Barnebidrag in Norway - child maintenance when parents live in different countries
Do you work in Norway while your child lives with the other parent in Poland? Establishing child maintenance in this situation requires determining which country will handle the case, which income and costs will be taken into account, and how payments should later be arranged.
In this article, we explain how Norwegian barnebidrag (child maintenance) works, when NAV can consider the case, and what the procedure looks like between Poland and Norway. We provide the rates and rules applicable in 2026.
What is barnebidrag and which country can establish child maintenance?
Barnebidrag is a benefit due to the child. Before the child turns 18, the money is usually received by the parent with whom the child lives permanently. Both parents must contribute to the child's maintenance costs according to their financial means.
Child maintenance is generally payable until the end of the month in which the child turns 18. It may be paid for longer if the child continues regular education, primarily upper secondary school. Once the child turns 18, the child becomes a party to the agreement or proceedings.
In an international case, the habitual residence is important, meaning the country that is the centre of life for the parent or child. Relevant factors include the duration of the stay, work, family circumstances, the child's school, and the reasons for moving. Registration of residence or citizenship alone do not determine the case.
In Poland-Norway cases, the parent entitled to child maintenance generally has a choice:
- they may initiate the case in the country where they live with the child,
- they may apply in the country of the liable parent's habitual residence.
Norwegian authorities may consider the case if one of the parents or the child has their habitual residence in Norway. Cooperation between Poland and Norway is based on jurisdiction rules arising, among other things, from the Lugano Convention and rules on the international recovery of maintenance.
The father works in Norway while the mother and child live in Poland
If the mother and child live permanently in Poland and the father has his habitual residence in Norway, the mother may generally:
- apply for child maintenance in Poland,
- submit an application for child maintenance to NAV in Norway.
Working in Norway alone is not always enough. If the father only commutes to work and his centre of life remains in Poland, NAV's ability to handle the case must be assessed individually.
A different rule applies when the father living in Norway, as the liable parent, wishes to establish or change child maintenance while the recipient lives in Poland. NAV can consider such an application only with the maintenance recipient's consent. Without this consent, the case should generally be handled in Poland.
| Situation | Where can the case be initiated? | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| The mother and child live in Poland, the father lives in Norway | In Poland or before NAV in Norway | The choice belongs to the entitled parent |
| The father lives in Norway and submits an application to NAV himself | In Norway with the recipient's consent | Without the recipient's consent, the case should be handled in Poland |
| The father only works in Norway but lives permanently in Poland | Generally in Poland | The workplace alone does not determine NAV's jurisdiction |
Whether the family receives Polish or Norwegian family benefits is a separate matter. We discuss the coordination of these benefits in the article 500+ in Poland and barnetrygd in Norway. Can you receive both?
How does NAV calculate child maintenance in an international case?
There is no single statutory child maintenance rate. In an international case, NAV determines the amount based on an individual assessment, because the parents and child live in countries with different incomes, prices and living costs.
NAV primarily takes into account:
- the child's age and maintenance costs,
- both parents' income,
- care costs such as kindergarten, after-school care or a childminder,
- living costs in Poland and Norway,
- exchange rate differences and the purchasing power of income,
- the actual extent of contact with the child,
- the liable parent's ability to pay.
The child's maintenance cost
The starting point is the Norwegian cost model. From 1 July 2026, the basic monthly costs are as follows:
| Child's age | Consumer expenses | Housing share | Deducted barnetrygd | Basic monthly cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-5 years | 5,870 NOK | 3,811 NOK | 2,012 NOK | 7,669 NOK |
| 6-10 years | 7,523 NOK | 3,811 NOK | 2,012 NOK | 9,322 NOK |
| 11-14 years | 8,789 NOK | 3,811 NOK | 2,012 NOK | 10,588 NOK |
| 15 years and over | 9,764 NOK | 3,811 NOK | 2,012 NOK | 11,563 NOK |
Documented care costs may be added to the basic amount. In cases involving a child living in Poland, the above rates are not applied mechanically. NAV adjusts the result to reflect the actual costs and conditions in both countries.
Parents' income
Income taken into account includes gross salary, holiday pay, overtime, allowances, taxable NAV benefits and employee benefits. Positive net capital income is included when it exceeds 10,000 NOK per year.
If a parent earns significantly less than their qualifications and experience allow without a justified reason, NAV may use an estimated income based on previous earnings and realistic employment opportunities.
