The asylum process is rights-based but is also characterised by complexity, discretionary judgement, and strict documentation requirements. Known challenges are related to legal certainty, especially for children and other vulnerable groups, as well as variations in how procedures are carried out in practice. Fafo's research in the field particularly covers four themes:

1. The asylum procedure
2. Living conditions in reception centres
3. Care for particularly vulnerable groups
4. Return

Within the asylum procedure, Fafo has evaluated the quality of UDI's asylum interviews. Through analyses of audio recordings and conversations with caseworkers, the study found that the interview model generally maintains high quality, but there is room for improvement in its implementation.

Fafo has also examined how child-specific expertise is applied in immigration administration and how the best interests of the child are actually safeguarded in practice.

These studies contribute knowledge on how legal certainty and professional quality can be strengthened in case processing.

Another central theme in Fafo's research is living conditions in reception centres. In the project «Med oppholdstillatelse, men i mottak?» we investigated how long waiting times in reception centres affect residents' mental health, quality of life, and opportunities for later integration. The study documented negative consequences of prolonged inactivity and lack of predictability.

This is also addressed in the Fafo report «Normalitet i limbo», which focuses on children who have lived in reception centres for a long time. It highlights children's everyday lives and how they try to create a sense of normality in an unpredictable situation characterised by waiting.

A third theme in Fafo's asylum research is the care of particularly vulnerable groups. This includes, among other things, torture survivors in the asylum process, where it is pointed out that identification and follow-up of this group are not always in line with professional guidelines.

In addition, Fafo has evaluated both ordinary reception centres for unaccompanied minor asylum seekers and special departments for individuals with specific needs. These studies provide insight into how reception centres are organised and staffed, and how residents' care and safety needs are met.

A fourth theme is return. Fafo has conducted several studies that examine the conditions for return, both forced and voluntary, and how return work is organised and experienced. The research has highlighted challenges related to motivation for return, trust in information, follow-up from Norwegian authorities, and cooperation with home countries.

The studies show that many perceive return as a last resort, and that social networks, perceived future prospects, and support schemes are of great importance for the decision-making process and how the return unfolds.