Home education in Norway (2026)

Last reviewed: 30 October 2026

In short: Parents may teach their own children at home after notifying the municipality, which supervises the teaching and can require the child to attend school if the requirements are not met. The duty to primary education runs from the year the child turns six until the 10th grade is completed.

RuleWhat applies
Legal status of home educationChildren of compulsory school agePermitted with prior notification [1]
Nature of the parental dutyChildren of compulsory school ageDuty to provide education, at school or at home [2]
Approval or notification neededChildren of compulsory school ageParents must notify the municipality before starting private primary education at home. The teaching must meet the aims of education, follow the curricula and the subject and hour distribution, be free of preaching and follow the rules on teaching religion, philosophies of life and ethics. The municipality supervises and must open supervision within three months of the teaching starting, and may require the child to take tests. If the teaching does not meet the requirements, the child must attend school. Only parents may teach their own children. [1]
Compulsory schooling ageChildren of compulsory school ageChildren have a duty to primary education from the year they turn six until they have completed the 10th grade. The duty applies once the child has been in Norway for three months, and lapses when the child stays abroad for three months. [2]

Notes

  • The law requires notification to the municipality, not approval. The municipality supervises the teaching and can require the child to attend school if the requirements are not met. Parents cannot require the duty to be split between school and home teaching.

Sources

  1. Utdanningsdirektoratet (Udir): § 22-5 Privat grunnskoleopplæring i heimen | udir.no (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources
  2. Utdanningsdirektoratet (Udir): § 2-2 Plikt til grunnskoleopplæring | udir.no (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources

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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.