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Rights for children in a child welfare institution
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 →
Children living at an institution have their own, statutory rights, including freedom of movement, contact with others, and strict limits on the use of force.
Norwegian original last checked against official sources: 22 September 2026. Rules and deadlines change, so always check the official site before you act.
Children living at a child welfare institution should have the same foundation for a normal upbringing as other children. The rights regulation is meant to ensure exactly that, and to set clear limits on what the institution can decide over.
Freedom of movement and contact with others
The institution cannot limit your freedom of movement, visits, or your use of phone and other electronic communication, unless such a limitation would otherwise, in the specific case, be unreasonable towards you. The institution's house rules cannot in themselves restrict these rights.
Contact and visits
The institution must facilitate good contact and visits for you, adapted to your own situation.
Belongings and money
The institution must ensure that you can keep private belongings and money in a proper way, and must keep an overview of items they keep for you.
Use of force
Force, such as a body search or a search of your room, can only be used when the conditions in the regulation are met, and must always be carried out as gently as possible. The institution must document any restrictions placed on you.
How to complain
You (or your parents) have the right to complain about conditions at the institution. The complaint is handled under the rules in Child Welfare Act section 10-16. If you are unsure how to proceed, you can ask someone at the institution, your child welfare service, or a support person you trust to help you.
Tip: Write down what happens, with the date, if you feel a right of yours is not being respected. This makes it easier to complain, and easier for others to understand what the case is actually about.
Regulations on children's rights in child welfare institutions (Lovdata, Norwegian) →
Sources
- Regulations on children's rights in child welfare institutions (Lovdata, Norwegian)
- Child Welfare Act § 10-16, complaints about conditions during the stay (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.