The Norwegian welfare system
What newcomers need to know about social security, health care, and welfare benefits in Norway.
Understanding the National Insurance Scheme (folketrygden)
The Norwegian welfare model is based on the National Insurance Scheme, known as folketrygden. This scheme provides access to a wide range of social secrity and health care services for residents of Norway.
Membership in the National Insurance Scheme is compulsory for everyone who lives in Norway for more than one year. It entitles you to social security and health care in Norway, but for certain services and benefits there might be additional requirements, such as residence status and employment, or citizenship.
The National Insurance Scheme includes a wide range of services, such as:
- Unemployment benefits
- Parental benefits
- Sickness and disability benefits
- Retirement pensions
Some benefits require that you have lived in Norway for a certain number of years. Others may depend on your employment status or contributions to the scheme.
In addition to the National Insurance Scheme, there are other related programs:
- Child Benefit Scheme
- Cash Benefit for Families with Small Children
All social security services are administered by NAV, the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration.
If you have children under 18 who live outside Norway, you should contact NAV to discuss your situation.
International agreements and your rights
Norway has social security agreements with a number of other countries. The most comprehensive are with the European Union and the EEA countries, but there are also bilateral agreements with individual countries. This means you should research what your particular rights are according to your citizenship and permit type.
Before applying for benefits, its important to check which rights apply to you based on your citizenship and status in the country.
If you are a citizen of an EU or EEA country, your social security rights in Norway are coordinated under European regulations. This includes access to health care and other benefits, and the use of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
- Go to ec.europa.eu (the European Comission) for information.
Foreign students may also be eligible for membership in the National Insurance Scheme, depending on the length and nature of their stay.
Contacting NAV
NAV Call and Service Centre
If you have any questions about social security rights and services, you can contact NAV directly. They can answer your call in Norwegian or English.
Key concepts and resources
The basic amount (grunnbeløpet – 1G)
Many benefits and entitlements in the National Insurance Scheme are calculated using a reference amount called grunnbeløpet (1G). This amount is adjusted annually and used to estimate payments and eligibility thresholds.
Learn more about the Norwegian welfare system
- Go to samfunnskunnskap.no for a general introduction to the concept of the Norwegian welfare system.
- Go to norden.org for articles about social security services: benefits, pensions, health care, and more.
- Go to nordics.info to learn about the historical development of the Norwegian welfare state.
Norwegian encyclopedia
Den Store Norske Leksikon is a Norwegian online encyclopedia. The content is in Norwegian, but can be used with a translator.
- Learn more about the National Insurance Scheme (folketrygden)
- Learn more about the Norwegian welfare state (velferdstaten)
- Learn more about the Norwegian pension scheme (pensjon)