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Changing school (applying for a school placement)
Draft, translated: translated from the Norwegian original with the help of a language model, and may contain errors. The Norwegian version is the authoritative one. See the Norwegian original →
All children have the right to attend their nearest school. If you want to change to another school, you must apply. How to do it, and what you can complain about.
Norwegian original last checked against official sources: 21 September 2026. Rules and figures change, so always check the official site before you act.
As a general rule, all children have the right to attend the school closest to where they live, based on their home address. If you would rather attend a different school, you must apply for it.
How to apply
Send an ordinary letter or email stating:
- which school the pupil currently has a place at,
- which school you would like a place at,
- why you want this school.
Who the application should be sent to varies between municipalities. If you are unsure, contact the municipality to ask where it should be sent.
What happens to the application?
You will get a written answer. The answer is an individual administrative decision, and should explain why the municipality or school answered yes or no.
- You have the right to be heard before the municipality or school decides the case.
- The pupil's opinion should count, adapted to their age and maturity.
- The best interests of the child should carry significant weight in the assessment, in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
If you are refused
The decision should state that you can complain, who the complaint should be sent to, and the deadline. The complaint deadline is three weeks from when you received the letter.
School transport when changing school
If you change to a school other than your nearest school, it can affect the right to free school transport. Ask the municipality what applies in your case.
If the case is related to the pupil not feeling safe and well at school, see also The right to a safe and good school environment.
Sources
- Udir. Education Act section 2-6: which primary school the pupil attends (Norwegian)
- Udir. Applying for a school change, the best interests of the child vs. municipal self-governance (Norwegian)
Kontaktpunkt24 gives general information, not legal advice. If you need help with your own case, contact a lawyer, a legal aid service, or the relevant authority.
This page is translated from Norwegian with the help of a language model, and may contain errors. The Norwegian version is always the authoritative one.