What does permittering mean and what rights do you have?

Have you received notice of permittering from your employer and are wondering whether you are still employed? Do you not know who will pay you, when to apply to NAV or whether you need to look for another job?

In this article, we explain how permittering in Norway works, when an employer can use it and what rights and obligations you have in 2026.

What does permittering mean?

Permittering means a temporary full or partial release of an employee from their duty to work when a company reduces or suspends its operations. The employment contract remains in force and the employment relationship is not terminated.

Permittering requires an objective reason related to the company's situation, rather than to a specific employee. Such a reason may include:

• lack of orders,
• loss of a contract or tender,
• a temporary production shutdown,
• a practical obstacle preventing work from being carried out,
• an accident or natural event.

The lack of work must be temporary. If the situation is expected to be permanent, the employer should use dismissal rather than permittering. Before making a decision, they should also use reasonable options to avoid the downtime.

The selection of employees covered by permittering must be based on objective criteria. In companies covered by a collective agreement, length of service is usually important, although justified business needs may support a different selection.

Notice, pay and the maximum period

Your employer should give you written notice at least 14 calendar days before permittering starts. In the event of unforeseen circumstances, such as an accident or natural disaster, this period may be reduced to 2 days. Detailed rules may follow from the collective agreement applicable at the company.

The notice should specify:

• the reason for the permittering,
• the date on which the notice was given,
• the start date and expected end date,
• the percentage reduction in working hours,
• whether the permittering is full or partial,
• the employee's details and the employer's signature.

From the time you receive the notice until permittering begins, you work normally and receive full pay.

With partial permittering, the employer-paid days are accumulated proportionally. If working hours are reduced by 50%, the period corresponding to 15 full days may extend to 30 working days.

The limit of 26 weeks within 18 months does not include the first 15 working days funded by the employer. Once the limit has been used, the employer must resume paying your salary or end the permittering. If 20 weeks have already been used within the same 18-month period, 6 weeks of exemption from the obligation to pay salary remain.

When are you entitled to dagpenger from NAV?

After the employer-paid salary period ends, you can apply for dagpenger (unemployment benefit) from NAV. One requirement is that you have lost at least 50% of your total normal working hours. Working hours from all jobs are included.

You must also:

• have lost all or part of your income,
• be under 67 years of age,
• register as a job seeker,
• submit a meldekort every 14 days,
• actively seek work and remain available to NAV,
• be able to work at least 50%,
• meet the membership requirements of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme.

Income thresholds in 2026

From 1 May 2026, the basic amount G is NOK 136,549. To receive dagpenger, you must have earned at least:

Dagpenger amounts to 62.4% of your previous income. NAV compares your income from the last 12 months with the average from the last 36 months and chooses the more favourable basis. Income up to a maximum of NOK 819,294, equivalent to 6 G, is taken into account.

With an income basis equal to 6 G, the maximum theoretical amount in 2026 is approximately:

• NOK 511,239 per year,
• NOK 9,832 per week,
• NOK 1,966 per benefit day.

These are amounts before tax and without the child supplement. In 2026, the supplement for each child under 18 is NOK 38 per day for 5 days a week, or NOK 190 per week.

NAV also deducts an own contribution equivalent to 3 days of dagpenger, usually from the first payment. The benefit is taxable, so after a drop in income it is worth updating your skattekort (tax card). Changing the tax withholding during the year does not determine the final tax amount, which will be calculated in your annual tax return.

How do you apply?

It is worth submitting your application around 2 weeks before the last day you are entitled to salary. Dagpenger can be granted at the earliest from the day on which you both submit your application and register as a job seeker.

For the application, prepare in particular:

• your employment contract,
• the written permittering notice,
• if applicable, confirmation from your employer of employment and reduced working hours.

You must submit your meldekort every 14 days, including while waiting for a decision. According to information current on 18 August 2026, the estimated application processing time was approximately 7 weeks. Once the benefit is granted, NAV pays arrears from the date entitlement began.

We also discuss the detailed rules of the benefit in the article Unemployment benefit in Norway - what are the rules? If you wish, we will be happy to help you prepare your application: Dagpenger unemployment benefit/permittering.

Your rights and obligations during permittering/dagpenger

You can take another job

During permittering, you can work for another employer or perform some work at your current company. You must report all hours on your meldekort.

If you work up to 50% of your normal working hours during a 14-day period, your dagpenger will be reduced proportionally. If you exceed 50%, you will not receive benefits for that period. If you exceed this threshold for 3 consecutive meldekort periods, NAV may close your case and receiving the benefit again will require a new application.

You must be ready to return

Your employment relationship continues, so you must return to your previous job when called back by your employer. With permittering that has no specified end date, you must usually be ready to return within 1-2 days.

Temporary work at another company does not automatically release you from this obligation. If you return to normal working hours for more than 6 consecutive weeks, the permittering is interrupted. Any subsequent removal from work requires a new notice and a new application for dagpenger.

You must actively look for work

When receiving dagpenger, you must update your CV, respond to job offers, attend meetings with NAV and be ready to take suitable work. Without a justified reason, you cannot refuse employment or stop activities agreed with NAV.

Breaching these obligations may result in the benefit being suspended for 18 weeks, and for 26 weeks in the event of a further breach within 12 months. Even while payments are suspended, you must continue submitting your meldekort on time.

Holidays, illness and notice of termination

During holidays, you use previously earned feriepenger, which is holiday pay calculated from your salary in the previous year. As a rule, you will not receive dagpenger for holiday days or days spent abroad, and you must report the absence on your meldekort. We discuss the rules for feriepenger in more detail in the article Feriepenger - the most important rights and rules.

Illness does not automatically end permittering, but if your inability to work exceeds 50%, you will not receive dagpenger for that period and may be entitled to sickness benefit. You can find more information in the article Sykemelding, sykepenger and egenmelding - what happens if you are ill in Norway?

After the 15-day employer-paid period ends, you may resign with 14 days' notice. However, if the employer gives notice of termination, the permittering ends and the employer must pay full salary throughout the applicable notice period.

If you believe that the permittering is unjustified, ask your employer to provide the reason, duration, percentage reduction in work and basis for selecting employees in writing. Also check whether the company is covered by a collective agreement and contact an employee representative or trade union. You may appeal a NAV decision within the deadline stated in the decision.

FAQ - frequently asked questions

Summary

• Permittering is a temporary full or partial release from the duty to work, during which the employment relationship continues.
• The standard rule is 14 days' notice, followed by 15 working days of employer-paid salary.
• After the employer-paid period, you may receive dagpenger if you have lost at least 50% of your working hours and meet the other NAV requirements.
• During permittering, you must submit meldekort, actively seek work and remain ready to return quickly to your current employer.

If you need help obtaining dagpenger during permittering, call us: +47 21 38 38 21. We will help you organise the formalities and prepare your application for NAV.

Article author: Marcin - marcin@efirma.no