How Much Is foreldrepenger and How Long Does Parental Leave Last in Norway?
Foreldrepenger (NAV parental benefit) is one of the most important benefits for parents working in Norway. In practice, it determines how much money you receive while caring for your child and how long you can use a paid period after birth or adoption.
In this article, we explain who is entitled to foreldrepenger, how much the benefit is in 2026, how the 6 G limit works, how the period is shared between parents, and how the NAV benefit differs from the right to parental leave itself.
If you want us to help you with the formalities, check our help with applying for foreldrepenger.
Foreldrepenger and parental leave - how do they differ?
In Norway, you need to distinguish between two things:
| Term | What it means | What it is regulated by |
|---|---|---|
| Foreldrepenger | A cash benefit that replaces a parent's income while caring for a child | NAV benefit rules, mainly folketrygdloven |
| Foreldrepermisjon | An employee's right to be absent from work in connection with pregnancy, birth, adoption, and child care | Employment law, mainly arbeidsmiljøloven |
An employee is entitled to a total of 12 months of parental leave in connection with pregnancy, birth, and the period after birth. Parents are also entitled to leave for as long as they receive foreldrepenger from NAV.
After the first year, each parent is entitled to an additional 1 year of unpaid leave for each birth. This extra leave must be taken immediately after the first leave period.
The father or co-mother also has a separate right to 2 weeks of omsorgspermisjon at the birth or when taking over the care of the child. As a rule, this is unpaid leave unless the employment contract or collective agreement provides pay. We discuss the father's part in more detail in the article How long is pappapermisjon in Norway?
Who is entitled to foreldrepenger?
To receive foreldrepenger, you must meet the basic requirements related to income, social insurance, and parenthood.
| Requirement | What must be met in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Income period | Income or eligible benefits for at least 6 of the last 10 months before starting to receive foreldrepenger |
| Minimum income | Annual income of at least 0.5 G, meaning 68,275 NOK with the G rate valid from 1 May 2026 |
| Insurance | Membership in folketrygden (the Norwegian social security system) |
| Parenthood | You must be registered as the child's parent or document parenthood in another way |
The required period may include, among other things:
- income from work,
- sykepenger (sick pay),
- previous foreldrepenger,
- svangerskapspenger (pregnancy benefit),
- arbeidsavklaringspenger (AAP),
- dagpenger (unemployment benefit),
- pleiepenger and omsorgspenger,
- work in another EEA country, if it can be properly documented.
If you have received sickness benefits, we describe the rules for illness in Norway in more detail in the article Sick note, sick pay, and self-certification - what happens in case of illness in Norway?
Scholarships and loans from Lånekassen do not give you the right to foreldrepenger. A person without the required income should check engangsstønad (maternity grant, a one-time benefit from NAV), which in 2026 amounts to 92,648 NOK per child for births and adoptions covered by the current rate.
How much is foreldrepenger in 2026?
Parents choose one of two payout options: 100% or 80% of the income basis. The 100% option means a higher monthly payment and a shorter period. The 80% option means a lower monthly payment and a longer period.
The limit is based on the grunnbeløpet G. From 1 May 2026, G is 136,549 NOK, and the 6 G limit is 819,294 NOK per year. The benefit is calculated only up to this limit, even if you earn more.
| Option | Amount paid | Maximum annual basis in 2026 | What it means in practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100% | 100% of the income basis | Up to 819,294 NOK gross per year | If your income is above 6 G, the amount above 819,294 NOK is not covered by NAV |
| 80% | 80% of the income basis | Up to 655,435.20 NOK gross per year as 80% of 6 G | You get a lower monthly payment, but for a longer period |
The benefit is taxable. For employees, freelancers, and people receiving benefits from NAV, tax is deducted from the payment. Self-employed persons pay forskuddsskatt (advance tax payments during the year). These are advance payments, and the final tax is determined only in the annual tax return.
How is the income basis calculated?
The way the basis is calculated depends on where your income comes from.
| Situation | How the basis is usually calculated |
|---|---|
| Employee | Average income from the last 3 full calendar months before the start of the foreldrepenger period |
| Freelancer | Usually average income from the last 3 full calendar months |
| Self-employed person | Usually the average pensjonsgivende årsinntekt from the last 3 assessed tax years |
If the difference between annual income and income from the last 3 months exceeds 25%, the basis must be assessed to determine which income best reflects your real situation. In principle, overtime, feriepenger, and reimbursements of work expenses are not included in the basis. However, salary, certain bonuses, and benefits similar to salary are included if they are lost during leave.
How long do parental leave and the payment period last?
The length of the paid period depends on the chosen option, the number of children, and whether one or both parents are entitled to foreldrepenger. The rules below apply to a child born or adopted from 1 July 2024, which is the current model also used in 2026.
