Fact booklet about immigrants and integration F A

Transcription

1 Fact booklet about immigrants and integration i F A CT S 2012

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3 Preface ifacts is an annual update of selected key figures, information and terms relating to immigration and integration. The aim is to make this information easily accessible. ifacts has therefore been launched in pocket format. ifacts is not intended to cover all topics or to provide figures and information that cannot be debated. IMDi therefore welcomes feedback on the booklet and suggestions for figures and data sources that it may be useful to include in the next issue. Please send any feedback to We would like to thank all our partners, especially the Directorate of Immigration (UDI) and Statistics Norway (SSB) for their excellent data and efficient service. Geir Barvik, Director General The Norwegian Directorate of Integration and Diversity (IMDi) 3

4 Contents u 1. Institutions and organisations in the immigration and integration field 5 u 2. Key terms 10 u 3. Immigrants and their Norwegian-born children 14 u 4. Asylum seekers and refugees 23 u 5. Labour migration 28 u 6. Family immigration and marriage patterns 31 u 7. Settlement and qualification of refugees and asylum seekers who have been granted residence permits 35 u 8. Housing and place of residence 41 u 9. Employment, unemployment and income 43 u 10. The cash-for-care benefit and kindergartens 51 u 11. Education 54 u 12. Child welfare services 57 u 13. Forced marriage 58 u 14. Female genital mutilation 61 u 15. Crime 63 u 16. Participation in elections 66 u 17. The population s attitude to immigration and integration 70 u 18. Oslo 74 u 19. Finances: accounts 2011 and budget u 20. National resource environments 79 u 21. Voluntary organisations 81 u 22. Useful websites for further information 82 u 23. References 85 4

5 1. Institutions and organisations in the immigration and integration field Stortinget The Storting (the Norwegian parliament) lays down the framework for refugee, immigration and integration policy. The Storting also sets the framework for integration work in the municipalities through the Norwegian Introduction Act and by deciding the size of the integration grants that municipalities receive in connection with the settlement of refugees. Public administration of the immigration and integration field The Ministry of Justice and Public Security has overall responsibility for the immigration administration. It is the sector ministry for the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) and is superior to the Norwegian Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) for administrative purposes. The Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion has overall responsibility for the integration field. It is the sector ministry for the Norwegian Directorate of Integration and Diversity (IMDi). The most important statutes in the immigration and integration field are the Immigration Act, the Nationality Act and the Introduction Act. The foreign service The Norwegian foreign service missions play an important role as the first-line service for foreign nationals who want to visit or move to Norway. They provide information about regulations and procedures, process applications for visitor visas and receive and prepare applications for visas and residence permits to be processed by the UDI. Cases that cannot be processed by the foreign service missions are sent to the UDI. 5

6 The police The main tasks of the National Police Immigration Service are to register asylum seekers, investigate asylum seekers travel routes, ascertain their identities, prepare and implement final rejections in asylum cases and to coordinate and quality assure all deportations from Norway. The 27 police districts receive and prepare applications for residence and work permits and process a large percentage of the applications they receive. Cases that the police cannot process are sent to the UDI. The Directorate of Immigration (UDI) The UDI is the central agency in the immigration administration. The UDI implements and helps to develop the Government s immigration and refugee policy. The UDI shall ensure controlled immigration though the processing of applications for different types of residence permits and ensure that refugees are given protection by processing asylum applications. The Directorate also has power of decision in relation to applications for Norwegian citizenship. The UDI makes decisions on rejection of entry and expulsion, and is responsible for the operation of the asylum reception centres and the rest of the asylum reception system. The UDI outsources the running of reception centres to contractors, for example organisations, municipalities and commercial enterprises. The Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) UNE is an independent administrative body that considers appeals against the UDI s decisions pursuant to the Immigration Act and the Nationality Act. UNE is superior to the UDI as a body for legal interpretation, and its practice forms the basis for the UDI s practice. The Directorate of Integration and Diversity (IMDi) IMDi is an administrative body and a centre of expertise. It is 6

7 tasked with implementing and helping to develop the Government s integration and diversity policy. IMDi s most important partners are the municipalities. IMDi also cooperates with government agencies, the private sector and voluntary organisations. IMDi shall monitor developments in the integration field, both nationally and regionally, and share its knowledge and experience with the municipalities, county authorities and public sector authorities. IMDi shall contribute to the coordination of welfare services that promote integration, with particular focus on qualification, education, employment, housing, health care, living conditions and community building. IMDi s new strategy, Diversity in everyday life Mangfold er hverdagen has three target areas: cooperation with the municipalities, cooperation with the sector authorities and the development of IMDi as a centre of expertise. IMDi s key tasks include providing assistance to the municipalities in connection with settling refugees, contributing to getting immigrants from introduction programmes into work or education as quickly as possible, acting as a driving force for equality in public services, serving as the national professional authority for interpretation in the public sector, and preventing forced marriage. IMDi has more than 200 employees in branch offices in Narvik, Trondheim, Gjøvik, Bergen, Kristiansand and Oslo. Thirty-two per cent of IMDi s employees have immigrant backgrounds. The Directorate s operating budget for 2012 was approximately NOK 186 million. It administers funds of approximately NOK 6.7 billion. The Expert Team for the Prevention of Forced Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation The Expert Team is a nationwide inter-agency team that pro- 7

