Social security

The general rule is that cross-border workers are to be members of the national insurance scheme in the country where they work.

Where to apply for unemployment benefits if you work in Norway and live in another EEA country.

If you are a cross-border worker employed in Norway, you must register as a job seeker and apply for unemployment benefits at your local office of the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) if you are:

• partly unemployed
• wholly or partially laid off
• affected by the bankruptcy of your employer

 This applies even if you are in your country of residence while unemployed.

• If you become wholly unemployed, you must apply for unemployment benefits in your country of residence.

Where to apply for unemployment benefits if you are not a cross-border worker but live in another country than the one you work in.

The general rule is that you are a member of the national insurance scheme in the country where you work. 
If you become unemployed, you can choose whether to apply for unemployment benefits from the country where you work or your country of residence. The requirement for receiving unemployment benefits from the country where you work is that you remain there and are registered as a job seeker.

Where to apply for unemployment benefits if you move from Norway to another EEA country.

If you are entitled to unemployment benefits and are moving to another EEA country, you can transfer this entitlement to your new country of residence.

Who can transfer entitlements to unemployment benefits?

You can transfer this entitlement if

• the EEA agreement applies to you
• you have been a member of the Norwegian national insurance scheme
• you have accumulated the right to unemployment benefits in Norway

Most countries require that you have worked there for a minimum period before you are eligible to make use of transferred entitlements to benefits. The required duration differs from country to country. You are responsible for ascertaining what the requirements are in the country you move to.

In order to make use of benefit entitlements that you have accumulated as a member of the Norwegian national insurance scheme, these rights must also entitle you to unemployment benefits in the country where you apply for such benefits.

Even if the transitional rules (for citizens of Bulgaria and Romania) apply to you, the rights you have accumulated in Norway may be approved for transfer.

How do you apply to have your unemployment benefits entitlement transferred from Norway?

In order to document the unemployment benefit entitlements you have accumulated in Norway, you must apply for the 301/N 301 certificate from NAV.

You apply for this certificate using the form NAV 04-02-05, which you can find under "Forms" in the menu on the right. When you select a form, you are automatically taken to a guide to completing the form. Here you must indicate which enclosures and what sort of documentation you must submit with your application. A cover page will also be generated. To help NAV process your application quickly and efficiently, please submit the information given on this cover page. Please include the cover page at the front of your letter.

You must enclose all necessary documentation in order for us to process your application.

 

How to apply for unemployment benefits if you move to Norway from another EEA country.

If you move from another EEA country to Norway, you can transfer unemployment benefit entitlements that you have accumulated during the past three calendar years.

If you have worked in a number of EEA countries, you can ask to transfer your accumulated benefit entitlements using the E 301 certificate from NAV.

Who may receive unemployment benefits in Norway?

You must be able to document that you have become unemployed in Norway. It is sufficient for you to document that you have become unemployed - through no fault of your own - after at least one day of employment.

It is a prerequisite that the accumulated rights from another country also entitle you to unemployment benefits in Norway. You must also meet the general requirements for receiving unemployment benefits in Norway.

If you are a citizen of a country subject to the transitional agreement, you are entitled to unemployment benefits once you have been employed in full-time work in Norway for at least 12 months and meet the general requirements for unemployment benefits. Pursuant to the transfer agreement, the full-time work requirement is considered to have been fulfilled by an 80% position in the relevant occupation.

How to apply

You must document all your employment and benefit accruing periods from the county/countries where you have worked in past three complete calendar years using the E 301 form. The E 301 certificate, which must be completed by the authorities in the country where you have worked, must be enclosed when applying for unemployment benefits in Norway. If necessary, your local NAV office may be able to help you get an E 301 certificate from the country where you have worked.

Transitional rules

Citizens of Bulgaria and Romania are subject to transitional rules.

What do the transitional rules mean for job seekers?

You are entitled to stay in Norway for up to six months while applying for work here. Contact NAV to be registered as a job seeker; you can then use NAV services.

You are entitled to apply for work in Norway for three months while receiving unemployment benefits from your home country.

Once you receive a job offer, you must submit an application for a work permit prior to starting work in Norway.

A prerequisite for getting a work permit is that you are able to submit a work contract or other documentation of your being hired for full-time work (or at minimum in an 80 percent position).

Pursuant to the transfer agreement, the full-time work requirement is considered to have been fulfilled by an 80% position in the relevant occupation. The wage and working conditions cannot be poorer than the collective tariff agreement or what is normal for the relevant occupation.

A first work permit is given for a period equivalent to the length of the work contract, up to a maximum of one year

Where to submit the application for a work permit.

If you are currently in Norway, you must submit the application to your local police station.

If you apply from your home country, you must submit the application to the Norwegian embassy or consular office closest to you. The application processing times vary.

How long do the transitional rules apply?

When you have been legally in Norway as a full-time worker for a consequtive12 month period, you are no longer subject to the transitional rules. You will then have the same rights under the EEA agreement as other EEA citizens.

The transitional rules do not apply to

• employees of a foreign employer who have been sent to Norway by their employer in order to complete a service/assignment in Norway for their employer
• self-employed persons who have their own firm and will be running their own business in Norway
• students
• family members whose permit in Norway is granted pursuant to the provisions for  family reunification.

Applying for work in another EEA country while receiving unemployment benefits from Norway

Pursuant to specific requirements, you can receive unemployment benefits or a work assessment allowance while applying for work in another country.

Who may continue to receive unemployment benefits?

The requirements are that you must

• be subject to the provisions in the EEA agreement
• have accumulated rights to unemployment benefits in Norway
• be wholly unemployed
• be registered with NAV as a job seeker for at least four entire weeks in the 12 weeks prior to departure (interruptions in the unemployment period, regardless of the length of employment, means that you must be registered as a job seeker for another four entire weeks)
• be entitled to unemployment benefits or rehabilitation benefits while applying for work during all four weeks

You cannot apply for work in another EEA country if you

• have been laid off
• participate in labour market schemes
• have established your own firm
• are receiving unemployment benefits in advance following a bankruptcy

You can only travel abroad with an E 303 certificate once during each benefit period.

How to apply

You must apply to NAV for an E 303 certificate (use the NAV 04-02-01 form). The application must be submitted to your local NAV office.

Remember that you cannot travel until you have been issued the E303 certificate! If you travel before receiving the certificate, you lose the right to transfer the Norwegian benefits.

How long may you receive unemployment benefits?

The E 303 certificate entitles you to retain Norwegian unemployment benefits for up to three months while you stay in another EEA country and apply for work there.
However, you cannot receive unemployment benefits for longer than the maximum benefit period of 52 or 104 weeks, or receive a work assessment allowance while waiting for work for longer than the maximum benefit period of three months.

Return to Norway

If you do not find work in the country you have travelled to, you can continue the benefit period in Norway.
You can get further information on how to start receiving unemployment benefits on return to Norway by contacting your NAV office.

How to apply for work in Norway while receiving unemployment benefits from another EEA country.

You can apply for work in Norway while receiving unemployment benefits from another EEA country.

How to apply

You must

• bring a completed E 303 certificate from the country in which you are entitled to unemployment benefits
• be registered as a job seeker with your local NAV office

NAV will apply for a Norwegian national identity number for you, and will provide advice on applying for work and information on Norwegian rules regarding the obligation to report.

How long may you receive unemployment benefits?

You can receive the unemployment benefits for up to three months.