UDI granted more than 13,000 Norwegian citizenship last year

Almost 13,200 foreigners were granted Norwegian citizenship in 2019. That is 3,000 more than the previous year.

The vast majority of those who got Norwegian citizenship last year come from countries in Asia and Africa, according to recent figures from the Directorate of Immigration (UDI).

Somali citizens top last year’s list of 3,000 granted citizenship. Then come Eritrean citizens with 1,400 admissions, 750 stateless, 675 from the Philippines and 660 from Iraq.

The new Norwegian citizens come from about 100 different countries. More than nine out of ten applicants were granted the application, according to UDI.

As a general rule, you must have had seven years of legal residence in Norway before you can apply for Norwegian citizenship.

In addition to those who were granted Norwegian citizenship, 20,500 people from around 90 countries were granted permanent residence permits in Norway last year. This is 6,000 more than the previous year.

Here, Syrian citizens top the list with more than 7,700 residence permits, Eritreans are in second place with 2,460, followed by Somalis with 1,560 and Afghans with more than 1,250 residence permits. 89 percent of those who applied for a permanent residence permit were accepted.

To obtain a permanent residence permit, you must have had a legal residence in Norway for at least three years, you must be able to support yourself, and you have not been criminally punished.

© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today