8 vides advice, guidance and assistance to the first-line service in the work on specific cases concerning forced marriage, female genital mutilation and other forms of honour-related violence. The team also aims to raise the first-line service s level of expertise through training and lectures. The team consists of representatives from the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs (Bufdir), the Norwegian Police Directorate, the UDI, the Directorate of Health, the Directorate of Labour and Welfare and IMDi. IMDi is responsible for coordinating the team. Vox the Norwegian Agency for Lifelong Learning Vox is an agency under the authority of the Ministry of Education and Research. Vox works to raise the level of competence among adults and is responsible for mapping and disseminating new knowledge about adult learning. Vox is responsible for developing Norwegian language and social studies curricula for adult immigrants. Statistics Norway Statistics Norway is the central Norwegian institution for collecting, processing and disseminating official statistics. It has chief responsibility for meeting Norwegian society s need for statistics. According to the Statistics Act of 1989, Statistics Norway has the right to decide what statistics should be deemed official statistics, and it is in charge of coordinating all official statistics in Norway. Statistics Norway collects statistics in many areas, including immigration and integration statistics. The Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) All local NAV offices also provide services to immigrants. However, as this group sometimes requires adapted services regarding work-related issues and National Insurance benefits, four special offices called NAV Intro have been established in 8

9 Oslo, Bergen, Kristiansand and Trondheim. These offices offer services such as job applicant courses/ vocational courses, counselling, follow-up during work placements and preparatory vocational training for job applicants. The municipalities The municipalities have an important role in promoting integration and diversity at the local level. The municipalities settle refugees in cooperation with IMDi. Since 1 September 2004, part of the municipalities integration work has been regulated through the Introduction Act. The municipalities have a duty to ensure that refugees and members of their families who have immigrated to Norway for reasons of family reunification receive individual tuition in the Norwegian language and social studies. They also have a duty to ensure that measures are initiated to prepare them for the labour market. The municipalities are also responsible for offering tuition in the Norwegian language and social studies to other groups of immigrants covered by the Introduction Act. The municipalities must also ensure that their general municipal services are adapted to a multicultural population. Norway s Contact Committee for Immigrants and the Authorities (KIM) KIM is an advisory committee, whose members are appointed by the Government every four years. The committee shall facilitate dialogue between minorities and the authorities and provide the authorities with advice and input on issues of fundamental importance to the minority communities. Voluntary organisations There are many national and local organisations that organise different immigrant groups, provide meeting places for persons with different ethnic backgrounds and/or work in other ways on projects focusing on integration and inclusion. 9

10 2. Key terms Asylum: A place of refuge for persons who have a justifiable fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political conviction or affiliation with a particular group. Among other things, asylum involves protection from being returned to the area in which the asylum seeker justifiably fears persecution. Asylum also confers certain rights during the stay in the asylum country. Foreign nationals granted protection in Norway are given refugee status. Source: The UDI Asylum reception centre: A voluntary residence facility for asylum seekers arriving in Norway. The reception centres have a basic standard and are based on self-catering. The residents receive support to cover their basic food and clothing needs. The UDI is responsible for the operation of the asylum reception centres and the rest of the asylum reception system. It outsources the running of the reception centres to contractors, for example organisations, municipalities or commercial enterprises. The operation of asylum reception centres does not require municipal approval at the political level provided that the necessary permits for the use of premises and buildings are in place. Source: The UDI Asylum seeker: A person who arrives on his/her own initiative without prior notification and asks the authorities for protection and recognition as a refugee. Such persons are called asylum seekers until their applications have been decided. Source: The UDI 10

11 Settlement/settled: Resettlement refugees and former asylum seekers who have been granted unlimited residence permits are settled through cooperation between the Government represented by IMDi and the municipalities. Most refugees in Norway are settled with help from the public authorities, i.e. by IMDi entering into an agreement with a municipality stating that the municipality agrees to receive the individual refugee. This means that a person can only be settled once, in one municipality and on one date. Settling refugees is a voluntary municipal task. When municipalities settle refugees, they receive grants and accept certain obligations in relation to the refugees in accordance with the Introduction Act. Source: IMDi Family immigration: Residence permits in Norway can be granted to foreign nationals who are family members of Norwegians or foreign nationals who have legal residence in Norway. Family immigration permits are primarily granted to immediate family members such as spouses, registered partners, cohabitants of more than two years and children under the age of 18. As a rule, there is a requirement for guaranteed subsistence in order to be granted a family immigration permit. Source: The UDI Refugee: Resettlement refugees and persons who have been granted asylum/protection in Norway. On 1 January 2010, a new Immigration Act entered into force. In the new Act, the group that has been granted residence pursuant to the UN Refugee Convention is treated on an equal footing with the group that has been granted residence on the basis of other international protection conventions. In Norway, both these groups are given refugee status, with the rights this status confers. In the statistics produced by Statistics Norway, the term person with refugee background is used about persons living in 11

