Norway guides in English
Last updated
The calculators give you a number. These guides explain why it comes out that way: which rules apply, what trips newcomers up, and what to check before you decide. They are written for people who live or work in Norway, or are about to move, and who do not read Norwegian. Each guide explains the Norwegian terms, has a worked example made with the same functions as the calculators, and lists the official sources. You do not need to log in or have BankID to use the calculators.
Pay and tax
- Holiday pay in Norway (feriepenger): how it worksHow Norwegian holiday pay (feriepenger) is calculated: 10.2% or 12%, why you are paid for last year's work, the over-60 supplement and why June pay looks odd.Updated
- Tax deduction card (skattekort) and tax withholding in NorwayWhat the Norwegian tax deduction card says, table or percentage withholding, the flat PAYE scheme for newcomers, the D number and refunds or underpaid tax.Updated
- Net salary in Norway: from gross pay to take-homeHow gross pay becomes take-home pay in Norway: national insurance, tax on ordinary income, bracket tax and deductions, with a worked example and a salary table.Updated
Buying a home
- Costs of buying a home in Norway beyond the priceStamp duty (dokumentavgift), registration fees, the housing co-op difference, who pays the agent and what foreign buyers must arrange on top of the price.Updated
- Mortgage rules in Norway: deposit, stress test and borrowing limitsHow much deposit Norwegian banks require, the debt limit, the interest rate stress test and how much you can borrow. The lending rules explained for newcomers.Updated
Family and benefits
- Sick pay in Norway: the employer period and NAV sickness benefitWho pays the first 16 days of sickness, when NAV takes over, how much you receive, the 6G ceiling and who qualifies. With an example.Updated
- Parental leave in Norway: 100% or 80% payHow many weeks of parental benefit you get at 100% and 80% pay, how the quotas are split between parents, who qualifies and when the longer option pays off.Updated
- Child benefit (barnetrygd) and cash-for-care (kontantstøtte) in NorwayHow much child benefit and cash-for-care you get in Norway, who qualifies, how the two interact, what happens when you move to or from Norway, and how to apply.Updated
Pension and work
- Pension in Norway: the state pension, AFP and workplace pensionHow the Norwegian retirement pension is built, how years in Norway count, what AFP and workplace pension add, and what early or late withdrawal does.Updated
- Unemployment benefit in Norway (dagpenger): rules, pay and durationWho qualifies for Norwegian unemployment benefit (dagpenger), how the amount and duration are set, what counts from other EEA countries and how to claim.Updated
Want to run the numbers yourself? See all calculators in English. The Norwegian site has more guides (in Norwegian).