What happens if I contact the authorities in my country of origin or visit my country of origin?
When you are issued a Norwegian refugee travel document or immigrant’s passport, it is generally valid for travel to all countries with the exception of your country of origin. All persons who are granted a refugee travel document and the majority of those who are granted an immigrant’s passport received them because theywere in need of protection. In other words, the immigration authorities have found that you need protection from the authorities in your country of origin. Being granted a Norwegian refugee travel document or immigrant’s passport is therefore conditional upon them not being used to travel to the country of origin.
What are the consequences if I contact the authorities in my country of origin or travel to my country of origin?
If you are in contact with the authorities in your country of origin or travel to your country of origin, you are indicating to the Norwegian authorities that you no longer need protection.
If you have refugee status, this may be revoked, in which case you will lose the rights this status gives you. If you have another permit on protection grounds (cf. Immigration Regulations, section 21, first paragraph), your permit will be revoked. The immigration authorities will then assess whether a permit should be granted on other grounds.
Your refugee travel document or immigrant’s passport will also be confiscated and revoked. You will not be issued travel documents by the Norwegian authorities because you are no longer considered to have a need for protection. It is up to you to decide whether you want to obtain another travel document. If so, you will have to obtain it from the authorities in your country of origin.
What should I do if I want to travel to my country of origin?
As your Norwegian refugee travel document or immigrant’s passport is not valid for travel to your country of origin, you will have to apply for a travel document from the authorities in your country of origin if you wish to go there. Once you have obtained a travel document from the authorities in your country of origin, you no longer require a Norwegian refugee travel document or immigrant’s passport. You must then hand these in to the police department in your vicinity.
In very special cases you may be granted a short-term immigrant’s passport for single journeys to your country of origin. This will only occur very rarely when it would be extremely unreasonable to reject an application for a travel document. Examples of such situations could be the urgent need to travel due to the documented serious illness or death of a member of your closest family, or if you are a child/young person going on a school trip.
What happens if I travel to my country of origin on a Norwegian travel document which is not valid for such a journey?
If you travel to your country of origin on a Norwegian travel document which is not valid for such a trip, your travel document will be confiscated. You also risk being stopped when crossing international borders because you have misused your travel document. If you contact the authorities in your country of origin without travelling there, your Norwegian travel document will also be confiscated. If you have asylum and refugee status or another permit granted on protection grpunds, your permit may also be revoked.
Any questions?
If you are still unsure as to the consequences of contacting the authorities in your country of origin or travelling to your country of origin, you can contact the police department in your vicinity or the Information Service (OTS).
Last updated:
09.05.2006
Published:
10.04.2006