12 Norway who arrived in Norway to seek refuge, including members of refugees families, regardless of whether they have been granted refugee status pursuant to the Refugee Convention. Source: The UDI and Statistics Norway Groups of countries: Statistics Norway previously distinguished between Western and non-western countries, but these categories were discontinued in Asia including Turkey, Africa, South and Central America and Eastern Europe previously made up the non-western countries, while Western countries included the Nordic countries, Western Europe (excluding Turkey), North America and Oceania. When there is a need to divide countries into two groups, Statistics Norway now uses the following categories: Country group 1. The EU/EFTA countries, North America, Australia and New Zealand. Country group 2. Europe excluding the EU/EFTA countries, Asia (including Turkey), Africa, South and Central America, Oceania excluding Australia and New Zealand. Source: Statistics Norway Immigrants: Persons born abroad with two foreign-born parents. Source: Statistics Norway Immigration/emigration: In order to be included in the statistics of people who have immigrated to or emigrated from Norway, the move must be registered in the Central Population Register. Moves to and from other countries must be reported if the person intends the stay to last for at least six months. However, many people, and perhaps employees from the new EEA countries and Sweden in particular, are not registered even though they should be, and are therefore included in the statis- 12

13 tics of persons on short stays in Norway. Source: Statistics Norway Norwegian-born persons with immigrant parents: Persons born in Norway with two immigrant parents. Previously often referred to as descendants. Source: Statistics Norway Residence permit: Permit to stay in Norway for more than three months. Nationals of the EU member states are not required to hold such a permit. Nationals of countries other than the EU member states will often be issued a work permit together with the residence permit. Nordic nationals do not need a residence permit to work or stay in Norway. Source: The UDI Resettlement refugee: A person who is allowed to come to Norway through a selection process organised by the UDI and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The annual quota is stipulated by the Storting based on the Government s proposal. Source: The UDI Foreign-born persons: In the OECD s statistics, all persons born abroad are considered foreign-born, regardless of where their parents and grandparents come from. This differs from Statistics Norway s category immigrants, which applies to persons born abroad with two foreign-born parents. Source: OECD/Statistics Norway You will find more key terms at 13

14 3. Immigrants and their Norwegianborn children At the start of 2012, there were 547,700 immigrants and 108,400 Norwegian-born persons with immigrant parents in Norway, making up a total of 655,000 persons. Together, these two groups made up 11.0 and 2.2 per cent, respectively, of the Norwegian population. A total of 223,300 or almost 60 per cent of all the immigrants had a background from Europe, while the majority of Norwegian-born persons with immigrant parents had a background from countries in Asia and Africa. Among immigrants from countries outside Europe, 220,300 had a background from Asia, 79,700 from Africa and 20,200 from South and Central America. Among Norwegian-born persons with immigrant parents, 57,000 had a background from Asia, 19,500 from Africa and 12,000 from countries outside Europe. Source: Statistics Norway In 2009, 10.9 per cent of the population of Norway was born abroad. The corresponding figures for Sweden and Denmark were 14.4 per cent and 7.5 per cent, respectively. Source: OECD 14

15 Immigrants and Norwegian-born persons with immigrant parents: the ten largest groups as of 1 January Country Number Increase from 2011 to 2012 Percentage of all immigrants and Norwegian-born persons with immigrant parents Poland 72,103 11, Sweden 36,578 2, Pakistan 32, Somalia 29,395 1, Iraq 28,935 1, Germany 25,683 1, L i t h u a n i a 23,941 7, Vietnam 20, D e n m a r k 19, Iran 17, Source: Statistics Norway Immigrants and Norwegian-born persons with immigrant parents , ,000 Asia, Africa and Latin America Europe excluding EU/EEA 500, , ,000 New EU countries after 2004 The Nordic countries Rest of EU/EEA countries, North America and Oceania 200, , Source: Statistics Norway 15

16 International comparison: Foreign-born persons* as a percentage of the population in selected OECD countries in 2009 OECD average (2006) Luxembourg Australia Switzerland New Zealand Canada Ireland Austria The USA Spain Sweden Belgium (2007) Germany (2006) The Netherlands The UK Norway France Denmark Portugal Finland * Please note that the OECD s definition of foreign-born persons is not the same as Statistics Norway s definition of immigrants. Source: OECD Immigration and emigration in 2011 In 2011, 79,500 immigrants to Norway and 32,500 emigrants from Norway were registered. This gives a net migration of 47,000 persons. Compared with 2010, net migration has increased by just over 4,500 persons. People from Poland and the Baltic countries accounted for as much as 44 per cent of the net migration. EU nationals accounted for 64 per cent of the 70,750 foreign nationals who migrated to Norway in Polish nationals constituted the biggest group, with 12,850 immigrants. Swedish and Lithuanian nationals constituted the second and third biggest groups, with 8,200 and 7,750 immigrants, respectively. 16

