Norway Faces Pressure to Tighten Asylum Rules Following UK immigration Reform
Oslo, Norway - Calls are mounting within Norwegian political circles for a significant overhaul of the nation’s asylum and immigration policies, spurred by recently announced reforms in the United Kingdom. The proposals from London, which include prioritizing public safety in deportation cases and utilizing AI to verify age, have been met with approval from the Conservative and Progress parties in Norway, who warn of a potential influx of asylum seekers if Norway doesn’t follow suit.
Tage Pettersen (H) stated that Britain’s tightening of asylum rules is a clear signal Norway should emulate. “Stricter requirements must be set for permanent residence, resources must be put in place to return more people more quickly and the regulations for family reunification must be greatly tightened,” he said. Pettersen expressed concern that municipalities will struggle to accommodate the projected 13,000 asylum seekers slated for settlement next year, and reception centers will become overcrowded. He also claims the government has not adequately addressed this in the 2026 state budget.
Progress Party representative Jon Wiborg echoed these concerns, warning that Norway’s comparatively lenient policies risk attracting asylum seekers from other European countries implementing stricter measures. “Sweden, Denmark, Germany and now Great Britain are tightening up. Whereas in Norway there is hardly any tightening at all. Compared to other countries, Norway is moving towards an increasingly liberal and naive immigration policy,” Wiborg stated. “When it is now being tightened in so many countries, while Norway is not doing the same, I fear that very many people will rather come to Norway instead of the countries that are tightening.Norway must tighten up significantly, and we must do so quickly.”
The UK’s comprehensive immigration reform proposals include:
* Changes to the legal framework prioritizing public safety over migrants’ right to family life, addressing concerns about the use of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights to prevent deportations.
* Implementation of face-based age estimation technology, utilizing artificial intelligence to quickly assess age and deter false claims of being a minor.
* Establishment of limited work and study routes for refugees.
The debate comes as Norway already welcomes the most Ukrainians in the Nordic countries, according to recent reports.
