At the passport office at Grålum in Sarpsborg, holiday preparations are underway for many. Fredrik Brekke and his son Ailo will secure passports. – We must have passports for the children this year, we are out in good time. We have heard that there could be a bit of a pass queue, says Brekke. They will not be alone in applying for a passport this year. Fredrik Brekke and his son Ailo are two of many who will be visiting the passport office during 2023. Photo: Stein Ove Korneliussen / news Like last year, the police are expecting a very large turnout at the passport offices around the country. – We expect 1.3 million applications for passports and ID cards in 2023. That’s roughly the same number as last year, which was a record year, says department director Bjørn Vandvik in the police directorate. Better prepared The travel restrictions during the pandemic meant that many did not renew their passports. It created long queues when “everyone” had to get new passports last year. Global shortages of raw materials also made it difficult to produce enough passports. There is still a backlog after the pandemic, says Vandvik to news. – But we do not believe in the same chaos as last year, for several reasons. The police are better prepared now, and are increasing capacity at the passport offices. And there is nothing to indicate delivery problems of the parts to be used for the passports, like last year. Bjørn Vandvik in the Norwegian Police Directorate expects a lot of traffic at the passport offices, but thinks the police have better control than last year. Photo: The police – It also seems as if people have learned that they have to be out early. We have had a much higher intake of passport applications in January and February this year than in previous years, says Vandvik. So far this year, the police have processed approximately 260,000 applications for passports. At the same time last year, the figure was approximately 215,000. Check regularly news has checked how long the waiting time is per hour for ordering passports and national ID cards in the various police districts. There are big differences from office to office in the various districts. In some places, demand is already very high, and when you try to book an appointment, you are told that there are no available appointments for the next six months. How is it in your police district? East: Many free hours, some waiting time at Lillestrøm police station. Agder: Farsund is full. In Kristiansand, there are single lessons in March and lots of vacancies in April – new lessons are posted here several times a week. In Arendal, there are vacancies in May and June as of now, new hours are posted weekly (not at a fixed time). Finnmark: Many free hours at all six offices. Inland: Great variation from office to office. Large influx at Elverum, Gran and Kongsvinger. Møre and Romsdal: Some waiting time in Ålesund, otherwise many free hours at the various offices. Nordland: Fairly short waiting time at all offices. Oslo: As of today, only one free hour before Easter. New hours are published on an ongoing basis when there is capacity, but this is not done at fixed times. Svalbard: Available hours on Wednesdays from now on. South-West: Fairly large traffic at Egersund, Randaberg, Sandnes and Sola. New hours are posted every Monday and Wednesday at 8 a.m., and may disappear quickly depending on location. South-East: Some waiting time in some places, but many free hours in, for example, Drammen. The police have the impression that many people are waiting, and recommend that those who need a passport this year book an appointment. New hours are posted, please check regularly. Troms: Many free hours throughout the district. The police encourage people to book an appointment now, so that it does not pile up towards the summer. Trøndelag: Great demand in Trondheim, where new hours are published on Tuesdays. They disappear quickly, so be early. Constant cancellations, so check regularly. West: Mostly easy to get an appointment, except at Os and Voss police station. Os has a small capacity and is full, but posts more hours before the summer. Voss increases capacity on Monday 13/3 and posts new weekly hours. But everyone news has spoken to says that new hours are posted continuously until the summer. If you are told that there is a waiting period of several months at your office, this can change quickly, so check regularly. According to the Norwegian Police Directorate, 115,000 hours have been posted throughout the country, and new hours are posted daily. You can find a full overview in the fact box. – Norwegians are hungry for travel Last year you had to choose between a passport and a national ID card. With a national ID card, you can only travel to other countries in the Schengen area. The police believe that many people may apply for the document they were not able to apply for last year. A large number of Norwegians have plans to travel in 2023. The travel operator TUI reports on travel-hungry Norwegians. – Many have already booked. Far more than during the pandemic years, but not as many as in 2019, which was the previous normal year, says Adam Györki, Nordic communications manager at TUI. Norwegians are hungry for travel, says Adam Györki, Nordic communications manager at TUI. Photo: David Axelsson / TUI – I think it will pick up even more towards the summer. Norway stands out a bit compared to the rest of the Nordic region, Norwegians book the most right now and seem eager to travel. I think it could soon be a summer like that where a lot of people travel, he says to news. Order your passport now The police are manning the passport offices around the country, but again this year it is expected that Oslo and Eastern Norway will be by far the most busy. But no matter where you live, the police’s call is clear: – If you are going to travel in the summer, go to politiet.no and book an appointment now! If you are going to travel in the autumn, wait until the summer to book. And don’t book travel until you’ve got your passport, says department director Vandvik.
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The police expect a long passport queue – ask people to book an appointment before the summer – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