17 Norwegian nationals accounted for 11 per cent of the immigration. From countries such as Denmark, Switzerland, South Africa, Singapore and the USA, Norwegian nationals account for about half of those who immigrate. Of the 31,500 persons who emigrated in 2011, 22,900 were foreign nationals. This is the highest number that has ever been registered. Of the people who emigrated in 2011, the two biggest groups were Swedish and Polish nationals. Net migration to Oslo and Akershus accounted for as much as 30 per cent of the total net migration to Norway. Rogaland and Hordaland also accounted for a large proportion of the net migration to Norway, with 17 per cent. Net migration from abroad. Foreign nationals in Poland Lithuania Sweden Latvia Eritrea The Philippines Somalia Germany Romania Iceland 0 1,500 3,000 4,500 6,000 7,500 9,000 10,500 12,000 Source: Statistics Norway 17

18 Immigration and emigration in the period ,000 80,000 70,000 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10, Immigration Emigration Source: Statistics Norway Immigration in 2011 by reason for immigration In 2011, 54,300 non-nordic nationals came to Norway as first-time immigrants. As in the previous five years, labour migration was the most common immigration reason among non-nordic nationals, and labour migrants accounted for almost half of all immigrants. The number of labour migrants was 26,700 in The biggest groups of labour migrants were Polish (9,100) and Lithuanian (5,600) nationals. A total of 5,200 persons migrated due to flight in 2011, 1,000 fewer than in This group accounted for ten per cent of all immigration. Most came from Eritrea, Somalia and Afghanistan. Immigrants from these three countries accounted for 68 per cent of all those who stated flight as their reason for immigration in In 2011, 16,200 persons were registered as family immigrants; 1,400 more than in Most of them came from Poland and Latvia, which are also the biggest labour migration countries. Of the family immigrants, 12,100 came to be 18

19 reunited with their family, while 4,100 came to enter into marriage with a person living in Norway (to form a family). Half of the latter group came to form a family with a person without an immigrant background. A total of 5,800 persons came to Norway to study in Many of them were EEA students from countries such as Germany (330 persons), France and Spain (250 persons in both groups). Many of the immigrants from countries outside Europe come from the Philippines (1,500 persons), as before. This is due to the fact that au pair permits are also considered a type of study permit. Number of first-time immigrants with non-nordic citizenship, by reason for immigration in Education* 5,812 (11%) (Largest group: The Philippines) Flight 5,221 (10%) (Largest group: Eritrea) Work 26,712 (49%) (Largest group: Poland) Family 16,200 (30%) (Largest group: Poland) Work F a mily Flight Education * * Au pairs state education as their reason for immigration. Source: Statistics Norway 19

20 Number of first-time immigrants with non-nordic citizenship, by reason for immigration ,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10, In all Labour Immigration Family Immigration Flight Education ** In the data basis for 2009, 3,190 persons are registered without a reason for immigration. This is due to the new registration rules for EU/EEA/EFTA nationals, who from 1 October 2009 no longer need to apply for a residence permit. However, the figures for 2010 show that efforts aimed at voluntary registration reach many EEA immigrants (mainly labour migrants). ** 20

21 Projections of the number of immigrants and Norwegian-born persons with immigrant parents, 2012 Population projections made by Statistics Norway in 2012 show that the number of immigrants and Norwegian-born persons with immigrant parents will increase significantly in the next decades. There is considerable uncertainty attached to these figures, particularly with respect to the immigration figures, which vary greatly over time. The population of Norway will be around 6.5 million in The number of immigrants will probably increase from 547,000 in 2012 to around 1.2 million in 2040.* The number of Norwegian-born persons with immigrant parents will probably increase from 108,000 to just under 430,000 in Together, these two groups will amount to more than 1.6 million people, or 26 per cent of the total population in * The figures are based on the medium projection variant, which is considered to be the most likely. 21

22 Projections of immigrants and Norwegian-born persons with immigrant parents * Immigrants Norwegian-born with immigrant parents *As a percentage of the whole population. The medium projection variant. Source: Statistics Norway The regional projections of the number of immigrants and Norwegian-born persons with immigrant parents for the period (published in 2012) show that the increase in the number of immigrants and Norwegian-born persons with immigrant parents will be most marked in and around the cities and in Central Eastern Norway. In Oslo, the proportion of immigrants in this projection is estimated to account for 34 per cent of the population in 2040, while children born in Norway to two immigrant parents are estimated to account for 13 per cent. 22

