Care Allowance
in Norway – Kontantstøtte

Eligibility requirements for care allowance:

• earning income or receiving income replacement benefits in Norway (employment contract, self-employment, or receiving parental, sickness, rehabilitation, care, or unemployment benefits),
• paying social insurance contributions (trygdeavgift) in Norway,
• being part of the social insurance system in Norway and/or another EEA country for at least 5 years,
• permanent residence with the child(ren) aged 1–2,
• the child(ren) must stay at home with the mother or attend a nursery without public funding,

  IMPORTANT: If the child attends a publicly funded nursery for 33 hours or more per week, the care allowance is not paid. If attendance is less than 33 hours, the benefit is reduced.

Required documents when applying for care allowance in Norway:

• Child(ren) birth certificate – on an EU form or translated into Norwegian or English,
• Marriage certificate – on an EU form or translated into Norwegian or English,

  IMPORTANT: A marriage certificate is not required. Care allowance is also available to people in informal relationships or single parents. What matters is meeting the eligibility criteria mentioned above.

• Employment contract or other documentation confirming employment (for self-employed individuals in Norway, an accountant’s balance sheet is required) – for the entire period of the claim,
• Proof of residence registration in Norway or residence permit (registreringsbevis / oppholdstillatelse),
• Identity document (ID card or passport) of the applicant.

NAV processes care allowance applications within 12 – 24 months. The processing time does not affect the amount of the benefit.