Persons identified as presumed victims of human trafficking may be granted a reflection period and/or a limited residence permit:
The reflection period entails a six-month residence permit which cannot be renewed. The purpose of the permit is to enable the victim to break ties with the trafficking environment. The assessment done by the Directorate of Immigration (UDI) is to emphasise whether there are grounds to believe that the person is subject to human trafficking and whether they plan to accept help and participate in the measures that are offered.
A limited residence permit is granted for up to 12 months and can be extended. The purpose of the permit is to facilitate prosecution of the traffickers. The conditions for being granted such a permit is that the person has broken ties with the trafficking environment, that the matter has been reported to the police, that an investigation or prosecution against the traffickers has been initiated and that the police or the prosecuting authority considers the foreign national’s presence in Norway necessary to achieve a conviction.
UDI is responsible for processing applications of reflection periods and limited residence permits.
An application for a reflection period must be submitted to the police. The application must be delivered by personal attendance. Presumed victims of trafficking may apply for asylum to gain a legal right to stay in Norway. It is possible to switch from applying for a reflection period to applying for asylum. Information on how to submit such an application is provided by UDI. If the conditions for asylum are not met, UDI must consider whether the applicant meets the conditions for a residence permit granted on the basis of compelling humanitarian considerations, including a residence permit for witnesses in human trafficking cases. The purpose is to enable the victims of human trafficking to assist the police in the prosecution of the traffickers without fear of reprisals.