23 4. Asylum seekers and refugees Together with the police, the UDI is responsible for processing applications for different types of residence and work permits in Norway. The UDI is also responsible for the operation of the asylum reception centres and the rest of the asylum reception system. It outsources the running of the reception centres to contractors, for example organisations, municipalities or commercial enterprises. The operation of asylum reception centres does not require municipal approval at the political level, but permits for the use of premises and buildings must be in place. Asylum applications in 2011 The number of asylum applications varies somewhat from year to year. In 2011, more than 10,000 persons applied for asylum in Norway, 860 of whom were unaccompanied minors without parents. Number of asylum seekers in total and the number of unaccompanied minor asylum seekers in Norway per year : Total number 6,500 14,400 17,200 10,100 9,100 Of whom unaccompanied minors 400 1,400 2, In 2011, the applicants came from 115 different countries, compared with 110 in Most asylum seekers came from Somalia, Eritrea, Afghanistan, Russia, Iraq, Iran and Ethiopia in Applicants from these countries accounted for approximately 60 per cent of 23

24 all asylum seekers. Almost nine out of ten of the unaccompanied minor asylum seekers were boys, and 62 per cent of all unaccompanied minors were boys from Afghanistan and Somalia. The number of asylum seekers was relatively stable throughout At the start of 2012, there were few signs of any significant changes. Source: The UDI Asylum applications prognosis for 2012 The national budget that was presented in October 2011 was based on a prognosis of 11,000 asylum seekers in At the end of March 2012, the prognosis for the number of asylum seekers in 2012 was 10,000, including 900 unaccompanied minors. Source: The UDI Residents in asylum reception centres At the end of 2011, 15,700 persons were living in 116 reception centres, compared with 16,600 persons in 129 reception centres the previous year. More than 700 places in reception centres were closed down or were due to be closed down in 2011, and there were reception centres in operation in more than 100 municipalities in Norway. At the end of 2011, 66 per cent of the residents in reception centres were from Somalia, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iraq, Ethiopia or Russia. Operating expenses for the asylum reception centres in 2011 amounted to approximately NOK 2.2 billion (administration of reception centres and grants to residents). In 2010, the expenses amounted to approximately NOK 2.7 billion. Approximately 13,100 residents left reception centres in 2011, either because they were settled, escorted out of the 24

25 country against their will, returned voluntarily or because they moved to a known or unknown address. Just under 4,600 of those 13,100 left the reception centres without providing a new address. They can either have travelled to their home country, travelled to another country to seek asylum or may be staying at an unknown address in Norway. Source: The UDI Number of persons granted protection in Norway over the last seven years: The number of persons granted protection in Norway in 2011 decreased by 11 per cent compared with The table below shows the number of persons who have been granted residence in Norway following an application for asylum and whether the decision was made by the UDI as the first instance or by UNE as the appeal body. The table also shows how many were permitted to enter Norway as resettlement refugees, normally after a selection process in cooperation with the UNHCR. The decisions are presented by the year of the outcome, regardless of when the application was submitted. Persons granted protection in the period Total UDI UNE Resettlement refugees ,105 4, , ,831 5, , ,056 4, , ,624 3, ,845 2,934 1,561 1, ,201 1, ,999 2, ,938 3, Source: The UDI 25

26 Residence permits granted by the UDI in 2011 following an application for asylum Persons who were granted residence following an application for asylum largely came from countries affected by war or conflict (residence granted by UNE as a result of an appeal is not included here). The percentage of asylum cases approved by the UDI increased from 41 per cent in 2010 to 52 per cent in UNE granted asylum in less than seven per cent of the appeal cases decided in 2011, compared with just under four per cent in Most permits were granted to persons from Somalia, Eritrea and Afghanistan. Thirty per cent of those who were granted asylum by the UDI were children. Source: The UDI Residence for resettlement refugees In 2011, 1,278 resettlement refugees arrived in Norway, compared with 1,096 in 2010, 1,389 in 2009 and 770 in The number of cases approved in 2011 was 1,370, compared with 1,127 in 2010, 1,112 in 2009 and 910 in A person does not necessarily arrive in Norway the same year as his/her application for residence is granted. In 2011, the largest groups of resettlement refugees came from Eritrea, Somalia, Burma, Bhutan and Iran. Children accounted for 44 per cent of the resettlement refugees. Women accounted for 57 per cent of the resettlement refugees. Source: The UDI 26

27 Persons with a refugee background Persons with a refugee background (including family members reunited with refugees) accounted for 26 per cent of all immigrants and Norwegian-born persons with immigrant parents in Norway as of 1 January The number of persons with a refugee background living in Norway was 158,000 as of 1 January 2011 (or 3.2 per cent of the total population). Most had a background from Iraq (20,400 persons) and Somalia (18,900 persons). The number of persons with a refugee background increased by 6,600 person in Persons with a refugee background from Eritrea accounted for the biggest increase (1,700), followed by Somalia and Afghanistan (both 1,200). There were about 10,400 more men than women among those with a refugee background as of 1 January Source: Statistics Norway 27

