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International child abduction: what to do

child abduction taken abroad child abroad

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 →

Has your child been taken abroad, or kept back in another country, without the consent of the parent with parental responsibility? Bufdir is the Norwegian central authority and can help.

Norwegian original last checked against official sources: 22 September 2026. Rules and figures change, so always check the official site before you act.

Has a child been taken out of Norway, or kept back in another country, without the consent of the parent with parental responsibility? This can also happen the other way round, with a child taken to Norway from another country without consent. Both are regarded as unlawful abduction, and help is available.

Get in touch straight away

If you suspect a child may be abducted, or it has already happened, it is important to act quickly.

• If the situation is urgent, or the child is about to be taken out of the country: contact the police.
• If the child has already been taken to or kept back in another country: contact Bufdir, which is the Norwegian central authority under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

Bufdir's role

Bufdir receives and forwards applications for return to the authorities in the other country (or receives applications from abroad when the child has been brought to Norway), and follows up the case. This applies when the country the child was taken to or from has acceded to the 1980 Hague Convention.

Contact Bufdir:

• Phone: 466 15 000
• Email: [email protected]
• Application forms (in Norwegian and English) are on Bufdir's website, and are sent to the Child, Youth and Family Directorate, Postboks 2233, 3103 Tønsberg.

Bufdir cannot:

• intervene directly in a court case,
• give you financial support,
• physically collect the child in another country.

What if the country has not acceded to the convention?

Then the same established process does not apply. Contact Bufdir and possibly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regardless. They can give guidance on the options available in the country concerned.

Lawyer

These are serious and often complicated cases. Alongside contact with Bufdir, you should speak to a lawyer with experience of child abduction cases as early as possible. See Free legal aid to find out whether the costs can be covered.

Tip: Gather documentation early: who has parental responsibility (birth certificate, agreements or court judgments), the child's passport, and all contact you have had about the trip or stay. This makes it quicker for Bufdir and, if relevant, the police to get started.

Sources

• Bufdir. International child abduction (Norwegian)
• The 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, Lovdata (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.