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Can foreigners get unemployment benefit (dagpenger) in Norway?

Conditions, income limits, EEA rules and skilled workers.

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Short answer

Foreigners living in Norway can get dagpenger if they are members of the National Insurance Scheme and meet Nav's income rules, but skilled workers from outside the EEA usually cannot. You must have lost at least half of your working hours and earned at least NOK 204,824 in the last 12 months or NOK 409,647 over 36 months.

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Why

  1. Nav requires that you live in Norway, are a member of the National Insurance Scheme, are under 67, register as a job seeker and are a genuine job seeker.
  2. Nav says skilled workers from outside the EEA will not as a rule be entitled, because their permit limits them to one or very few employers and they do not count as genuine job seekers.
  3. If you have lived and worked in another EEA country, Switzerland or the UK, you may still be entitled to dagpenger in Norway.

Details

Dagpenger are up to 62.4 percent of your previous income, and income above NOK 819,294 (6 G) is not counted. With income of at least 2 G (NOK 273,098) you can get them for up to 104 weeks, otherwise for up to 52 weeks. The amounts follow the basic amount G, which is NOK 136,549 from 1 May 2026. Nav advises applying two weeks before your last day with pay.

Tip

Remember to send the meldekort to Nav every 14 days, because it is one of the conditions for receiving dagpenger.

What may differ

UDI says skilled workers who lose their job must notify the police within seven days and can stay for up to six months to look for a new job, as long as the permit is still valid. If you get a new permit on other grounds, send a copy to Nav, which then assesses your right to dagpenger.

People also ask

  • Can I get unemployment benefits in Norway as a foreigner?
  • Who can get dagpenger in Norway?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Rules and amounts can change, so check Nav before you apply.

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