Sick pay in Norway (2026)
Last reviewed: 7 November 2026
In short: In Norway the employer pays sick pay for the first 16 days and Nav pays after that, for at most 52 weeks for people under 67. Pay covers usual income up to 6G (NOK 819,294). Employees can report sick without a certificate for up to three calendar days at a time under the minimum scheme.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Who pays sick payBeing ill and unable to work | The employer pays sick pay for the first 16 days of illness (the employer period). If the employee is sick longer, Nav pays. [1] |
| Sick pay rateBeing ill and unable to work | Sick pay covers the employee's usual income, based on pay in the last three months before the sick leave, up to 6 times the National Insurance basic amount (6G, NOK 819,294 a year). [1] |
| Maximum durationBeing ill and unable to work | At most 52 weeks for people under 67. Sick leave in the last three years is added together if less than 26 weeks lie between the periods. After 52 weeks, 26 weeks without sick pay or work assessment allowance are needed before a new claim is assessed. From 67 to 70 years: up to 60 days, if income is above 2G. [1] |
| Waiting daysBeing ill and unable to work | None. Sick pay can be paid from the day the employer is told that the employee is ill. An employee must have worked at least four weeks directly before the sick leave and have an annual income of at least half of the basic amount (NOK 68,274.50). [1] |
| Medical certificateBeing ill and unable to work | An employee who has worked for the employer for at least two months can report sick without a certificate (egenmelding) during the 16-day employer period: at least up to three calendar days at a time and four times a year; many employers allow up to eight days at a time and 24 days a year. If the absence is longer than three calendar days, the employer may require a sick note (sykmelding) from a doctor, dentist, chiropractor or manual therapist. [2] |
Notes
- Self-employed people get 80% of the sickness benefit basis from day 17; the figures here are for employees.
Sources
- Arbeids- og velferdsetaten (Nav): Sykepenger - nav.no (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
- Arbeids- og velferdsetaten (Nav): Egenmelding - nav.no (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.