Sick pay
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 →
Sick pay replaces your income when you cannot work due to illness or injury. Who can get it, for how long, and what is expected of you?
Norwegian original last checked against official sources: 21 September 2026. Rules and figures change, so always check the official site before you act.
Sick pay (sykepenger) is meant to replace your income when you cannot work due to illness or injury.
Who can get sick pay?
According to NAV, you must, among other things:
- be a member of the National Insurance Scheme (folketrygden),
- have a sick leave certificate from a doctor, dentist, chiropractor or manual therapist,
- be on sick leave at least 20 percent,
- have pensionable income,
- be under 70 years old. Between 67 and 70 there is a shorter limit of 60 days.
Sick pay applies to employees, self-employed people and freelancers, but with somewhat different rules.
How much and for how long?
- As an employee you mainly get your income, up to six times the National Insurance basic amount (6 G).
- Your employer pays the first 16 days (the employer period). After that, NAV pays.
- You can get sick pay for up to 52 weeks. Once this is used up, 26 weeks must pass without sick pay or AAP (work assessment allowance) before the right is reassessed.
What is expected of you?
The sick leave certificate is sent digitally to your employer and NAV. Along the way, a follow-up plan must be made (within four weeks) and a dialogue meeting held (within seven weeks). You are expected to be active where possible, and contribute to treatment and adaptation.
If you are refused
You can complain to the NAV unit that made the decision. The deadline is stated in the decision. Read Complain about a NAV decision.
Been sick for a long time?
As sick pay nears its end, AAP (work assessment allowance) can be the next step. Talk to your advisor well in advance.
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.