Health care services in Oslo
Your rights to medical assistance as a newcomer in Oslo, and important sources of information for healthcare services.
Moving to Oslo? Understanding how the healthcare system works will make life easier upon arrival. This page explains how to register for a doctor, navigate the healthcare system, what services are available, and where to find reliable information.
Your right to health services
Norway offers high-quality medical care to all residents. Your health care rights depend on your membership in the National Insurance Scheme (folketrygden), which is based on your legal stay in Norway.
- For more general information about how the welfare system works in Norway, visit our page on the Norwegian welfare system.
If you plan to stay in Norway for longer than 12 months and register as a resident, you will automatically be a member of the scheme. This membership gives you access to public healthcare and other benefits.
If you are not yet registered, or only have a temporary identification number (D-Nnumber), your rights are more limited, but you will always receive emergency medical assistance.
How to get a doctor (fastlege) in Oslo
The municipality is responsibile to provide the necessary health care for its inhabitants. This is organized through assigning a regular doctor: a Primary Care Physician or General Practitioner (GP), known as a "fastlege" in Norwegian. This doctor is your main point of contact for health care.
You will need to be registered in the Population Register (folkeregisteret) to get a GP. Once you are registered, the system will automatically assign you a doctor.
Your GP handles routine check-ups, prescriptions, and referrals to specialists. Some GP offices allow same-day appointments if you call early in the morning, while some have longer waiting times. You can also change your GP or check their contact details through the official health portal at helsenorge.no.
You can change your GP through Helse Norge up to twice a year.
What if you don't have a GP yet?
If you only have a D-number, you will not be assigned a GP, because a temporary identification number does not give you a membership in the National Insurance Scheme.
If you only have the right to a D-number, you will receive necessary emergency medical assistance, but only those with a national identity number or a European Health Insurance Card are entitled to a general practitioner (fastlege, allmennlege).
There are a several GPs who treat people without a regular doctor:
- Learn more about doctors who treat patients without an assigned GP from the City of Oslo.
If you need medical assistance while wating you should contact The Norwegian Health Economics Administration (HELFO). Their phone lines are open Monday–Friday from 8.00 a.m. until 3.30 p.m.: +47 23 32 70 00.
You should also familiarize yourself with the contact information of different emergency services upon arrival in Oslo:
- Go to Emergency services for information about contact points.
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
If you are from an EEA-country or Switzerland, bring your European Health Insurance Card with you. The card proves that you have the right to emergency and necessary medical treatment in Norway.
HELFO can also assist with ordering a European Health Insurance Card and reimbursement of medical expenses.
Payment for health services
Most health services, from doctor's check-ups to surgeries and prescription pickups, require a co-pay or user-fee.
- Go to helsenorge.no for information about user fees for various types of treatments.
Pregnancy healthcare
Antenatal care
During pregancy, all inhabitants of Oslo are offered free health service. You can decide to get your follow up through your GP, or through a midwife at your local health centre.
- Learn more from Oslo kommune about what kind of care is offered to expecting mothers and postpartum, and how to book an appointment.
Baby and children health and development
The health centre supports you in overseeing your baby and childrens health and development from age 0-5. Check-ups contain physical, psychological and social aspects. Your address determines what health center you belong to.
- Learn more from Oslo kommune about what they can assist with, appointments, which health center you belong to.
Language support and interpretation
You have the right to receive information about your health, illness and treatment in a language you understand.
- Go to helsenorge.no to read about interpreters in the health services.
Vaccinations
The City of Oslo provide the vaccine for Coronavirus for free, and you can also get information about registration of vaccination received abroad.
- Go to helsenorge.no to get general information about vaccines in general.
- Go to The city of Oslos information about the Coronavirus vaccine
Dental services
Children receive free public dental treatment in Norway. Most adults have to pay their expenses for dental treatment themselves. There are some conditions/situations where the National Insurance scheme will cover some of the cost of treatment via HELFO. As an adult, you choose which dentist you want to use.
The Norwegian word for dentist is tannlege.
Norway’s health care system is designed to ensure equal access for all residents, but it requires proper registration as a newcomer and a good understanding of your rights.
Recommended reading from Welcome to Oslo:
Welcome to Oslo is a webpage provided by Oslo kommune (the City of Oslo) for anyone moving to Oslo to work, study, or join a family member, whether you're here for a few months or planning to stay long-term. Explore our other resources:
- Working in Oslo: finding a job, understanding workers rights and obligations, and more.
- Accommodation in Oslo: finding a home, navigating public services, and more.
- Studying in Oslo: academic institutions, working after studying, and more.
- Daily life in Oslo: exploring the nature, getting around, and more.