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On the difference between a state-assisted settlement and an independent agreed settlement

If you can find your own accommodation and provide for yourself financially, you can live in any Norwegian community. In order to be eligible to participate in the induction program, receive the program participant’s allowance and other financial assistance from the commune, settlement must be agreed upon between the commune and the state, represented by the Directorate for Integration and Cultural and Ethnic Diversity (IMDi). This is possible through ( 1) state-assisted settlement or ( 2 ) an agreed self-settlement. Both options are described below.

1. Assistance in settlement from the state¶ 1.

  • You can be settled with the help of the state (represented by IMDi) in one of the municipalities of Norway. This is a voluntary offer from the state.
  • The process of finding a commune starts as soon as you are given collective protection – provided you are in mottak.
  • You do not have the right to choose a commune with state assistance
    • You can express your wishes for an interview with mottak on this issue. However, if there are no options that meet your request, you will be placed in a commune that has space.
  • Once IMDi has made a decision to allocate you to a particular commune, this decision cannot be appealed and is final and cannot be changed.
  • You will receive only one offer for a place of settlement, which can be located in any part of Norway.
    • If you refuse to accept the settlement, you usually lose your right to the integration program (according to § 46 of the Integration Act) and will have to support yourself. This means, among other things, that you cannot claim economic support from the state.
    • You will still be eligible for free Norwegian language and social studies.

2. Negotiated self-settlement (avtalt selvbosetting

Agreed self-settlement means that a refugee who has not been allocated to a particular commune by the state (IMDi) finds his or her own accommodation in the commune of interest and agrees it with the commune administration.

Refugees who settle in a commune in this way retain the right to an induction program and other social rights.

Coordinated self-settlement is a system designed to

  • Those who did not receive an allocation to a commune from IMDi
  • Those who live at mottak or with private individuals.
  • Found rental housing in the private sector
  • Obtaining a residence permit entitling them to receive state assistance with accommodation in a commune (in other words, collective protection)

Important: Refugees who find accommodation on their own should contact the municipality where the accommodation is located to clarify the options for agreed self-settlement. Not all municipalities allow for an approved independent settlement. Also, municipalities that allow this may have their own restrictions, including lack of space. Each commune may have its own criteria for renting housing.

Sites for finding rental housing

Source: https://nyinorge.github.io/

Updated on 12.09.2023

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