28 5. Labour migration Labour migrants accounted for almost half of all immigration to Norway in 2011, with a total of 26,700 persons. The biggest groups of non-nordic labour migrants were Polish (9,100) and Lithuanian (5,600) nationals. Source: Statistics Norway In order to be considered an immigrant in the immigration statistics produced by Statistics Norway, the immigrant must be registered in the Population Register, which requires a minimum residence period in Norway of at least six months. Persons with work permits of shorter duration than six months are not registered as settled. This partly explains why the UDI s figures for the number of work permits granted do not tally with the immigration statistics produced by Statistics Norway, even for nationals who are required to hold a work or residence permit because of their nationality. Work permits 2011 In 2011, approximately 15,400 work permits were granted, of which 9,900 were first-time permits and 5,500 renewals. In addition, 36,800 EEA nationals registered as employees, job seekers, self-employed persons or service providers. Most first-time permits were granted to nationals of Romania, India, Bulgaria, Vietnam and Russia. More than 70 per cent of the work permits were granted to men. Eighty per cent of all work permits were granted to persons under the age of 40. Almost 43 per cent of all family immigration permits were granted to persons who were reunited with a Norwegian or Nordic national. Source: The UDI 28

29 The situation of labour migrants from Poland and the Baltic states in Norway In 2007, IMDi conducted a telephone-based survey of settled (registered in the Population Register) labour migrants from Poland and the Baltic states. The findings of the survey included the following: A clear majority perceived their work as appropriate to their education and qualifications. There was a tendency for highly educated women to either remain outside the labour market or to accept jobs in Norway for which they were over-qualified. Very few experienced poor working conditions or gross exploitation at work. The majority had extensive and wide-ranging information needs during their first year in Norway. The main barrier to obtaining information was insufficient mastery of the Norwegian or English language. There was a clear need and wish to acquire better Norwegian language skills. It is not until after they have decided to stay in Norway for a long period of time that Polish labour migrants want to learn the Norwegian language. The labour migrants wished to participate in local recreational activities and social networks with Norwegians. As many as 76 per cent replied that they would definitely or probably be living in Norway in five years time. Source: IMDi report : Vi blir... Om arbeidsinnvandring fra Polen og Baltikum. ( We are here to stay... About labour migration from Poland and the Baltic states in Norwegian only). The 2009 follow-up survey among labour migrants from Poland and Lithuania registered in the population register confirmed the main findings from 2007, with one exception: The percentage who replied that they would definitely or probably be living in Norway in five years time had fallen 29

30 from 76 per cent to 63 per cent. Furthermore, in 2009, only 28 per cent replied Yes, definitely to the question of whether they thought they would be living in Norway in five years time, compared with 57 per cent in Source: IMDi 30

31 6. Family immigration and marriage patterns Family immigration In 2011, almost 12,900 persons were granted permits for family immigration. In 2010, this figure was 10,000 and in 2009, it was 18,100. Family immigration permits in 2011, in total and five biggest countries: Citizenship Number of permits Change from 2010 to 2011 Number of females (both children and adults) Number of children (under 18 at the time of decision) Total 12,886 2,898 8,482 5,285 Somalia 1, ,003 Thailand 1, The Philippines Eritrea Russia Source: The UDI In 2011, 73 per cent of all family immigration applications were granted. Twenty-seven per cent of those who were granted family immigration permits were nationals of Somalia, Thailand or the Philippines. Forty-six per cent of all family immigration permits were granted to adult women, while 41 per cent of the permits were granted to children under the age of 18. Source: The UDI 31

32 Marriage patterns Every year, more marriages are entered into between persons without an immigrant background and persons with an immigrant background than between two persons who both have immigrant backgrounds. More men than women marry someone who lived outside Norway prior to the marriage. For a long time, more immigrants have arrived through marriage with persons without an immigrant background than with persons with an immigrant background. From 1990 to 2010, 40,000 persons arrived for the purpose of forming a family with a person without an immigrant background, compared with 30,000 with a person with an immigrant background. In the last few years, however, the pattern has changed, and in 2009 and 2010, equally many came for the purpose of forming a family with either of the two groups. This is because entering into marriage with a person without an immigrant background has become less common, not because more persons have arrived to enter into marriage with immigrants or Norwegian-born persons with immigrant parents. This is despite the fact that the number of immigrants and Norwegian-born persons with immigrant parents has increased significantly. Thai, Philippine and Russian women often marry men without an immigrant background. Many immigrants with a background from Asian and African countries marry someone who is not resident in Norway at the time the marriage is entered into. This applies to persons from Pakistan, Turkey and Morocco in particular. Few Norwegian-born persons with immigrant parents are of marriageable age, and they generally marry later in life than immigrants with a background from the same country. The percentage who marry someone who lives abroad is declining. Source: Statistics Norway: Daugstad (2008), Henriksen (2012) 32

33 Marriages entered into by settled women Selected country groups. Number who married Percentage who married persons resident abroad at the time of marriage Percentage who married persons without an immigrant background Pakistan, immigrants Pakistan, Norwegian-born with immigrant parents Turkey, immigrants Turkey, Norwegian-born with immigrant parents Vietnam, immigrants Vietnam, Norwegian-born with immigrant parents Sri Lanka, immigrants Source: Statistics Norway: Daugstad (2008) 33

