Ukrainian refugees residing in Norway can now apply for financial aid to return home.
The Norwegian government is offering 17,500 kroner, about $1,580, for expenses.
“If you have a valid residence permit in Norway but now wish to move back to your home country, you can apply for a grant from the Norwegian authorities,” the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) website says.
The payment is to help refugees “re-establish” themselves in Ukraine.
To apply for aid, a Ukrainian refugee must submit a “description of how you will travel home and where the journey ends (means of transport, route and destination)” at least 16 weeks in advance, the site explains.
As of September 2023, there are almost 57,000 Ukrainians in Norway.
According to the United Nations, an estimated 5.8 million Ukrainians left their country since its conflict with Russia began, although the European Union estimates that nearly 10 million Ukrainians left.
Reporting from RT:
Earlier this month, Swiss authorities floated a plan to offer incentives for Ukrainians who wish to return, once their temporary “S status” expires, which is scheduled to happen by 2025. The proposal envisions paying between 1,000 and 4,000 Swiss francs ($1,090 to $4,355) to “encourage voluntary departures.” More than 70,000 Ukrainians have applied for refugee status in Switzerland.
