NAV & Benefits Guide
What Is NAV?
NAV (Arbeids- og velferdsetaten) is Norway's Labour and Welfare Administration. It is one of the largest public agencies in Norway and manages a huge range of services:
- Unemployment benefits (dagpenger)
- Sickness benefits (sykepenger)
- Parental leave (foreldrepenger)
- Child benefit (barnetrygd)
- Disability benefits (uføretrygd)
- Work assessment allowance (arbeidsavklaringspenger)
- Job seeking assistance and career services
If you need any form of financial support from the Norwegian state, it almost always goes through NAV.
nav.no is the main portal – most applications and communication happen online.
Are You Entitled to Benefits as an Immigrant?
Your entitlements depend on your membership in Folketrygden (the National Insurance Scheme). Most people who live and work legally in Norway are automatically members of Folketrygden from the day they arrive.
EU/EEA citizens living and working in Norway have the same rights as Norwegian citizens from day one.
Non-EU/EEA citizens with a valid residence/work permit are also members of Folketrygden and entitled to most benefits.
There is usually a minimum period of contributions required before you can claim certain benefits – for example, you need at least 12 months of employment before claiming unemployment benefits.
Registering with NAV
If You Are Looking for Work
Register as a job seeker at nav.no. This is required if you want to:
- Claim unemployment benefits (dagpenger)
- Access NAV's job seeking services and career guidance
- Be included in NAV's records for potential job matching
Registration is done online with BankID.
If You Are Newly Arrived
Even if you have a job, it is worth familiarising yourself with NAV early. You may need to use it for parental leave, sickness absence, or other life events.
Unemployment Benefits (Dagpenger)
What Is It?
Dagpenger replaces part of your income if you become unemployed or have your hours significantly reduced.
Requirements
- You must have earned at least 186,808 kr (1.5G) in the last 12 months, or at least 124,539 kr (1G) in the last 36 months (2025 figures – these are updated annually)
- You must be registered as a job seeker with NAV
- You must be actively looking for work
- You must be available to take on work
How Much Do You Get?
Dagpenger pays approximately 62.4% of your previous income, up to a maximum based on 6G (around 745,000 kr). The maximum dagpenger is therefore around 465,000 kr per year – but most people receive significantly less.
How Long Can You Receive It?
- Up to 104 weeks (2 years) if you earned above 2G in the previous year
- Up to 52 weeks (1 year) if you earned between 1G and 2G
How to Apply
Apply online at nav.no/dagpenger. Apply as soon as you become unemployed – there is a 3-day waiting period before payments start, and delays in applying cost you money.
Sickness Benefits (Sykepenger)
What Is It?
If you are too ill to work, sykepenger covers your income during sick leave.
How It Works
- Your employer pays full salary for the first 16 days (arbeidsgiverperioden)
- After 16 days, NAV takes over
- NAV pays up to 100% of your salary up to 6G (around 745,000 kr per year)
- You need a sick note (sykemelding) from your doctor (fastlege) after 3 days of self-reported absence, or immediately if it is a longer illness
Self-Reported Absence (Egenmelding)
You can self-report sick days without a doctor's note for up to 3 consecutive days, up to 4 times per year, once you have been employed for at least 2 months.
Parental Leave (Foreldrepenger)
Norway has one of the most generous parental leave systems in the world.
Total Leave
The total parental leave period is 49 weeks at 100% pay or 59 weeks at 80% pay.
How It Is Divided
- 15 weeks are reserved for the mother (before and after birth)
- 15 weeks are reserved for the father/co-parent (fedrekvote)
- The remaining weeks are shared and can be divided as the parents choose
Requirements
Both parents must have been in paid work for at least 6 of the last 10 months before the birth.
Adoption
Similar rules apply for adoption.
Apply at nav.no/foreldrepenger
Child Benefit (Barnetrygd)
All families with children under 18 living in Norway are entitled to child benefit, regardless of income.
- 2025 rate: 1,766 kr per month per child (0–5 years: 3,532 kr with extended benefit)
- Paid automatically once you register your child with Folkeregisteret
- No application needed for most – NAV contacts you automatically
Other Benefits
Work Assessment Allowance (Arbeidsavklaringspenger – AAP)
For people who cannot work due to illness or injury and are waiting for a medical assessment or rehabilitation. Pays around 66% of previous income.
Disability Benefit (Uføretrygd)
For people who have a permanent reduction in work capacity of at least 50% due to illness or injury. Pays around 66% of previous income up to 6G.
Housing Benefit (Bostøtte)
Income-based support for people with low income and high housing costs. Managed jointly by NAV and Husbanken. Apply at nav.no/bostotte.
Social Assistance (Sosialhjelp)
Last-resort financial support for people who cannot support themselves through work or other benefits. Administered by your local municipality (kommune), not NAV centrally.
Practical Tips
Register early. Do not wait until you desperately need help – register as a job seeker and familiarise yourself with the system before you need it.
Use nav.no, not the phone. Almost everything can be done online. The NAV phone line has long waiting times. Use the online portal with BankID.
Keep records of everything. Save copies of all applications, letters and decisions. If you disagree with a decision, you have the right to appeal (klage).
Talk to your employer first. Many benefits are partly administered by employers (sickness absence, parental leave). Your HR department should be your first contact.
Language help. NAV has interpreters available for appointments and some information in multiple languages on nav.no.
Useful Links
- nav.no – Main portal for all services and applications
- nav.no/dagpenger – Unemployment benefits
- nav.no/foreldrepenger – Parental leave
- nav.no/sykepenger – Sickness benefits
- nav.no/bostotte – Housing benefit