34 Marriages entered into among settled men Selected country groups. Number who married Percentage who married persons resident abroad at the time of marriage Percentage who married persons without an immigrant background Pakistan, immigrants Pakistan, Norwegian-born with immigrant parents Turkey, immigrants Turkey, Norwegian-born with immigrant parents Vietnam, immigrants Vietnam, Norwegian-born with immigrant parents Sri Lanka, immigrants Source: Statistics Norway: Daugstad (2008) 34

35 7. Settlement and qualification of refugees and asylum seekers who have been granted residence permits Settlement Resettlement refugees and former asylum seekers who have been granted unlimited residence permits are settled through a cooperation between the Government represented by IMDi and the municipalities. Most of them are settled by IMDi entering into an agreement with a municipality stating that the municipality will receive the individual refugee. Settling refugees is a voluntary task for the municipalities. When municipalities settle refugees, they receive integration grants and accept certain obligations in relation to the refugees in accordance with the Introduction Act. The goal is that settlement in a municipality should take place within six months of a residence permit being granted, or within three months for unaccompanied minors. The target figure for settlement in 2012 is 7,300 persons, of whom 470 unaccompanied minors. This target figure was most recently adjusted by the National Committee for Reception and Settlement in April As of 30 June 2012, 246 municipalities had agreed to settle refugees in At the end of the first half-year 2012, 2,826 persons in reception centres were waiting to be settled. Of these, 1,418 were single men, and 89 were unaccompanied minors under the age of 18. The number of persons settled in 2011 was 5,486, of whom 629 were unaccompanied minors under the age of 18. The six biggest settlement municipalities in 2011 were Oslo (402), Trondheim (214), Bergen (209), Kristiansand (127), Skien (126) and Tromsø (110). 35

36 The average waiting period from the granting of a residence permit to settlement in a municipality was 6.5 months in The number of settled refugees and the average waiting time per year, : Target figure 2012 Settled* 3,830 4,430 6,090 5,800 5,300 7,300 Of whom unaccompanied minors* Average waiting time from granted residence permit to settlement in a municipality 4.8 months 5.9 months 5.3 months *The figures are rounded off to the nearest ten 5.7 months 6.5 months Source: IMDi (Monthly settlement report 31 Dec. 2010, Monthly settlement report 28 Feb. 2011) Introduction programme The Introduction Act entitles and obliges newly arrived immigrants to participate in a full-time introduction programme for up to two years, with the possibility of one year s extension (three years in total). The right and obligation to participate in the introduction programme applies to newly arrived foreign nationals between the ages of 18 and 55 who need to obtain basic qualifications, and who: a) have been granted asylum, b) are resettlement refugees holding an entry permit, c) have been granted a residence permit on humanitarian grounds following an application for asylum, or have been granted collective protection in a mass flight situation, or d) are family members who have been reunited with such persons as mentioned 36

37 under a), b) or c). The goal of the introduction programme is to provide basic Norwegian language skills and basic insight into Norwegian society, and to prepare participants for participation in the labour market. The municipality and NAV cooperate closely on the introduction scheme for newly arrived immigrants. Persons who take part in the programme are entitled to an introduction benefit. Per year, the introduction benefit is twice the National Insurance basic amount. According to Statistics Norway, the introduction programme had approximately 10,000 participants in In the period from 2005 to 2009, there were between 8,000 and 9,000 participants each year. Figures reported from the municipalities show that 42 per cent of the participants who finished the introduction programme in 2010 went on to work or study. The corresponding figure for 2009 was 44 per cent, and it was 53 per cent in The decline mainly concerns transition to work. Source: IMDi Statistics Norway s Monitor for the introduction programme Every year, Statistics Norway publishes Monitor for introduksjonsordningen ( Monitor for the introduction programme in Norwegian only). The monitor for 2011 describes the participation in the labour market of those who left the programme in The goal of the monitor is to follow cohorts of people who finish the programme over a long period and to measure the development in the years ahead. Of those who left the introduction programme in 2009, a total of 55 per cent were working or studying in November 2010; 46 per cent of the women and 66 per cent of the men. Source: Statistics Norway: Walstad Enes og Henriksen (2012) 37

