Unemployment Benefits in Norway

At a glance

Unemployment benefit (dagpenger)

NAV

55 55 33 33

NAV main number (option 1 for private individuals)

Apply on the official site

The job market in Norway

3.8%

unemployed, July 2026

9.6%

of 15 to 24-year-olds

4.1%

a year earlier: it has fallen

The International Labour Organization's estimates put Norway 79th lowest of 183 countries for unemployment in 2025; the world's rate was 4.9%.

Norway's unemployment rate over the years · every country, ranked

What to do first

Register with the public employment service, NAV. Official page
Apply for Unemployment benefit (dagpenger): apply to NAV, ideally 2 weeks before the last day of paid work, and register as a job seeker; benefit can start no earlier than the day both are done. Official page
Keep up with the job-search rule while you claim (below), and keep a record of where you applied.
Search the government's job listings on Arbeidsplassen. Official page
See whether you can get Financial social assistance (økonomisk sosialhjelp). Official page
Questions: call 55 55 33 33 (NAV main number (option 1 for private individuals)).

Unemployment benefit (dagpenger)

Who can get it. People under 67 who lost at least 50% of their working time and earned at least 1.5 G in the last 12 months (or 3 G in the last 36 months).

How much. 62.4% of previous income.

For how long. Up to 104 weeks if income was at least 2 G; up to 52 weeks if it was below 2 G.

How to claim. Apply to NAV, ideally 2 weeks before the last day of paid work, and register as a job seeker; benefit can start no earlier than the day both are done.

From an official page, read October 26, 2026.

Looking for work while you claim

Be a genuine job seeker: apply for jobs, attend interviews, keep the CV updated, accept any kind of job anywhere in Norway and be able to start at short notice; send a meldekort (reporting card) every 14 days.

Reporting. Meldekort every 14 days for the whole benefit period.

From an official page, read October 26, 2026.

Keep my work search record for Norway

Free. It lists where you applied and what else you did to look for work, each line ready to copy into the form you report on. It is your own record: we send nothing to any government.

Help finding work

The public employment service: NAV
The government's job listings: Arbeidsplassen

Financial social assistance (økonomisk sosialhjelp)

Everyone has the right to apply and have their need assessed; lawful residence in Norway is generally required.

From an official page, read October 26, 2026.

Who to call

NAV main number (option 1 for private individuals): 55 55 33 33.

From an official page, read October 26, 2026.

Questions

Is there unemployment benefit in Norway?

Yes: Unemployment benefit (dagpenger), paid by NAV.

How much is unemployment benefit in Norway?

62.4% of previous income.

How long does unemployment benefit last in Norway?

Up to 104 weeks if income was at least 2 G; up to 52 weeks if it was below 2 G.

How do I claim unemployment benefit in Norway?

Apply to NAV, ideally 2 weeks before the last day of paid work, and register as a job seeker; benefit can start no earlier than the day both are done.

Do I have to look for work while I claim in Norway?

Who do I call about unemployment in Norway?

NAV main number (option 1 for private individuals): 55 55 33 33.

Where can I get help finding a job in Norway?

The public employment service is NAV. The government lists jobs on Arbeidsplassen.

Nearby countries

Denmark Estonia Faroe Islands Finland Guernsey Iceland Ireland Isle of Man Jersey Latvia Lithuania Svalbard & Jan Mayen Sweden United Kingdom Åland Islands

Where this comes from

Every part of this page was read on an official website, and each links the page it came from and the day we checked it. Rules and amounts change, so check that page before you rely on a figure. Jobareer is not part of any government and cannot see or change a claim.