Physiotherapy in Norway doesn't require a doctor's referral, and at a physiotherapist with a municipal contract, you only pay out-of-pocket costs (egenandel) – not the full price. Children under 16 years old and people with an approved occupational injury pay nothing.
Do you need a referral to a physiotherapist?
No. Since January 1, 2018, you don't need a referral from a doctor to go to a physiotherapist. A physiotherapist is a healthcare worker who treats pain, injuries and problems in muscles and joints. You can book an appointment directly, and the physiotherapist assesses what you need.
Before 2018, you had to have a referral from your GP to have the costs covered. That rule is gone. You can still ask your GP for advice, but you don't have to. To see a specialist at a hospital, on the other hand, you still need a referral to a specialist – physiotherapy is an exception to that rule.
Physiotherapist with municipal contract or completely private?
The most important thing for what you pay is whether the physiotherapist has a municipal operating contract. A physiotherapist with a municipal contract receives a subsidy from the state. Then the National Insurance Scheme (the public welfare scheme) covers most of it, and you only pay out-of-pocket costs (egenandel). An egenandel is the part of the bill you pay yourself.
A completely private physiotherapist has no such contract. Then you pay the full price yourself, and the costs don't count towards the free-pass card and out-of-pocket cost ceiling for 2026. The price can be several hundred kroner more per hour.
So always ask before your first appointment whether the physiotherapist has a "municipal operating contract" and "direct settlement with Helfo". Helfo (Health Economics Administration) is the agency that pays out the reimbursement on behalf of the state.
| Item | Physiotherapist with municipal contract | Completely private physiotherapist |
|---|---|---|
| Who covers the bill | The National Insurance Scheme covers most | You pay everything yourself |
| Your cost | Out-of-pocket costs (a few hundred kroner) | Full price |
| Counts towards free-pass card | Yes | No |
| Referral necessary | No | No |
How much does physiotherapy cost with out-of-pocket payments?
At a contracted physiotherapist, you pay out-of-pocket costs (egenandel) per treatment. The out-of-pocket cost for a normal treatment is a few hundred kroner. The amount depends on the length and type of treatment, and the rates are normally adjusted every year (last changed July 1, 2026).
Out-of-pocket costs count towards your frikort (free-pass card). A frikort means you don't have to pay out-of-pocket costs for the rest of the calendar year. When you have paid out-of-pocket costs up to the out-of-pocket cost ceiling, you automatically get the frikort. The out-of-pocket cost ceiling for 2026 is 3,278 kroner (unchanged from 2025).
One important change: since January 1, 2021, out-of-pocket ceiling 1 and out-of-pocket ceiling 2 have been merged into one common out-of-pocket ceiling. Previously, physiotherapy counted towards its own "out-of-pocket ceiling 2". Now doctor visits, medicine on blue prescription, physiotherapy and much else count towards the same limit. This means you reach the frikort faster.
Who doesn't have to pay out-of-pocket costs?
Some groups don't pay any out-of-pocket costs (egenandel) for physiotherapy at a contracted physiotherapist:
- Children under 16 years old – the exemption applies until the day the child turns 16.
- People with an approved occupational injury or occupational disease, approved by NAV (the Labour and Welfare Administration).
- People who have received a frikort this calendar year.
- Conscripts in basic military service.
Note a change many people don't know about: the old diagnosis list (also called the disease list) was discontinued on January 1, 2017. Previously, patients with around 100 specific diagnoses got free physiotherapy. Now people with those diagnoses also pay out-of-pocket costs like everyone else – until they possibly reach the frikort.
Manual therapist, chiropractor and physiotherapist – what is the difference?
A manual therapist is a physiotherapist with additional training in examining and treating muscles and joints. Manual therapy costs a bit more in out-of-pocket costs (egenandel), but the out-of-pocket cost counts in the normal way towards the frikort.
A chiropractor is something else. You don't need a referral to a chiropractor either, and the National Insurance Scheme provides a small subsidy for treatment. But note: out-of-pocket costs (egenandel) for a chiropractor do not count towards the frikort. You therefore always pay out-of-pocket costs from a chiropractor, even if you have a frikort. This is a pitfall many people are not aware of.
How to find a contracted physiotherapist
You can find physiotherapists with municipal contracts in two simple ways:
- On helsenorge.no under "Choose treatment location", where you can also see waiting times.
- On the website of your municipality, which has lists of contracted physiotherapists in the area.
Waiting times vary greatly – from a few weeks to several months, often 12–36 weeks. Feel free to call several places at the same time. That increases the chances of an earlier appointment. If you have an urgent need, mention it when you book, so you can be prioritized. If you're new and don't know the healthcare system from before, you'll find a simple overview in the checklist for your first week in Norway on SamfunnPrep.
Physiotherapy in the municipality and at the hospital
Not all physiotherapy happens at private clinics. The municipality also has its own physiotherapists on salary. They often work with children, the elderly and people who need rehabilitation, for example after surgery or a stroke. This help can be provided at home or at a health centre, and it is allocated through the municipality.
If you are admitted to hospital, physiotherapy as part of treatment is part of the hospital service. Then you pay no separate out-of-pocket costs (egenandel) to the physiotherapist. If you need further rehabilitation after discharge, the hospital often refers you onwards – either to the municipality or to a contracted physiotherapist. This way you avoid having to find your own way.
Your rights
You have the right to physiotherapy without a referral, and at a contracted physiotherapist you only pay out-of-pocket costs (egenandel) up to the frikort limit. If you know the rules, you save both time and money. If you disagree with treatment or a decision, you can use your patient rights to make a complaint.
The rules about healthcare, frikort and the National Insurance Scheme are part of the curriculum for the society test (samfunnskunnskapsprøven). On SamfunnPrep you can practice free on exactly these kinds of questions about Norwegian society.
