Important information about travel to EU, EEA and Nordic countries

This change in practice is due to a comprehensive review of the rules for receiving cash benefits from NAV in connection with a temporary stay in an EU or EEA country. 

If you believe that you are affected by this change, call NAV on telephone number 55 55 33 33. 

What does the change in practice mean for you?

Before you consider travelling, you must make sure that your trip does not clash with appointments you have with your case officer, NAV, your employer, or a work-oriented activity. This applies regardless of where you are travelling to. Do not hesitate to contact NAV if there is anything you are uncertain about.

In which cases do you need to apply to NAV before you travel in order to keep your benefit?

• If you live in a Nordic country, you can travel to another country in the Nordic region without having to apply to NAV to keep your benefit – regardless of your citizenship.
• If you are a citizen of an EU or EEA country, you can travel to another EU / EEA country without having to apply to NAV to keep your benefit.
• If you are travelling to a country outside the EU, EEA or the Nordic region, you will still need to apply to NAV before you travel – regardless of your citizenship.

Read more about the specific rules for the individual type of benefit:

• Rules for sickness benefit
• Rules for work assessment allowance (AAP)
• Rules for attendance allowance

You may be entitled to compensation

If you are a citizen of an EU or EEA country and since 2012 have lost the right to sickness benefit, work assessment allowance (AAP) and/or attendance allowance solely because you have spent time in another EU / EEA country, you may be entitled to compensation. If you are not a citizen of an EU / EEA country, you may also be entitled to compensation if you have lost the right to one of these benefits solely as a result of spending time in a country within the Nordic region. If you have lost entitlement to a benefit you were receiving for any other reason, you will not be entitled to compensation as a result of this change in practice.

If you believe that you are affected by this change, call NAV on telephone number 55 55 33 33. You can also log in to nav.no and write to us.

NAV is currently reviewing cases to find out how many people may be entitled to compensation and will contact the people concerned when we process their case. This is a major undertaking and will take some time.