"UDI increases on Monday, April 25, the financial support of 10,000 kroner for the first 500 applications for assisted return to their homeland. The scheme applies to the first 500 who actually leave within six weeks of applying for assisted return," the directorate said in a statement.
The initiative applies to migrants who applied for asylum before April 1 and are either awaiting a response from the UDI or the Norwegian Immigration Appeals Board, the directorate added.
Somali, Afghan and Ethiopian nationals are not covered by the scheme.
Norwegian Minister of Immigration and Integration Sylvi Listhaug submitted the government’s package of proposals that seeks to toughen the rules for migrants and asylum seekers to parliament on April 5. Senior communications adviser to the Immigration Ministry Andreas Skjold-Lorange told Sputnik that day that Norwegian lawmakers planned to vote on the bill before summer.
Arild Strommen, the spokesperson for the National Police Immigration Service of Norway, told Sputnik earlier this year that the country was ready to deport some 9,000 migrants if appropriate funding was provided.
UDI estimates over 800 of the 31,145 who sought asylum in Norway last year have withdrawn their applications, while 7,825 migrants have been expelled.