The Immigrant’s Passport in Norway: challenges for Belarusians
On September 4, 2023, Alyaksandr Lukashenka signed a decree that prohibits the issuance of passports to Belarusian citizens abroad. This decision has particularly affected those Belarusians who cannot return to the country due to political persecution. In such cases, they are forced to seek alternative identification documents, and one of these alternatives is an alien’s passport.
Norway is one of the countries where there is a mechanism for obtaining an alien’s passport, but for Belarusians, this process involves certain challenges related to the complexity of assessing the political situation in Belarus.
The Belarusian Students’ Association has prepared a policy document that details the reasons behind this issue. In-depth interviews with Belarusians in Norway revealed that Belarusian applicants face significant obstacles and rejections due to:
Type of Residence Permit: Current requirements lack clarity, leading to rejections based on technicalities rather than individual circumstances.
Lack of Documented Refusal: The inability to apply for a passport at Belarusian embassies abroad makes it impossible to provide documented proof of refusal.
Insufficient Risk Assessment: The Migration Office (UDI) downplays the risks faced by Belarusians returning home despite documented evidence of ongoing repression.
Specific Challenges for Belarusians: Changing Residence Status: obtaining a permanent residence permit, crucial for long-term stability, becomes impossible without a valid Belarusian passport.
Increased Repression in Belarus: New laws restrict freedom of assembly, expression, and target those who oppose the regime, making safe return impossible for many.
Personal Risks: Many Belarusian exiles, including the respondents interviewed, face specific threats of arrest and persecution based on their past activities or family ties.
Our recommendations in the current situation:
Adapt Norwegian Law: The Immigration Act must be reviewed and adapted to reflect the exceptional circumstances faced by Belarusians.
Acknowledge Political Reality: The UDI must acknowledge the politically motivated denial of passports by Belarusian authorities and the dangers faced by those forced to return.
Prioritize Individual Assessment: Applications should be evaluated based on individual risk assessment and circumstances rather than rigid interpretation of regulations.
The current situation forces many Belarusians into a legal limbo, jeopardizing their stay in Norway and jeopardizing their safety should they be forced to return. By recognizing the unique challenges faced by Belarusians and adapting its policies, Norway can offer a lifeline to those seeking refuge from persecution.
The document has already been submitted to the Migration Office and the Ministry of Justice.
The Belarusian Students' Association welcomes any support for the outlined recommendations through the dissemination of the document, its public mention in related materials, and open appeals to the Norwegian authorities. The use of information from the document is permitted only with direct reference to the Belarusian Students' Association (BSA).
To read the full document, follow the link.