Family and children

Kindergarten is a voluntary, educational service for children up until school age. Most children in Norway go to kindergarten. 

In kindergarten, children are cared for by responsible adults and get to play, learn and take part in various social and cultural activities. Kindergarten is important for children’s linguistic and social development.

Contact the municipality where you live for more information about kindergarten and how to apply for a place for your child. 

In Norway, all children and young people aged 6–16 have a right and obligation to take primary and lower secondary education. This education is free of charge.

Children who come to Norway during the school year will be offered a place at a school as soon as possible. 

Compulsory education is divided into two main parts.

• Primary school: Years 1–7 (age 6–12)
• Lower secondary school: Years 8–10 (age 13–15)

Please contact the municipality where you live for more information about the education available for your child. 

SFO is a voluntary before and after-school programme where children can play and take part in cultural and leisure activities. Most municipalities have SFO programmes for all children in years 1–4, and for children with special needs in years 1–7. 

Contact the municipality or school for more information about the programme. 

Young people who have completed primary and lower secondary education in Norway can apply for admission to upper secondary education. This also applies to young people who have taken similar education in another country. 

Young people who have completed upper secondary school in another country, but whose education has not been recognised as a higher education entrance qualification or a vocational qualification in Norway are also entitled to upper secondary education. 

You can choose from several general studies and vocational programmes. You can find more detailed descriptions of the different education programmes at  www.vilbli.no.

Please contact your county authority for more information about upper secondary education and how you can apply.

All children have the right to a good, safe environment in kindergarten, education and SFO.  Children with a mother tongue other than Norwegian or Sami may also be entitled to adapted language tuition. Children and young people who do not benefit adequately from education may be entitled to special education.  

You can find more information about the Norwegian kindergarten and school system on the Directorate for Education and Training’s website. 

There is no blueprint for parenting and no families are alike. Something we all have in common – regardless of culture, background or ethnicity – is that children’s basic needs are the same. 

• At Bufdir you can find advice on topics and challenges that parents face in their everyday life. 

Are you struggling with family/relationship issues? Do you need help to resolve conflicts within the family?

Anyone can contact a family counselling office. The offices provide therapy, advice and counselling when problems, conflicts and crises arise in the family.

• Read more about the Family councelling services at bufdir.no.
• Find your nearest family counselling office (in Norwegian).

If you have children or are expecting a child, you will also receive parental guidance. Through this guidance, you will learn what it is like to be parent in Norway and what types of services are available for you and your children.

• Read more about the Introduction Programme.

The most important job that the child welfare service does involves making sure that children are safe and well when growing up in Norway. First and foremost, this is something they do by helping the family.

The child welfare service can help in several ways, and want to achieve something together with you as a family.They can provide advice and counselling to parents, or work with schools, nurseries, the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration, GPs and others to help you.

• Find out more about how the Norwegian Child Welfare Services can help you.

You may qualify for different types of benefits in Norway once you have a child. The purpose of parental benefits is to ensure that you have an income if you stay at home with your child after birth or adoption. If you are not eligible for parental benefits, you may be eligible for a lump-sum grant.

• Information on lump-sum grants and parental benefits is available from the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV).

Child benefits are disbursed on a monthly basis to parents with children under 18 years of age. The purpose of child benefits is to help to cover the costs associated with raising a child.

• More information on child benefits is available from the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV).