administrative data are therefore limited to specific sectors, for example the number of unregistered stateless persons who have sought medical assistance from the Health Clinic for Irregular Migrants in Norway.64 2.2.2 The target population UDI has confirmed that certain groups of people at high risk of statelessness, such as Palestinians, Bedoons, and stateless minorities from the Baltic States, are registered as stateless by UDI. However, no further information has been made available on the working methods when registering statelessness or the definition of statelessness used.65 UDI registers the citizenship of an applicant in DUF from a drop-down menu that lists different countries of citizenship and a category for stateless persons. UDI did not until recently register any other categories relevant to this research, but now have a different category in use for applicants of unknown nationality. Based on these sources, the stateless population covered by the statistics presented are (1) stateless persons seeking entry visas, asylum or other residence permits66 (through application and approval rates, and through enforcement and deportation in case of rejection); (2) stateless persons living in Norway on the basis of a residence permit; 67 (3) and former stateless persons who have naturalized.68 According to the information from UDI on the origins of stateless persons seeking asylum in Norway, a significant number of persons registered as stateless in the first half of 2012 were Palestinians from the West Bank or Gaza, 45 out of 124 persons in total. Other significant numbers of stateless asylum-seekers came from Iraq (32) and Syria (23). This is consistent with information provided by other stakeholders. According to NOSP, most of the stateless persons counseled during the existence of the now-defunct organization were Palestinians. Other stakeholders, such as NOAS and the Norwegian Centre against Racism, shared similar stories. 2.2.2.1 GROUPS COVERED BY ADMINISTRATIVE DATA Ad 1) Stateless persons seeking entry visas, asylum, or other residence permits UDI processes all visa-applications, including those submitted by stateless persons.69 UDI has a special code for “stateless” in its registration system. Published statistics on applications for visitors’ visas include both persons registered as stateless and those indicated as being of unknown nationality. According to UDI’s statistics for the year 2011, a visitor’s visa was granted to 564 stateless persons, which represents an approval rate of 77 percent for such a visa.70 In 2010, 496 of 621 stateless applicants were granted a visitor’s visa, respresenting 79.9 percent of stateless applicants in that visa category. The total number of approved visitors’ visas in 2010 was 118,622 and the overall grant rate was 94 percent.71 64 Sincere thanks go to Kåre Vassenden, a statistic expert with SSB for his insight, help and expertise on the statistics presented in this research. 65 UDI (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. It also has to be mentioned that NOAS noted that the Bedoon were registered as Kuwaitis by UDI and it is thus not fully clear if the registration of Bedoon is correct. 66 According to data received from UDI. 67 According to data received from SSB. 68 According to data received from UDI and SSB. 69 UDI, How do I apply for visitor’s visa, available at: http://goo.gl/xP8r8n 70 UDI, Annual Report 2011, Table 8: Visitor’s visas granted in first instance according to citizenship, available at: http://www.udi.no/globalassets/global/aarsrapporter_i/aarsrapport-2011.pdf. 71 UDI, Besøksvisumvedtak fordelt på statsborgerskap 2010, statistics available at: http://goo.gl/xRITBx. UNHCR STOCKHOLM, OCTOBER 2015 19