Kontantstøtte 2026: amount, the 5-year rule and barnehage

Kontantstøtte (cash benefit) in 2026 is up to 7 500 kr/month for children aged 13–19 months. See the amount, the five-year rule for both parents and how barnehage affects the benefit.

Hlib SuslovPublished:June 24, 2026Last updated:July 14, 20264 min read

Important. This article gives general information, not individual advice. Always check your specific case with the responsible authority before acting.

See the official source: nav.no

Kontantstøtte (cash benefit) in 2026 is up to 7 500 kroner a month for children between 13 and 19 months who do not have a full barnehage (kindergarten) place. You must apply yourself, and as a main rule both parents must have been members of folketrygden (National Insurance) for at least five years. The amount is reduced if the child has a part-time place in barnehage.

Kontantstøtte is one of the most misunderstood family benefits in Norway, especially for newcomers. This guide explains how much you get in 2026, how old the child must be, the important five-year rule that many people miss, and how kontantstøtte is linked to barnehage. All figures are from NAV as of 2026.

What is kontantstøtte, and how much is it in 2026?

Kontantstøtte is a monthly benefit for families who do not use, or only partly use, a barnehage place for the youngest child. The idea is that you can choose to stay home more with your child for a short period.

Full kontantstøtte in 2026 is 7 500 kroner a month. You get the full amount if the child has no barnehage place at all. If the child has a part-time place, you get a lower percentage (see the section about barnehage below).

How old must the child be?

Kontantstøtte only applies for a short period of the child's life. You can get it from the month the child turns 13 months up to and including the month the child turns 19 months – that is, for up to seven months in total.

Earlier, you could get kontantstøtte for longer, but the scheme for children between 20 and 23 months was removed in 2024. That is why it is important to be aware of the short window and to apply in time.

The rule many people miss: five years of membership – for both parents

This is the most important point for you who are new in Norway. To be entitled to kontantstøtte, the parents must have been members of folketrygden for at least five years.

If the child lives with both parents, both must have at least five years of membership.
If the child lives with only one parent, the rule applies to that parent.

This is where many newcomers fall outside: even if you meet everything else, kontantstøtte may be ruled out during your first years in Norway. There is still one important exception: if you come from the EU/EØS (EU/EEA), you can in many cases add together membership time from another EØS country to reach five years. If you are in doubt, check your own case with NAV.

Kontantstøtte and barnehage are linked

Kontantstøtte and a barnehage place are two sides of the same coin: the more barnehage, the less kontantstøtte. The amount goes down depending on how many hours of barnehage the child has agreed per week:

No barnehage place: 100 percent – 7 500 kr/month
Up to 8 hours a week: 80 percent – 6 000 kr/month
9–16 hours: 60 percent – 4 500 kr/month
17–24 hours: 40 percent – 3 000 kr/month
25–32 hours: 20 percent – 1 500 kr/month
33 hours or more: 0 percent – no kontantstøtte

If you are going to apply for a barnehage place, the main intake has its own deadlines – read about barnehage and the main intake 2026 before you decide.

How to apply for kontantstøtte

Unlike barnetrygd (child benefit), which often comes automatically, you must always apply for kontantstøtte yourself. Here is how:

You apply on nav.no, where you log in with an electronic ID and fill in the form.
You can apply at the earliest from when the child is one year old, but remember the short window (13–19 months).
If you are granted the benefit, it is paid monthly for as long as you meet the conditions.

Tell NAV if the child starts barnehage or gets more hours, so that the amount is correct.

Kontantstøtte, barnetrygd and foreldrepenger – what is the difference?

It is easy to mix up the family benefits. In short:

Kontantstøtte is for children aged 13–19 months without a full barnehage place, and you must apply. The article you are reading now is about this one.
Barnetrygd (child benefit) is the fixed, monthly benefit per child under 18 years, often automatic – see the guide on barnetrygd in Norway 2026.
Foreldrepenger (parental benefit) is what you get while you are home on leave right after the birth – see foreldrepenger in Norway 2026.

If you want an overview of more benefits from NAV, the guide on NAV benefits for immigrants is a good place to start.

In short

Kontantstøtte 2026 is up to 7 500 kr/month for children aged 13–19 months without a full barnehage place.
You must apply yourself on nav.no, and the amount is reduced by the number of barnehage hours.
As a main rule, both parents must have at least five years of membership in folketrygden (EØS time can count too).

Sources

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much is kontantstøtte in 2026?

Full kontantstøtte is 7 500 kroner a month in 2026 for children who do not have a barnehage place. If the child has a part-time place, the amount is reduced by the number of hours – down to 0 at 33 hours or more per week. Source: NAV.

How old must the child be for kontantstøtte?

You can get kontantstøtte from the month the child turns 13 months up to and including the month it turns 19 months, that is, for up to seven months. The scheme for children between 20 and 23 months was removed in 2024.

Must both parents have five years of membership in folketrygden?

Yes, as a main rule. If the child lives with both parents, both must have at least five years of membership. If the child lives with only one parent, the rule applies to that parent. EØS citizens can in many cases add together membership time from another EØS country.

Do I have to apply for kontantstøtte?

Yes. Unlike barnetrygd, which often comes automatically, you must always apply for kontantstøtte yourself on nav.no. You can apply at the earliest from when the child is one year old, but remember the short window of 13–19 months.

Can I get both kontantstøtte and a barnehage place?

Yes, but then you get reduced kontantstøtte. The amount goes down depending on how many hours of barnehage the child has: 80 percent at up to 8 hours, down to 0 percent at 33 hours or more per week.