When both parents are entitled to foreldrepenger
For one child, the total payment period is 49 weeks with the 100% option or 61 weeks and 1 day with the 80% option.
| Option | Total period for birth | Period split |
|---|---|---|
| 100% | 49 weeks | 3 weeks before birth for the mother + 15 weeks mødrekvote + 15 weeks fedrekvote / medmorkvote + 16 weeks fellesperiode |
| 80% | 61 weeks and 1 day | 3 weeks before birth for the mother + 19 weeks mødrekvote + 19 weeks fedrekvote / medmorkvote + 20 weeks and 1 day fellesperiode |
Mødrekvote is the part reserved for the mother. The first 6 weeks after birth must be taken by the mother immediately after birth and cannot be combined with work or annual holiday.
Fedrekvote or medmorkvote is the part reserved for the father or co-mother. It can be taken continuously, split up, or combined with part-time work.
Fellesperiode is the shared part that the parents divide between them. When the father or co-mother uses days from the shared part, the mother must meet the aktivitetskrav (activity requirement), for example by working, studying full time, or meeting other permitted conditions.
In the case of adoption, there are no 3 weeks before birth, so the period for one child is 46 weeks with 100% or 58 weeks and 1 day with 80%.
When only one parent is entitled to foreldrepenger
| Situation | 100% option | 80% option | Important rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Only the mother is entitled, without aleneomsorg | 49 weeks | 61 weeks and 1 day | In the case of birth, the mother must start the period no later than 3 weeks before the due date |
| Only the father or co-mother is entitled | 40 weeks | 52 weeks and 1 day | For a child born from 2 August 2024, the first 10 weeks are granted without an aktivitetskrav, and the later period requires the mother's activity |
| The mother has aleneomsorg (sole care) | 49 weeks | 61 weeks and 1 day | The mother receives the entire period, including the other parent's share |
| The father or co-mother has aleneomsorg | 46 weeks | 58 weeks and 1 day | The period is counted after birth or from the time care is taken over |
Twins, triplets, and premature birth
With more children, the period is longer.
| Number of children | Total period at 100% | Total period at 80% |
|---|---|---|
| One child | 49 weeks | 61 weeks and 1 day |
| Two children | 66 weeks | 82 weeks and 2 days |
| Three or more children | 95 weeks | 118 weeks and 4 days |
If the child was born before the 33rd week of pregnancy, the foreldrepenger period is extended by the number of weeks and days the child was born early. The extension is the same regardless of whether you choose 80% or 100%.
The foreldrepenger period can be used continuously, split into parts, or combined with part-time work. It must be used before the child turns 3 years old, and in the case of adoption before 3 years have passed since taking over care.
Deadlines, payment, and feriepenger
It is a good idea to submit the foreldrepenger application 4-6 weeks before the planned start of the benefit period. The application must be submitted no later than 3 months after the month for which you want to receive the benefit. Submitting the application after this deadline results in losing the corresponding number of days.
The employee must inform the employer about the planned leave themselves. The employer must send an inntektsmelding (income report for NAV). Without this, the case will be delayed.
| Deadline relative to the employer | When it applies |
|---|---|
| 1 week in advance | When the total absence is to last more than 2 weeks |
| 4 weeks in advance | When the total absence is to last more than 12 weeks |
| 12 weeks in advance | When the total absence is to last more than 1 year |
Payment from NAV is generally made by the 25th of the month, and in December by 12 December. If the decision is made after the 15th of the month or covers retroactive periods, the additional payment usually reaches the account within a few days of the decision.
Feriepenger on foreldrepenger is calculated at 10.2% and is accrued on pre-tax payments for the first 12 weeks of the entire period when choosing 100%, or for the first 15 weeks when choosing 80%. The payment is made by the end of May in the year after the entitlement year. We discuss the rules in more detail in the article Vacation pay payout - when, how much, and what about tax?
Employees are entitled to feriepenger from foreldrepenger. Self-employed persons and freelancers do not have this right, nor do people whose foreldrepenger is calculated on the basis of AAP or dagpenger.
FAQ - frequently asked questions
Summary
- In 2026, foreldrepenger amounts to 100% or 80% of the income basis, but only up to the 6 G limit, which is 819,294 NOK per year.
- For one child and the entitlement of both parents, the period is 49 weeks at 100% or 61 weeks and 1 day at 80%.
- The right to the benefit requires, among other things, income for 6 of the last 10 months, a minimum income of 68,275 NOK, and membership in folketrygden.
- Parental leave itself and payment from NAV are two different things - you notify your employer about the leave, and you apply to NAV for the money.
If you need help applying for foreldrepenger, call us: +47 21 38 38 21. We help Poles in Norway sort out benefit matters.
Article author: Marcin - marcin@efirma.no
