To ensure you are a member, read more about this at NAV's website (in Norwegian).
You are not considered a full-time student if you intend to study for the examen philosophicum or examen facultatum overseas and take the exam in Norway, or if you intend to study at a Norwegian educational institution via the Internet. Therefore, the same rules that apply for tourists also apply for you.
Confirmation of healthcare entitlements
If you are a Norwegian citizen and receive support from the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (Lånekassen) to study abroad, you will automatically receive a document/letter from Helfo confirming your healthcare entitlements outside of Norway. The document will be sent to your address that is registered in the Norwegian National Registry. It takes approximately 15 working days from when the support is approved until you receive confirmation. During certain periods it may take somewhat longer before you receive confirmation.
If you are not a Norwegian citizen or do not receive support from the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund and intend to study abroad for more than one year, you have to apply for voluntary membership in the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme to be entitled to coverage of expenses for healthcare services. Read more about this at NAV's website.
If you do not receive support from the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund and intend to study abroad for less than one year, and if you receive support from the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund without having a Norwegian citizenship, you have to send the following information to Helfo:
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Name and date of birth
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Nationality
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Study documentation issued by the educational institution. The documentation must clearly state that you are undertaking organised studies abroad, the period of time in which you study/will study at the educational institution and the scope of the studies (full-time/number of hours per week).
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If you are an exchange student: written confirmation from the university/school in Norway that the planned period of study abroad will be undertaken in connection with studies in Norway.
Do this by sending the form
to Helfo, Postboks 2415, 3104 Tønsberg.
Do you have dependent family members?
Spouses and cohabitants with joint children may be entitled to voluntary membership in the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme. It is NAV Social Insurance and Contributions that decides this. With voluntary membership in the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme, family members also receive the right to coverage of expenses for healthcare services abroad. If you have one or more dependent children, the children will have the same rights as yourself in the country in which you are studying.
Read more about being a student outside the EU/EEA and having your family with you under «Frequently asked questions for students outside the EU/EEA».
If you work
If you do any form of work while studying abroad, it might affect your membership in the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme, and thereby in your right to subsidisation for healthcare expenses from Helfo. You should contact NAV Social Insurance and Contributions to find out if you keep your membership in the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme.
Student in the USA and Quebec
If you intend to study in the USA or Quebec in Canada, there are a few things you should be aware of. Read more about this under «Frequently asked questions for students outside the EU/EEA».
Example
The cohabiting couple, Anders and Annette, are each studying for their bachelor degrees in Australia. Both are full-time students and members of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme. They have their nine year old daughter Sara with them who has the same rights as her parents. Neither Anders nor Annette work while they are studying. They therefore retain their membership in the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme.
