This applies regardless of whether the childbirth is planned or an emergency.
Emergency childbirth
If you give birth in an emergency or unexpectedly while you are staying in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland, in principle you will have your costs covered in accordance with the legislation of the country you are staying in, by showing your European Health Insurance Card. The place where you give birth must be affiliated with the public health service.
Application for reimbursement of expenses if you have not used a health insurance card
To use this scheme, you must be a member of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme. In many cases, the scheme also covers family members. You are not entitled to a subsidy from Norway for treatment in an EU/EEA country you are regarded as ordinarily resident in.
Click here for important information on who qualifies for the scheme.
If you have actually paid for the treatment yourself, either because you did not use a European Health Insurance Card, or because you gave birth at a private healthcare provider, you can retrospectively apply to Helfo for reimbursement of your expenses.
In order to receive reimbursement, you must also provide the original itemised invoice and confirmation of payment for the treatment. The reimbursement is limited to the amount that would have been reimbursed had the corresponding treatment been provided in Norway. You will never be reimbursed for more than the actual cost of the treatment.
Planned childbirth
If you wish to travel to another EU/EEA country to give birth, some of your costs can be covered.
It is up to you to come to an agreement with a maternity facility in the country you are going to. You need to compile and apply to Helfo for reimbursement afterwards within 6 months after you have given birth.
Prior authorisation – a voluntary scheme
You can apply to Helfo for prior authorisation to clarify whether you are entitled to reimbursement for expenses for a planned birth in the EU/EEA. Prior authorisation confirms that you are entitled to reimbursement for the cost of the treatment. You will also be notified of the maximum amount you can be reimbursed. You will still have to pay for the treatment and then apply to Helfo for reimbursement of your expenses.
With the application, you must enclose confirmation that you are pregnant, e.g. through a health card for pregnant women. You must also submit a treatment offer from the maternity institution where you plan to give birth.
Apply to Helfo for reimbursement
You can apply to Helfo for prior authorisation or reimbursement for expenses for childbirth in another EEA country or Switzerland.
Deadline
Applications for reimbursement of expenses for childbirth must be sent to Helfo within 6 months of each individual invoice date, i.e. the date on the invoice you receive. If you settle the treatment the same day you receive it, the time limit starts from this date.
Helse- og omsorgsdepartementet has proposed a change in the legislation regulating the application deadline for reimbursement for treatment received abroad. This means that if you have not settled on the spot, but received an invoice afterwards, the deadline is calculated from the invoice date instead of the treatment date.
Digital form
You will find useful information about submitting digital forms here (only in Norwegian).
Paper form
If you are unable to use our digital form, you can send us the paper form instead. Don’t forget the documentation!
Use this form if you wish to apply for prior authorisation:
Use this form if you wish to apply for reimbursement after your treatment:
The application must be sent to: Helfo, Postboks 2415, 3104 Tønsberg.
You can not be reimbursed for expenses in connection with planned childbirth in Switzerland.
Read more about hospital treatment and other specialist health services in EU/EEA countries.
Longer stays in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland
If you are going to stay for a longer period in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland before or after childbirth, you should ensure that you are entitled to have the childbirth and other health care services covered for you and your child.
You need to bring certificate S1 from Norway to document your rights. With certificate S1, the childbirth and other health care services will be covered according to the rules in the country you stay in.
The healthcare you and your child receive must be a part of the public health care system, and you must pay a user fee at the same level as the citizens of the country you stay in.
Read more about who is entitled to certificate S1 and how you apply to get it (see step 2, 3 and 4.)
Students
If you are a student in an EU/EEA country or in Switzerland and are a member of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme, you need to show your European Health Insurance Card in connection with giving birth. The place where you give birth must be affiliated with the public health service. The European Health Insurance Card must also be used in connection with antenatal checks and so forth.
The costs you incur in connection with pregnancy and childbirth will be covered in accordance with the rules in the country where you are staying. For this reason, it is important to note that the service provided to pregnant women varies from country to country.
If you have actually paid for the treatment yourself, either because you did not use a European Health Insurance Card, or because you gave birth at a private healthcare provider, you can retrospectively apply to Helfo for reimbursement of your expenses.
In order to receive reimbursement, you must also provide the original itemised invoice and confirmation of payment for the treatment. The reimbursement is limited to the amount that would have been reimbursed had the corresponding treatment been provided in Norway. You will never be reimbursed for more than the actual cost of the treatment.
Power of attorney in connection with enquiries to Helfo
If you contact Helfo on behalf of anyone else, you must have power of attorney for them.
Parents/guardians must also have power of attorney from any children aged 18 or over. In the case of health information, you must have power of attorney from any children aged 16 or over. This is because the age of majority under health law is 16.
Complete the power of attorney form and send it to Helfo as an attachment to a digital form, or send it by post to Helfo, PO Box 2415, 3104 Tønsberg. Remember to enclose a copy of valid identification for the person granting power of attorney.