Paternity Leave in Norway
Fathers and co-parents in Norway get two weeks of care leave around the birth, plus a reserved paternal quota of parental benefit.
Last updated: 13 November 2026
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Norway paternity leave at a glance
An employed father or co-parent gets two weeks of care leave around the birth, normally unpaid unless an agreement provides pay or parental benefit is used.
- Leave length
- 2 weeks of care leave (omsorgspermisjon).
- When to take it
- Between 2 weeks before the birth and 2 weeks after the mother comes home.
- Pay
- There is no legal right to salary for care leave. You can use NAV parental benefit at 100% or 80%, capped at 6 times the basic amount (6G), which reduces your remaining benefit period.
- Who qualifies
- The care-leave right applies to employed fathers and co-parents. Parental benefit needs work in at least 6 of the last 10 months.
- Self-employed fathers
- Self-employed fathers can get NAV parental benefit, but there is no employer leave right.
Parental leave on top of paternity leave
When both parents qualify, the family gets 49 weeks at 100% or 61 weeks and 1 day at 80%. The paternal quota is 15 or 19 weeks respectively.
Good to know
- Check your employment or collective agreement — many pay salary during care leave.
Legal entitlement vs employer benefits
The rules above are the legal minimum in Norway. Many employers offer extra paid days or top up statutory pay. Add any employer leave in the calculator above to see your real return-to-work date, and confirm the details with your HR team. To compare pay over the weeks you take off, try the paternity pay calculator.
Other European guides
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
Editorial note: we summarise official government guidance and link to it. Laws change — always confirm your entitlement with your employer or the relevant authority. This page is not legal advice.