Moving to Norway with children in 2026: school and kindergarten

How do you move to Norway with children?

Families moving to Norway should check residence and registration, apply for kindergarten and contact the municipality about school. Basic school begins in the year a child turns six. Children likely to stay in Norway for more than three months have a right to basic education, and the municipality must start the schooling as soon as possible.

What documents should you bring?

Bring valid passports, birth certificates or documents on family relations and custody, and residence permits where required, for each family member. Also bring the child's earlier school records, vaccination history and information on special needs. Ask the municipality before you move which translations and originals it needs.

When can a child get a kindergarten place?

Under section 16 of the Kindergarten Act, a child who turns one by the end of August has the right to a place from August when the parents apply. Children who turn one in September, October or November have the right to a place by the end of the month they turn one. The right is to a place in the municipality where the child lives, and the municipality sets the application deadline. It does not guarantee the kindergarten the family prefers. Udir, checked 10.11.2026.

When does school start?

All children in Norway have a duty to attend basic education from the year they turn six until they finish grade 10. For children who come to Norway, the duty applies once they have stayed three months, but the right to schooling applies as soon as the child is likely to stay more than three months. Contact the municipality as soon as you know where you will live. Udir, checked 10.11.2026.

What do kindergarten and child benefit cost?

Kindergarten fees depend on national rules, the municipality, attendance time and fee reductions. Check the current price with the municipality and do not reuse an earlier year's price without checking. NAV lists ordinary child benefit from 1 February 2026 at NOK 2,012 per month per child. In Finnmark, on Svalbard and in seven municipalities in Northern Troms, a supplement of NOK 512 per child applies when both parent and child live there. Entitlement depends on residence and social security membership. NAV, checked 10.11.2026.

How can children get health care and language support?

The municipality, the school health service and the GP scheme give guidance based on the family's rights. The school assesses the need for Norwegian-language instruction and other support. Share information on allergies, medication, vaccinations and earlier schooling before the child starts. A tourist does not automatically have the same rights as a registered resident family.

Read also on NorgeGuide

What it costs to raise a child in Norway: kindergarten, after-school clubs and support.

Moving to Norway: what it costs to live as a foreigner.

Find schools and kindergartens in Oslo.

Sources

Udir, rules for newly arrived pupils, checked 10.11.2026.

Udir, Kindergarten Act section 16, right to a place, checked 10.11.2026.

NAV, child benefit, checked 10.11.2026.