to IOM, in 2011, 179 Palestinians applied for voluntary return, of whom 70 were assisted by IOM to actually
return that year.84
Although assistance with voluntary returns is provided by IOM on behalf of UDI, 109 applications with IOM
for voluntary return did not result in a departure, because the application was withdrawn, the applicant did
not follow up on his/her application, or the applicant was stateless and did not have a right to enter or reside
in any country and could thus not return voluntarily. For example, rejected Palestinian asylum-seekers whose
country of former residence was Iraq cannot return to Iraq, since Iraqi authorities will not readmit Palestinians
who have been away from Iraq for more than six months.85 The same is true of many Gulf States and appears
to be the case for Palestinians as well as other stateless persons who originate from the Gulf States.86
The number of rejected stateless asylum-seekers who were to be forcibly deported in 2011 was 56. However,
many of the persons who received a final rejection of their asylum claim by the Norwegian authorities could
not be deported. NPIS shared information, with the consultant contracted to undertake the mapping, on
rejected asylum-seekers or persons whose applications for residence permits were rejected and who are
currently awaiting deportation. According to the feedback received from NPIS, as of 30 September 2012,
there were 259 persons registered as stateless living in asylum reception centers (asylmottak) in Norway and
who had received a final negative decision on their application for protection.87 Of these 259 persons, 77
were under 18 years old (32 girls and 45 boys).88
In addition, as of 30 September 2012, there were 208 persons registered as stateless and as living at a private
address (outside the asylum reception centers) who had received a final negative decision on their application
for protection. Of these 208 persons, three were under the age of 18 years.89
Under the Immigration Act, a foreigner who has received a final negative decision and has no valid residence
permit has a duty to leave the country before a stated date (usually one month after the date of the final
negative decision).
Ad 2) Stateless persons granted residence in Norway
SSB’s statistics, which are available on its website, cover persons who are registered in the CPR. These persons
are in Norway on the basis of a residence permit valid for at least six months.
The total population of stateless persons with lawful residence in Norway increased considerably in the past
decade, from 767 in 2004 to 3,118 in 2011. According to the published statistics (see Table 9), a total of 3,118
stateless persons were registered as living in Norway at the start of 2011. At the start of 2012, a total of 2,773
stateless persons were registered as living in Norway. In addition, 96 persons living in Norway in 2011 were
registered as having unknown nationality. The analogous figure for 2012 was 91 persons.
84
It should be highlighted that there is not a separate code for Palestinians in UDI´s statistics, who are registered as stateless.
See IOM Statistics in Annex III.
85
Meeting with IOM Norway, 23 August 2012.
86
UDI’s (Statistics and Analysis Division) reply dated 10 August 2012 to a questionnaire prepared by the researcher in relation to
mapping of statelessness in Northern Europe, dated 25 July 2012. This issue was also highlighted at the IOM meeting, 23 August
2012, the NOAS meeting and the meeting with the Norwegian Centre against Racism, 22 August 2012.
87
According to UDI, the comparable figure for April 2015 was 91 individuals.
88
Email from NPIS, dated 16 October 2012.
89
Ibid. As stated in the email, some of the rejected applicants registered as living in private homes may have left Norway without
informing the Norwegian immigration authorities.
UNHCR STOCKHOLM, OCTOBER 2015
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