Do you have an important religious holiday that is not an official Norwegian public holiday? Then you have the right to time off from work or school for up to two self-chosen days per year. The right is in the law, but almost nobody uses it.
Do I have the right to time off for religious holidays?
Yes. If you celebrate religious holidays that are not official public holidays in Norway, you have the right to time off for up to two self-chosen days each year. The right applies to both work and school, and also to military service, for example. It is set out in trossamfunnsloven § 18 (as of 2026), the law on faith and worldview communities.
The right applies to you if you have different holidays than the official Norwegian ones. The Norwegian holidays – such as Christmas, Good Friday, and Pentecost – are Christian. If you are a member of Den norske kirke, you already have these days off. If you belong to a different religion or worldview, your most important days fall outside the calendar. This right is for you.
The rules on freedom of religion and rights in working life are part of the society knowledge exam. You can read more in our guide about freedom of religion in Norway and practice for free on SamfunnPrep.
Which holidays does this apply to?
The right applies to holidays in your own religion that are not already public holidays in Norway. You choose which two days you want to use.
Examples of days many people can use the right for:
- Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha (Islam)
- Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah (Judaism)
- Diwali (Hinduism)
- Orthodox Christmas (7 January) and Orthodox Easter
- Vesak (Buddhism)
If your religion has more than two such days, you must choose which two to take off. Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter do not count here – they are already official public holidays for everyone living in Norway.
Time off does not mean paid time off automatically
The right gives you time off from work. It does not automatically give you paid time off. This is an important detail that many people do not know about.
Your employer can require you to work the hours back on another day. If you do, you get your regular pay, and the hours do not count as overtime even if you work more than normal that day. The employer decides when you make up the time, but should discuss it with you first. If the employer does not require you to make up the time, the day is normally unpaid – unless you have an agreement or collective agreement that says otherwise. The rules are connected to the general rules for working hours and overtime.
How to request time off – in good time and in writing
Request time off early, and do it in writing. The law says you must notify your employer at least 14 days before the holiday.
Here is how to do it simply:
- Find out what date the holiday falls on this year.
- Send a short, written message (email is fine) at least 14 days before.
- Write which day you want off, and that it applies to a religious holiday.
- Ask if the employer wants you to make up the hours, and agree on when.
Requesting time off this way is not asking for a favour – it is a right you have. If you are treated badly because you use this right, it may be discrimination at work.
What if the employer says no?
The employer cannot refuse you the day off itself. What the employer can decide is that you make up the hours on another day. The right to up to two days is clear in the law.
If the employer says no anyway, ask for the reason in writing. You can then contact your union representative, your trade union, or Arbeidstilsynet for guidance. The law is interpreted by the courts, but most cases are resolved with a calm, written reminder of what is in trossamfunnsloven § 18.
Time off from school for students
Students also have the right to time off on their religion's holidays. A student who belongs to a faith community other than Den norske kirke has the right to leave from school on those days when the faith community has a holiday. This is set out in opplæringsloven § 2-2.
The condition is that the parents ensure that the child receives the instruction needed to keep up with the school after the absence. You send a short application for leave to the school in good time. Because this is a separate right in the law, such applications are normally approved.
In addition, the school can grant regular leave for up to two weeks if the instruction overall is appropriate. This regular leave is not an absolute right – it is the municipality and school that decide in each case. But a religious holiday is a recognised and valid reason, and the application is usually granted.
| Question | At work | At school |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | trossamfunnsloven § 18 | opplæringsloven § 2-2 |
| Who it applies to | Employee with different holidays | Student in a faith community outside Den norske kirke |
| How much | Up to 2 days per year | The faith community's holidays |
| Conditions | Notify 14 days before; hours can be required to be made up | Parents ensure necessary instruction |
A right almost nobody uses
Many people who are entitled to time off do not know the right exists – so it is almost never used. That is a shame, because the rule was made so that everyone can celebrate their most important days, regardless of faith.
You do not need to explain or defend your faith. You give notice in good time, you use your right, and you make up the hours if necessary. That is all there is to it. The rules are taken from Lovdata and managed by, among others, Barne- og familiedepartementet and Utdanningsdirektoratet.
Do you want to understand more of your rights in Norwegian society? The rules on freedom of religion, religious holidays, and working life are part of the society knowledge exam, and on SamfunnPrep you can practice exactly these kinds of questions. Ready to practice? Try SamfunnPrep for free.
