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How long is NAV allowed to take, and what do you do when it drags on?

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 →

When your case takes a long time, it can be hard to know what you're entitled to. How to find the expected time, and what NAV is required to do.

Norwegian original last checked against official sources: 26 October 2026. Rules and figures change, so always check the official site before you act.

Processing time is the time from when NAV receives your application until they make a decision. Waiting without knowing what's happening is exhausting. Here's what you can do.

Find the expected time

NAV has an overview at nav.no/saksbehandlingstider, and each benefit page also states its own time. NAV stated, among other things, on 21 September 2026 around 7 weeks for unemployment benefit (dagpenger) and transitional benefit (overgangsstønad), 16 weeks for AAP (work assessment allowance), and around 6 months for disability benefit (uføretrygd). The figures change, so check the site.

NAV itself states that the time can be longer in complex cases, or when they have not received complete and correct information.

What can you do?

These are steps that actually help, roughly in this order:

  1. Check that your application is complete. Missing documents are a common reason for delays. Look for letters from NAV asking for more, and send what's missing as quickly as you can.
  2. Note the date you applied and who you have spoken to.
  3. Write to NAV instead of only calling. A written message at nav.no (log in) stays in your case with a date. Ask where the case stands and when you can expect an answer. See How to contact NAV.
  4. If more than a month has passed without a preliminary reply, write that you are asking for a preliminary reply under section 11a of the Public Administration Act (see below).
  5. If you have no money for food or rent, apply for financial assistance (sosialhjelp) while you wait. You apply at the NAV office in your municipality, and in an emergency you should get a quick answer. If you later get a back payment, the assistance may be deducted from it. See Economic social assistance.
  6. Request access if you want to see what's in the case and what it is waiting for: Request access to your case file.
  7. Get help writing. Free legal aid services can help you with a reminder or a complaint. See Free legal aid.

What does the law say?

Public Administration Act section 11a states that an administrative body must prepare and decide a case without unjustified delay. If the case cannot be decided within one month, you should, as a general rule, receive a preliminary reply explaining why it is taking time, and when you can expect an answer. A preliminary reply can be omitted if it is clearly unnecessary.

If you have not received such a reply, you can remind NAV of this in a brief message.

If nothing still happens

You can contact the Parliamentary Ombud (Sivilombudet), who handles complaints about public administration. See sivilombudet.no for what they can consider and what deadlines apply.

Tip: Write down every contact you make, with the date. It is useful documentation if you later need to complain.

NAV. Processing times (Norwegian) →

Sources

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.