Do you need financial help for your children's leisure activities? There is no longer a national leisure card in Norway (as of 2026), but you can still get help. The easiest ways are to ask the sports club or your municipality. You often don't need to show your income, and you rarely need to apply yourself.
Leisure activities cost money in Norway: membership fees, training fees, equipment, tournaments and travel. For many families this becomes too expensive. But in Norway there is a simple rule: all children should be able to participate in at least one organized leisure activity, regardless of what their parents earn. This article shows you where to get help.
Does the leisure card still exist in 2026?
No. The national leisure card was a pilot program in some municipalities between 2019 and 2022. Children received an amount on a card to pay membership fees. The scheme was not made national, and the funds ran out. In 2026, there is therefore no leisure card that all families can get.
Some municipalities had their own local leisure card for a while, but several have discontinued it. Stavanger municipality, for example, discontinued its local leisure card from 1 January 2026. Don't waste time looking for a card that no longer exists – use the three ways below instead.
The easiest way: ask the sports club
The easiest thing is to ask the club or sports organization directly. Through the scheme «Inclusion in sports clubs» the Norwegian Sports Confederation (NIF) distributes around 230 million kroner per year to clubs in areas with many low-income families. The money stays with the club, not with the family.
The club can use the money to pay or reduce training fees and membership dues, and for equipment, clothes, tournaments, transport and licenses. Girls with minority backgrounds are especially prioritized. You don't apply yourself – you just ask the coach or leader for help, and they take care of it. It's completely normal to ask, and many do.
If you want to register your child in an activity first, you can read how to register your child in sports and sports clubs.
Leisure fund and activity card in the municipality
Your municipality often has a leisure fund or an activity card. This comes from a state scheme called «Grant for inclusion of children and young people», which in 2026 is 758.4 million kroner. A local leisure fund receives at least 50,000 kroner per year and can cover participation fees, equipment, travel to the activity and participation in tournaments.
The most important thing for you: you do not need to document your finances to get help from the leisure fund. It is the municipality or an organization that has applied for the money – not the family. You just ask where the fund is. Contact your municipality (culture and leisure), NAV, an activity guide or the volunteer center, and ask what is available where you live.
Many municipalities also have an activity guide. This is a person who helps children and families find an activity that suits them, follows along the first few times and helps with the practical aspects. This is free, and you can ask your municipality if there is an activity guide where you live. For a family new to Norway, this can make the barrier much lower.
| Where you ask | What it covers | Do you need to show income? |
|---|---|---|
| The sports club | Training fees, equipment, tournaments, travel | No |
| Municipality's leisure fund | Participation fees, equipment, travel, tournaments | No |
| Equipment center (BUA) | Free loan of equipment | No |
You don't need to buy equipment
Skis, skates, football shoes, bicycles and hiking clothes can be expensive. But you can borrow them for free. BUA and other equipment centers loan out sports and outdoor equipment for free in many municipalities. This way you don't have to buy new equipment every season. Read more about borrowing equipment for free from BUA.
Do all children have the right to a leisure activity?
Yes, in practice. Through the Leisure Declaration the state, municipalities and voluntary organizations have agreed that all children should be able to participate in at least one organized leisure activity, regardless of their parents' finances. Many municipalities use the tool ALLEMED to remove financial barriers. This means it is both normal and expected that you ask for help – no one should be ashamed of it.
Other ways to save money
There are several schemes that make everyday life cheaper for families:
- Activity school (AKS/SFO): In Oslo, all students in grades 1–3 get free part-time places in the Activity School in the school year 2026/2027. Students in grade 4 get free part-time places if their parents together earn less than 1,500,000 kroner per year. Check what your own municipality offers.
- Kindergarten: Families with low incomes can get reduced parental payment in kindergarten.
- Swimming: Being able to swim is important in Norway. See how children and adults learn to swim, and ask if courses are available for free where you live.
- Music school, brass bands and scouts: Not only sports cost money. Your municipality's music school can provide free admission or reduced price for families with low incomes, and brass bands and scouts often have their own schemes. Ask the leader the same way as at the sports club.
On SamfunnPrep you will find more guides on rights and support schemes for families. If you are new to Norway, our first-week checklist can help you with the first steps.
How to proceed – step by step
- Choose an activity your child wants (football, brass band, dance, swimming).
- Contact the club, coach or leader, and explain that it is difficult to pay.
- Ask your municipality (culture and leisure) or NAV about leisure fund, activity card or activity guide.
- Borrow the equipment for free from an equipment center instead of buying.
- Ask again next season – help usually applies for one year at a time.
Many of these schemes are part of the Norwegian welfare society, a topic you also encounter in the civics test. On SamfunnPrep you can practice such topics for free and learn how welfare in Norway works.
