asylum seekers has increased each month so far this year. It is estimated that a total of 15 000 asylum seekers will come to Norway this year. Last year it was estimated that 5 500 would come to Norway in 2008.
The large increase in asylum seekers leads to a demand for new reception centres for asylum seekers and there is pressure on UDI, the interviewers and the case handelers.