Ability to pay and maximum limits
The liable parent must be left with funds for their own maintenance, housing, and children living in their household. From 1 July 2026, the basic standard amounts are:
| Item | Single person | Person with a spouse or partner |
|---|---|---|
| Own maintenance | 12,330 NOK per month | 10,442 NOK per month |
| Housing costs | 12,408 NOK per month | 7,833 NOK per month |
For a child living permanently in the liable parent's household, 4,652 NOK per month is taken into account, and for shared residence, 2,326 NOK per month. Private loans and voluntarily declared expenses generally do not reduce maintenance capacity. With low income, child maintenance may be reduced to as little as 0 NOK.
The child maintenance amount should not exceed:
- 5/6 of the maintenance cost for the individual child, or 83.3%,
- a total of 25% of the gross income determined by NAV, before deductions for contact with the child.
Contact with the child and travel
Contact that is actually carried out may reduce child maintenance. In an international case, it must average at least 2 days or overnight stays per month to be taken into account. A contact agreement is not enough if visits do not take place in practice.
The costs of the child's travel between Poland and Norway are not part of the monthly child maintenance. Parents may agree on how to divide them in an agreement. Without a separate agreement, reasonable and necessary travel costs should be shared in proportion to the parents' income.
Private agreement or NAV decision?
Parents may agree on child maintenance themselves or apply to NAV. In an international case, a formal decision or court settlement is often more practical, especially where there is a risk of late payments.
| Solution | Advantages | What should you watch out for? |
|---|---|---|
| Private agreement | Faster arrangement of terms, no proceedings, possibility to tailor payment rules | The amount, due date, indexation and additional expenses must be specified precisely |
| NAV decision | Official calculation, right to appeal, practical basis for collection and enforcement | Fee, longer processing time, and documents are shared with the other party |
| Judgment or settlement in Poland | The case can be handled where the child lives | Appropriate international procedures are required for enforcement in Norway |
A written agreement should include:
- details of the parents and child,
- the monthly child maintenance amount,
- the date when the obligation begins,
- the due date and payment method,
- rules for indexation or changing the amount,
- arrangements regarding additional expenses,
- the parents' signatures.
The agreement does not need to be sent to NAV if the parents settle payments directly. However, it may be submitted to Skatteetaten for collection. The collection service is free of charge.
Submitting an application to NAV
The application may require:
- an agreement or decision regarding contact with the child,
- a previous child maintenance agreement, decision or judgment,
- receipts for kindergarten, after-school care or a childminder,
- proof of income, taxes and benefits from Poland and Norway,
- documents concerning living costs,
- proof of child maintenance payments for other children,
- medical documentation if health affects income.
Information relevant to the decision is shared with the other party. A lack of response from one parent does not stop the case - NAV may issue a decision based on the available information.
| Procedural element in 2026 | Rule |
|---|---|
| Fee for establishing or changing child maintenance | 1,345 NOK from each party |
| Fee exemption | The party's annual gross income is below 367,400 NOK |
| Estimated duration of an international case | Around 8 months with complete documentation |
| Start of child maintenance upon the first application | Generally from the month the application is submitted |
| Start of the new amount after an application for change | Generally from the following month |
| Appeal deadline | 3 weeks from receiving the decision |
After receiving an unfavourable decision, we can help prepare an appeal or complaint to NAV.
Changes, indexation and collection of child maintenance
NAV changes a previously determined amount if a new calculation results in a difference exceeding 12%. The change generally applies going forward. An adjustment for previous months requires significant reasons.
Child maintenance is usually indexed on 1 July each year. From 1 July 2026, the indexation rate is 3.6%, and the result is rounded to the nearest 10 NOK. In international cases determined through discretionary assessment, the amount is not automatically recalculated when the child turns 6, 11 or 15. You must then assess yourself whether to apply for a change.
When collection is handled by Skatteetaten, payment is due on the 25th day of the month preceding the maintenance month. For a transfer from Poland, it is best to pay in NOK and provide the Norwegian national identity number, D-number or case number. Bank charges are paid by the payer.
In the event of arrears, deductions from salary or benefits, seizure of assets and international enforcement proceedings are possible. However, enforcement in the other country may take a long time and does not guarantee recovery of the full debt.
FAQ - frequently asked questions
Summary
- A parent living with a child in Poland can generally initiate the case in Poland or Norway if the other parent has their habitual residence there.
- In international cases, NAV takes into account income, living costs, purchasing power, contact with the child, and the liable parent's ability to pay.
- Parents can enter into a written agreement or obtain a formal decision. An official decision makes cross-border collection and enforcement easier.
- The fee for establishing or changing child maintenance in 2026 is 1,345 NOK from each party, except for people who meet the income exemption requirement.
If you need help establishing barnebidrag between Poland and Norway, call us: +47 21 38 38 21. We help Poles in Norway get their official matters in order.
Article author: Marcin - marcin@efirma.no
