When abroad for work purposes, it’s often possible to use the social benefits available in a given country. This also concerns Norway where the basic forms of support include, among others, the Barnetrygd child benefit, to which not only Norwegian citizens, but also foreigners are entitled. In our article, we present the most important information on this allowance.
1. What is Barnetrygd?
Barnetrygd constitutes a family allowance granted in Norway for minor children. It aims to cover the costs of having and supporting them. NAV, i.e. the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration, is the institution responsible for processing applications for this financial assistance and paying the benefit.
2. Who can receive Norwegian child benefit?
Both Norwegian citizens and foreigners, including, among others, Poles, who have children aged 0-18 can obtain Barnetrygd. Importantly, not only the mother or father of the child are entitled to receive such a benefit. The right to Barnetrygd also applies to other entities having care of a child. Indeed, it can be an individual, but also a care facility if the child stays there for a period longer than 3 months.
In order to receive Barnetrygd, the following conditions must be fulfilled:
- earning income from work or self-employment in Norway either receiving equivalent benefits in this country (e.g. sickness or unemployment benefit);
- paying Norwegian social insurance contributions – trygdeavgift;
- registration of the applicant and the minor child at a common address.
As regards persons who work in Norway in the framework of the secondment to this country by their employer from another State, they are usually not eligible for Barnetrygd. This is linked to the fact that such employees remain members of the social security scheme in the country where their employer has its head office. However, it’s possible to grant the allowance in question to a person who is married to or in a partnership with a worker posted to Norway and who also moves to this State.
3. When Barnetrygd should be applied for?
As a rule, if a child is born in Norway, the family allowance is automatically granted to the mother and doesn’t require the submission of an application. This should occur within a period of about 2 months after the birth of the child.
In certain cases, it’s necessary to apply for Barnetrygd. This takes place, among others, in the event that:
- the child was born outside Norway;
- the allowance is to be paid to the child’s father, instead of to the mother by default;
- the applicant is a foster parent;
- the parents wants to divide the payment of the Barnetrygd allowance between them in connection with the conclusion of a written agreement on alternating custody of the child, as a result of which the child has a dual place of residence.
4. How to submit an application?
It’s possible to submit the application for Norwegian child benefit online or on a paper official form which shall be sent by regular mail. Both the online form and the printable one are available at the following site Application for child benefit – nav.no.
Documents that should be attached to the Barnetrygd request include, among others:
- the applicant’s identity document (ID card or passport);
- the child’s birth certificate;
- documentation confirming employment.
After submitting the application, it’s necessary to wait until NAV examines it and issues a decision concerning the possible granting of the benefit.
5. Norwegian child benefit payments
Barnetrygd is paid monthly and the beneficiary can start to receive it from the month following the birth of the child or from the month after the fulfillment of the conditions entitling to obtain the benefit in question. The basic family allowance constitutes a fixed amount per child on which no tax is deducted.
The benefit in question is subject to adjustment. This means that the amounts due under Barnetrygd are periodically increased. The rates applicable from 1 May 2025 are as follows:
- allowance for children under 6 years – NOK 1,968 per month for each child;
- allowance for children over 6 years – NOK 1,968 per month for each child.
It’s also worth pointing out that the above amounts may be divided equally between parents providing alternate care which has been properly documented.
In special situations, persons receiving family allowance can obtain supplements to Barnetrygd. The most important of these include extended child benefit (Utvidet Barnetrygd). The allowance in question is paid to single parents. It is granted on application submitted via the forms available at Application for extended child benefit – nav.no. The amount applicable in 2025 that can be received under Utvidet Barnetrygd is NOK 2,516 per month, regardless of the number of children.
6. Changes concerning the situation of the beneficiary
If there are any changes in the life situation of the recipient of the Barnetrygd benefit, NAV must be notified. The need to inform the Norwegian authority occurs in cases such as, for example, the applicant’s plans concerning the stay outside the territory of Norway, modification of employment conditions abroad or the relocation of children. If the beneficiary receives the extended child benefit Utvidet Barnetrygd at the same time, he/she is also obliged to notify NAV, among others, in the event that he/she has a roommate at his/her home address or gets married.
7. Barnetrygd and 800+
Barnetrygd constitutes the Norwegian equivalent of the Polish 800+ scheme (formerly 500+). According to the provisions of EU law, it’s impossible to receive two family allowances in different countries at the same time. Therefore, if one parent works in Norway and the other stays with the children in Poland but doesn’t provide work, the obligation to pay the appropriate allowance falls on Norway. On the other hand, if the other parent both works and lives in the territory of the Republic of Poland, Poland, i.e. the place of residence of the children, usually has priority in paying funds under the 800+ scheme. However, NAV may pay the diffrence between the Norwegian benefit and the Polish one (the so-called differential supplement) in the event that the amount which could be received under Barnetrygd would be higher than the allowance obtained in Poland.
8. Legal notice
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