Parental leave in Norway (2026)
Last reviewed: 7 November 2026
In short: NAV pays parental benefit for 49 weeks at 100% of income or 61 weeks at 80%. The mother has leave from 3 weeks before the birth and 6 weeks after it, and the father has 2 weeks at the birth and a quota of 15 or 19 weeks. Pregnant employees and those on leave have dismissal protection.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Maternity leaveTaking parental leave | A pregnant employee has the right to leave of up to 12 weeks during pregnancy. After the birth the mother must take leave for the first 6 weeks unless a doctor's certificate says it is better for her to work. In NAV's parental benefit scheme the mother starts 3 weeks before the due date, then has a mother's quota of 15 weeks at 100% or 19 weeks at 80%. [1] |
| Paternity leaveTaking parental leave | At the birth the father has the right to 2 weeks of leave to assist the mother (§ 12-3). Under parental benefit the father's or co-mother's quota is 15 weeks at 100% or 19 weeks at 80%, and 2 weeks of it can be taken at the same time as the mother around the birth (from 2 weeks before the due date to 6 weeks after). [1] |
| Parental leaveTaking parental leave | Parents together have the right to leave of 12 months including pregnancy and birth leave (§ 12-5 first paragraph), and each parent has a right to up to 12 more months of leave for each birth, which follows straight afterwards. NAV's parental benefit lasts 49 weeks at 100% or 61 weeks and 1 day at 80% for one child, split into mother's quota, father's or co-mother's quota and a joint period. [2] |
| Pay during leaveTaking parental leave | Foreldrepenger pays 100% of income for 49 weeks or 80% of income for 61 weeks and 1 day (one child); the total payout is about the same either way. The choice in the mother's application also applies to the father or co-mother. The right to foreldrepenger needs income in at least 6 of the last 10 months; otherwise a one-off grant (engangsstønad) can apply. [2] |
| Job protectionTaking parental leave | A pregnant employee cannot be dismissed because of the pregnancy, and a dismissal during the pregnancy is presumed to be for that reason unless the opposite is made predominantly likely. An employee on pregnancy, care, birth or parental leave for up to one year may not be dismissed with effect during the absence if the employer knows or is told that it is the reason; a lawful notice that falls in the period is extended by the same length. [3] |
Sources
- Lovdata (Arbeids- og inkluderingsdepartementet): Lov om arbeidsmiljø, arbeidstid og stillingsvern mv. (arbeidsmiljøloven) - Kapittel 12. Rett til permisjon (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
- NAV (Arbeids- og velferdsetaten): Foreldrepenger - nav.no (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
- Lovdata (Arbeids- og inkluderingsdepartementet): Lov om arbeidsmiljø, arbeidstid og stillingsvern mv. (arbeidsmiljøloven) - Kapittel 15. Opphør av arbeidsforhold (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.