38 Tuition in the Norwegian language and social studies The group of persons who have a right and an obligation to participate in tuition in the Norwegian language is wider than the group of persons who have a right and an obligation to participate in the introduction programme. The right and obligation to participate in free tuition in the Norwegian language and social studies applies to newly arrived foreign nationals between the ages of 16 and 55 who a) have been granted asylum, b) are resettlement refugees holding an entry permit, c) have been granted a residence permit on humanitarian grounds following an application for asylum, or have been granted collective protection in a mass flight situation, or d) have been reunited with persons described under a), b) or c). The scheme also applies to family members who have been reunited with Norwegian or Nordic nationals. The latter group is the largest. Older persons who fall under the scheme, i.e. people between the ages of 55 and 67, have a right but not an obligation to participate in tuition. Completion of 300 hours of tuition or documented good skills in Norwegian is a condition for being granted a permanent residence permit and citizenship for the groups that are covered by the scheme. From 1 January 2012, the number of hours of tuition increased to 600 hours and applies to persons settled after 1 January Everyone covered by the scheme can receive up to 3,000 hours of tuition, as required. Asylum seekers in ordinary reception centres can receive up to 250 hours of tuition in Norwegian. Asylum seekers whose applications are processed pursuant to the Dublin procedure are not entitled to Norwegian language tuition. As of 20 January 2011, 44,114 persons had the right, or the 38

39 right and the obligation, to participate in tuition in the Norwegian language, 938 of whom only had the right. In the last six months of 2011, about 40,000 persons received tuition in the Norwegian language and social studies. This figure also includes labour migrants and asylum seekers. There are two national final Norwegian language tests, Norwegian Test 2 (Norskprøve 2) and Norwegian Test 3 (Norskprøve 3), which are both written and oral tests. Norwegian Test 3 tests language skills at a higher level than Norwegian Test 2. The table below shows how many took the different tests in 2010, and the percentage that passed. National tests in the Norwegian language Number of candidates and results: Number of candidates Percentage who passed Written test Norwegian test 2 10, % Norwegian test 3 5, % Oral test Norwegian test 2 9, % Norwegian test 3 5, % Source: Vox Second Chance Second Chance is a pilot scheme in selected municipalities. The purpose is to test and document different methods for getting immigrants into employment or education. Second Chance was modelled on the introduction programme. The programme is intended for immigrants between the ages of 18 and 55 who have lived in Norway for a long time, regardless of the grounds for residence, and who have failed to gain a permanent foothold in the employment market. 39

40 In 2012, NOK 27 million was allocated to Second Chance in the national budget. The target groups for Second Chance in 2012 are: stay-at-home women who do not receive social security benefits women who receive transitional benefit young people who receive social security benefits. In 2012, there were 14 projects targeting immigrant women and ten projects targeting young people. In 2011, there were approximately 400 Second Chance participants in 26 projects in 22 municipalities/city districts. The participants came from 47 different countries. More than half had a background from Somalia or Iraq. Of those who completed Second Chance in 2011, 39 per went straight into employment or education. A socio-economic assessment of Second Chance that was carried out by Proba Samfunnsanalyse in 2012 shows that, for each Norwegian krone the government or municipalities invest in the scheme, they can expect to get six in return through increased production. Second Chance is also expected to lead to increased quality of life and increased participation in education, and that the participants become more positive role models for their own children and the local community. Source: IMDi 40

41 8. Housing and place of residence Compared with the rest of the population, a higher percentage of immigrants rent their home, live in blocks of flats, tenements or similar and live in cramped accommodation. In 2005/2006, 63 per cent of immigrants owned their own home (freeholder, housing cooperative etc.) compared with 76 per cent of the population as a whole. Twenty-five per cent of immigrants lived in detached houses, compared with 46 per cent of the population as a whole. Forty-five per cent of immigrants lived in cramped conditions (households in which there is more than one person per room in the home) compared with 12 per cent of the population as a whole. However, the differences in housing conditions between immigrants and the population as a whole decreased significantly between 1995 and Source: Statistics Norway, Blom og Henriksen 2008 Immigrants and Norwegian-born persons with immigrant parents in the municipalities Immigrants live in all the municipalities in Norway, but more than four out of ten immigrants and Norwegian-born persons with immigrant parents live in Oslo and Akershus county (41 per cent). In terms of numbers, most immigrants live in the biggest city municipalities such as Bergen, Stavanger and Trondheim, while the highest percentage of immigrants in relation to the population of the municipality as a whole live in Oslo, Drammen and Lørenskog. 41

42 The ten municipalities with the highest population of immigrants and Norwegian-born persons with immigrant parents as of 1 January Municipality Number Biggest group Oslo 181,343 Pakistan Bergen 35,139 Poland Stavanger 23,882 Poland Trondheim 20,331 Poland Bærum 19,284 Poland Drammen 15,276 Tyrkey Kristiansand 12,137 Vietnam Sandnes 10,912 Poland Skedsmo 10,250 Vietnam Fredrikstad 10,173 Iraq Source: Statistics Norway The ten municipalities with the highest percentage of immigrants and Norwegian-born persons with immigrant parents in relation to the population of the municipality as a whole as of 1 January Municipality Number of immigrants and Norwegian-born persons with immigrant parents Population of the municipality Percentage of immigrants and Norwegian-born persons with immigrant parents Oslo 181, , Drammen 15,276 64, Lørenskog 7,197 33, Skedsmo 10,250 49, Stavanger 23, , Askim 2,897 16, Rælingen 3,085 17, Ås 2,676 15, Træna 370 2, Hemsedal 390 2, Source: Statistics Norway 42