No to citizenship

If you arrive in Norway as an asylum seeker or a skilled migrant, you will automatically lose the right to apply for Norwegian citizenship. This is one of the many new proposals coming from the FRP (The Progress Party).

- It’s not an indelible right to become a Norwegian citizen, says MP Per Willy Amundsen, spokesman on immigration related issues for the FRP. He’s heading the party’s immigration commission, a workgroup that are looking at the criteria for granting citizenships.

Must be repatriated.

In his view, political asylum should only be considered as a temporary arrangement. That means that asylum seekers will eventually be sent back home.

- It is the view of the FRP, that people who have been granted asylum in Norway, will always be eligible for repatriation?

Yes, says Amundsen. Provided the situation in their own countries stabilizes, they should be repatriated. This also goes for asylum seekers who’s been granted asylum on humanitarian grounds.

- A lot of asylum seekers end up living in Norway for years, and perhaps even develop stronger ties to Norway than to their native countries. Isn’t it wrong then to repatriate them?

- I see the predicament, says Amundsen. But we should always strive to act in the best interest of the nation. Sure, you can always feel sympathy for these individuals, but the Storting (Parliament) has a responsibility to look after the national aspect of things, and be in control of the transformation of our society. He admits that it is a controversial proposal. Tougher measures will be introduced, and some people will probably regard these as too strict.-

Not finished.

He points out that the committee still hasn’t finished it’s recommendations. This will happen later on in the autumn. The FRP committee is also considering, denying Norwegian citizenship to skilled workers from areas outside the EU.

- But surely, this will lead to differential treatment? An Indian computer engineer, who arrives as a skilled migrant will never become a Norwegian citizen. But if his spouse arrives on a family reunification, she could then become a Norwegian citizen after seven years?

- According to our proposal, the spouse will never be granted the right to apply for a Norwegian citizenship either, or parents for that matter, says Amundsen. He reveals that the FRP will introduce measures to curb family reunifications, and that these measures are inspired by the current Danish laws. Married couples who wish to live in Norway must show that they’ve spent more time in Norway, than abroad. To prevent forced marriages, an age limit of 24 should be established when bringing partners home from abroad. Marriages between cousins should be banned, and DNA testing must be used to detect possible family ties. A partner should also be able to support the spouse economically.

Written tests.

The FRP will also introduce written exams in Norwegian language, culture and society understanding, for all those who wish to apply for Norwegian citizenship. The immigration laws of today are simply not sustainable. We need to put on the brakes, and exert stricter control, says Amundsen.

The committee estimates that the immigrant population in Norway, with the current policies, will reach close to 2 millions in 2060. This figure is based on calculations carried out by the SSB (Norwegian Bureau of Statistics). The committee’s recommendations will be presented as a private proposal to the Storting (Parliament).

Won’t this proposal complicate possible collaborations with other political parties?

-That may be the case. But, it’s unthinkable for the FRP to “sell out” on this issue. The Conservatives (Høyre) need to understand that we’re not willing to do everything to get into government position. -


To demand of asylum seekers that they return home, once the situation in their own countries have stabilized, is only logical. In Norway today, political asylum has become synonymous with immigration.