Add organization

What is Barnevernet (the child welfare service), and what does it do?

What it does, reports of concern, investigations and care orders.

Answered at: Checked at:

Short answer

Barnevernet is Norway's child welfare service, which works to protect children from neglect and first and foremost gives help in the home. It has a municipal part and a state part, Bufetat. In 2025, 42,551 children and young people received measures, and 7,242 of them had care measures.

a phone with a lock icon, a document with a stamp and a simple government building

Why

  1. Bufdir says child welfare is split into a municipal part (barnevernstjenesten) and a state part (Bufetat), which runs institutions and helps municipalities find foster homes.
  2. The child welfare service must assess every report of concern it receives, and an investigation should as a rule be concluded within three months.
  3. Only the Child Welfare and Health Board (barneverns- og helsenemnda), a court-like body, can decide that a child is to move to a foster home or an institution, and its decision can be reviewed by the courts.

Details

During an investigation the service contacts the parents and the child, tells the parents what the report says and usually visits the home. It can gather information from places such as the kindergarten or school, as far as possible in cooperation with the family, and an investigation can go ahead even if the family does not want it. The case can be closed, the family can be offered help at home, or in serious cases the case goes to the board.

Tip

If you are worried about a child, you can contact the child welfare service in your municipality for advice first, and you can report with your full name or anonymously.

What may differ

Children and young people who need help right away can call the alarm telephone 116 111. The service should normally confirm within three weeks that it has received a report, but because of its duty of confidentiality it does not share details of the follow-up.

Common misconception

Barnevernet mostly takes children away from their parents.

What actually happens

Bufdir says child welfare first and foremost gives help in the home. Of the 42,551 children with measures in 2025, SSB counted 35,309 with help, emergency or behaviour measures and 7,242 with care measures.

People also ask

  • What is the child protection service in Norway?
  • When does Barnevernet get involved?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check Bufdir or the child welfare service in your municipality.

  • What is Altinn, and what is it used for?

    Altinn is a Norwegian public internet portal for digital dialogue between businesses, private individuals and public agencies, with over 1,500 forms and digital services.

    Checked at:

  • What is Helfo, and when do you need to contact it?

    Helfo, an agency under the Norwegian Directorate of Health, handles health refunds, the European Health Insurance Card and changing your regular GP (fastlege).

    Checked at:

  • Can foreigners get unemployment benefit (dagpenger) in Norway?

    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.

    Checked at:

  • What is kontantstøtte (cash-for-care benefit)?

    Cash-for-care benefit (kontantstøtte) pays up to NOK 7,500 a month from Nav for children aged 13 to 19 months without a full-time kindergarten place.

    Checked at:
Help