# Children’s rights in Norway: participation, self-determination and legal age

Norwegian law gives children a voice from age 7, stronger weight from 12, choices about education from 15 and full legal age at 18.

Canonical: https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/barns-rettigheter-selvbestemmelse-norge
Language: en
Publisher: SamfunnPrep
Author: Hlib Suslov
Published: 2026-06-29T20:28:58.155+00:00
Modified: 2026-10-19T09:02:28.266599+00:00
AI use policy: https://samfunnprep.no/ai-policy.txt

## Key takeaways

- Adult at 18 At 18, a person normally gets full legal capacity and control over their own money.
- 7, 12 and 15 differ 7 gives the right to be heard, 12 gives great weight to the view, and 15 gives self-determination for education and organisations.
- All violence is banned The Children Act forbids physical violence and treatment that may harm a child’s mental health.

The Children Act applies to children under 18. Children must be heard from age 7, their opinion has great weight from age 12, they decide education and organisation membership from age 15, and they become legally adult at 18.

## The Children Act – the basis for children’s rights

The Children Act is the Norwegian law on children and parents. It regulates parental duties and children’s rights, and it treats people under **18 years** as children. Parents must give care, safety and guidance, but parental responsibility must be used in the child’s interests and needs.

Children are not legally adult before 18, but they have rights before that. The law gives them gradually more influence. It also forbids violence in upbringing, both physical violence and treatment that can harm mental health. For more on physical punishment, read [limits in child upbringing in Norway](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/barneoppdragelse-norge-grenser).

## Participation from age 7: the child has the right to be heard

From **7 years**, a child has a clear legal right to information and to state their opinion before decisions are made about personal matters. Younger children who can form their own views must also be given a chance to speak.

This can concern where the child lives, contact with parents, daily choices, activities and school life. Being heard does not mean the child always decides. Parents still make responsible choices, but they must listen, explain and take the child seriously. See also [how the school system works in Norway](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/skolesystem-norge).

## From age 12: the child’s opinion carries more weight

From **12 years**, the Children Act says that great weight must be given to the child’s opinion. The child still does not decide everything, but parents cannot treat the view as a minor detail.

This is especially important in questions about residence, contact and everyday life after a family break-up. The child should not be forced to choose sides, but should be able to explain what daily life feels like. For related rules, see [separation and divorce in Norway](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/skilsmisse-separasjon-norge).

## Self-determination from age 15: education and organisations

From **15 years**, the child decides certain matters personally. The child decides questions about education, such as school, programme, courses or other training within ordinary rules.

The child can also decide to join or leave associations. The Act on Religious and Life Stance Communities says that people who have turned **15** can themselves join or leave such communities. If Karin is 15 and wants to leave a religious congregation, she decides; parental consent is not required.

## Legal age: 18 and full legal capacity

The legal age in Norway is **18 years**. Under the Guardianship Act, people under 18 are minors, and a person who has turned 18 is legally adult. From then, the person can normally sign contracts, rent housing, take loans and control their own money.

The 18-year limit also appears in other areas: marriage, voting when election rules are met, and buying lower-strength alcohol. For family law context, see [marriage and cohabitation in Norway](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/ekteskap-samboerskap-norge).

## Violence in upbringing is illegal – without exceptions

The Children Act says that a child must not be exposed to violence or be treated in a way that can harm physical or mental health. This includes all violence in upbringing. There is no legal “light slap”.

Public employees and many professionals must notify child welfare services when the legal conditions are met, for example if there is reason to believe a child is abused or seriously neglected. Child welfare should protect children and preferably help in cooperation with the family. Read more about [child welfare and immigrant families](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/barnevern-innvandrere).

As of 28.06.2026, a new Children Act from 2025 has been adopted, but Lovdata states that it enters into force when the King decides. This guide therefore uses the current 1981 Children Act.

## FAQ

### What is the legal age in Norway?

The legal age is 18. From then, a person can normally enter legal agreements and control their own money, and parents no longer have the same legal responsibility.

### From what age does a child have the right to give an opinion?

From age 7, the child has a right to information and to state their view before parents decide personal matters. Younger children who can form views must also be heard.

### What does the 12-year rule mean?

From age 12, great weight must be given to the child’s opinion. The child does not decide everything, but parents need strong reasons to choose differently.

### What can a 15-year-old decide alone?

From age 15, the child decides questions about education and joining or leaving organisations, including religious and life-stance communities. Parental consent is not needed.

### Is it legal to slap a child as discipline?

No. The Children Act forbids violence in upbringing, including mild physical punishment. Parents may set rules and limits, but not hit, threaten or frighten the child.

## Sources

- [Lov om barn og foreldre (barnelova)](https://lovdata.no/lov/1981-04-08-7)
- [Lov om vergemål (vergemålsloven)](https://lovdata.no/lov/2010-03-26-9)
- [Lov om tros- og livssynssamfunn (trossamfunnsloven)](https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2020-04-24-31)
- [Melde frå til barnevernet som offentleg tilsett eller fagperson med meldeplikt](https://www.bufdir.no/barnevern/melde-fra-offentlig-melder/)
- [Opplysningsplikt: Helsepersonell skal melde fra til barnevernet](https://www.helsedirektoratet.no/retningslinjer/helsestasjons-og-skolehelsetjenesten/fellesdel-opplysningsplikt/opplysningsplikt-helsepersonell-skal-melde-fra-til-barnevernet-nar-vilkarene-for-opplysningsplikten-er-oppfylt)
- [Lov om barn og foreldre (barnelova), ny lov 2025](https://lovdata.no/lov/2025-06-20-40)

Citation: Hlib Suslov, "Children’s rights in Norway: participation, self-determination and legal age", SamfunnPrep, 2026-06-29T20:28:58.155+00:00, https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/barns-rettigheter-selvbestemmelse-norge