In December 2014, the Immigration Regulations were amended to attach more importance to children’s connection to Norway when considering whether to grant residence on humanitarian grounds. UNE’s report to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security of 18 January 2016 concerns UNE’s practice pursuant to the Immigration Regulations Section 8-5, also referred to as the ‘permanent scheme’. The report covered families with children who went to school and had been in Norway for at least 4 ½ years. The practice shows that there is no fixed boundary for when residence is granted on the basis of children's connection to Norway. Concrete discretionary assessments are made where the arguments for and against granting a residence permit are seen in conjunction with each other. Greater emphasis is generally placed on the best interests of the child and the child’s connection to Norway than under previous practice.

Read the practice memo in full here (in Norwegian only)