SOPEMI-report for Norway International Migration 2007-2008 Prepared by the correspondent to SOPEMI, OECD’s re- porting system on migration, Espen Thorud, Department of Migration In co-operation with Eva Haagensen, Department of Integration and Diversity Finn Ola Jølstad, Department of Labour Market Affairs Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion Statistical data provided by Statistics Norway (SSB) and the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) December 2008 1 Acknowledgement The very valuable assistance of Statistics Norway and the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration, and contribu- tions of the Ministry of Education and Research and of several colleagues in the Ministry of Labour and Social Inclusion are acknowledged with gratitude. 2 Table of contents: 1 OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................................................................... 5 2 MIGRATION – GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS .................................................................................................................. 9 2.1 Legislation and policy .......................................................................................................................................... 9 2.2 Migration flows .................................................................................................................................................. 10 2.3 Immigration according to entry categories ....................................................................................................... 12 3 FAMILY-BASED IMMIGRATION .................................................................................................................................... 15 3.1 Legislation and policy ........................................................................................................................................ 15 3.2 Flows and permits ............................................................................................................................................. 15 4. LABOUR MIGRATION ................................................................................................................................................. 17 4.1 Legislation ......................................................................................................................................................... 17 4.2 Policies .............................................................................................................................................................. 17 4.3 Flows and permits ............................................................................................................................................. 19 4.4 Immigrants on short term stay ........................................................................................................................... 22 5 MIGRATION FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING .............................................................................................................. 23 5.1 Legislation and policy ........................................................................................................................................ 23 5.2 Flows and permits ............................................................................................................................................. 23 6 ASYLUM SEEKERS AND REFUGEES .............................................................................................................................. 25 6.1 Legislation and policy ........................................................................................................................................ 25 6.2 Flows and permits ............................................................................................................................................. 27 6.3 Resettlement of refugees .................................................................................................................................... 30 6.4 Settlement in municipalities ............................................................................................................................... 31 6.5 Voluntary repatriation ....................................................................................................................................... 32 7 IRREGULAR MIGRATION AND RETURN ........................................................................................................................ 33 7.1 Legislation and policy ........................................................................................................................................ 33 7.2 Illegal entry and residence ................................................................................................................................ 34 7.3 Assisted return ................................................................................................................................................... 35 8 FOREIGN NATIONALS, IMMIGRANTS AND THEIR CHILDREN ......................................................................................... 36 8.1 Population growth and fertility rates ................................................................................................................. 36 8.2 Foreign nationals .............................................................................................................................................. 36 8.3 Immigrants and their children ........................................................................................................................... 38 8.4 Refugee population ............................................................................................................................................ 39 9 NATIONALITY AND NATURALIZATION ........................................................................................................................ 40 9.1 Legislation ......................................................................................................................................................... 40 9.2 Naturalizations .................................................................................................................................................. 40 10 INTEGRATION AND SOCIAL INCLUSION ..................................................................................................................... 42 10.1 Policy goals and guidelines ............................................................................................................................. 42 10.2 Plan of action for integration and social inclusion ......................................................................................... 42 10.3 Plan of action against forced marriages ......................................................................................................... 43 10.4 Survey on living conditions among immigrants, 2005/2006 ............................................................................ 44 10.5 Survey of living conditions for youth of immigrant origin ............................................................................... 45 10.6 Young immigrants and Norwegian-born with immigrant parents in employment and education ................................................................................................................................................................. 46 10.7 Introduction programme .................................................................................................................................. 47 11 LANGUAGE TRAINING AND EDUCATION .................................................................................................................... 49 11.1 Pre-school children ......................................................................................................................................... 49 11.2 Primary and secondary education ................................................................................................................... 50 11.3 Adult education ................................................................................................................................................ 52 12 THE LABOUR MARKET .............................................................................................................................................. 54 12.1 Labour market policy ....................................................................................................................................... 54 12.2 Labour market schemes ................................................................................................................................... 55 12.3 The labour market outcome for immigrants .................................................................................................... 56 13 PARTICIPATION IN ELECTIONS .................................................................................................................................. 62 13.1 Local elections ................................................................................................................................................. 62 13.2 Representation in municipal councils .............................................................................................................. 63 13.3 National elections ...........................................................................................................................................