Bowel cancer screening is a voluntary offer to look for signs of bowel cancer before you have symptoms. You receive an invitation and take a small stool sample at home. The test is free. If it shows blood, you will be offered a colonoscopy, which normally has a user fee.
Who is invited to bowel cancer screening?
Women and men born in 1967 or later normally receive their first invitation around the year they turn 55. The programme began in 2022 with the 1967 birth cohort. People born in 1966 or earlier are not invited.
You must be registered as resident in Norway, have a Norwegian national identity number (fødselsnummer) and an address in Norway. A D-number alone does not meet this registration requirement.
Screening means examining people who have no symptoms. The aim is to detect disease or precursors early. The offer is voluntary, and you do not need a referral from your GP to receive an invitation.
Invitations are sent throughout the year. They do not necessarily arrive on your birthday. You cannot sign yourself up. The eligibility rules were checked on 3 October 2026 against the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) information about invitations.
What if you moved to Norway after turning 55?
You may still be invited if you are in the target group. FHI also describes invitations for people aged 56 to 64 who did not live in Norway at age 55 or could not be invited earlier. The requirement to have been born in 1967 or later still applies.
If you are moving to Norway for the first time, the invitation will not be immediate. Your national identity number must have been registered for at least six months before you are included in the programme. If the registration date is unavailable, the date you were registered as resident is used.
These details appear in FHI’s quality manual for invitations. The rules do not mean that everyone who moves here gets a test kit exactly six months later.
Check that your details and address in the National Population Register are correct. If you think you should have received an invitation, contact the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme using the contact details on its official website. Do not wait for a test kit if you have symptoms.
How do the invitation and test kit arrive?
The invitation normally arrives through Helsenorge. FHI says forwarding to Digipost and e-Boks was temporarily stopped in April 2025. If you do not use Helsenorge, the letter will therefore be sent by post on paper for now. The test kit itself is mailed to your registered address.
You first receive information and then the equipment for taking the sample. Read both letters. Set aside time to understand the instructions before opening the kit.
If you need help with digital health letters, read our guide to Helsenorge. You can also contact the programme without the app. Use the contact details in your invitation or on the official website.
How do you take and return the stool sample?
You take a small sample at home and return it using the equipment provided. The return envelope has prepaid postage. The laboratory checks for blood that may not be visible to you.
Follow these steps:
- Read the instructions that came with your test kit.
- Take the sample using the equipment as shown in the instructions.
- Close and pack the sample as described in the letter.
- Send it in the enclosed return envelope.
Do not pour out the liquid in the sample tube. It is meant to be there. Leave the small absorbent paper in the bag as well. FHI answers these common questions.
Do not use an ordinary container or a sample you took for another purpose. If the kit is lost, damaged or incomplete, you can order a new one through Helsenorge or by contacting the programme by phone.
Is the whole examination free?
The stool test at home is free. A colonoscopy after blood is found normally has a user fee. You may be entitled to travel support for the examination.
A user fee is the amount you pay yourself for a health service. Do not assume that everything is free just because the first test is free. Check the hospital’s information for current amounts and practical payment details.
What does the test result mean?
You will receive a written result whether or not blood was found. If you have not received a result after two weeks, Helsenorge recommends contacting the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme. This is follow-up advice, not a guarantee of a response time.
| Result | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| No blood was found | No blood was found in this sample. The result does not guarantee that you are disease-free. |
| Blood was found | Blood in the sample may have several causes. You will be offered a colonoscopy to examine your bowel more closely. |
A positive result does not mean you have cancer. You need the follow-up examination to find the cause. Follow the information about the appointment and preparation.
What happens during a colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is an examination in which healthcare professionals look inside the large bowel using a flexible tube. If they find small polyps, they may remove and examine them. Polyps are small growths in the lining of the bowel.
Your bowel must be emptied before the examination. Follow the hospital’s letter about food, drinks and bowel preparation. If your bowel is not empty enough, the examination may have to be cancelled or repeated.
If you have questions about regular medicines or medical conditions before a colonoscopy, contact the place doing the examination. Do not change medicines on your own based on a general online guide.
After you have had a colonoscopy, the programme will not send you further invitations for stool tests. Any follow-up depends on the findings and is agreed with the health service.
When should you contact a doctor instead of waiting for screening?
Contact your GP if you have persistent bowel symptoms, even if a recent screening test was negative. Screening does not replace investigation of symptoms.
Helsenorge mentions symptoms including:
- blood in your stool
- changes in your bowel habits
- unexplained weight loss
- a feeling that your bowel has not emptied completely.
These symptoms can have causes other than cancer. Your doctor will assess what should be investigated. Read Helsenorge’s information about bowel screening and symptoms.
Can you decline or skip a round?
Yes. If you skip one round, you may still receive a new invitation later. New rounds are normally offered every other year within the programme’s age range. You can also stop invitations through Helsenorge or a paper form.
If you already have regular bowel examinations or a serious chronic illness, discuss taking part with your doctor. Follow the monitoring plan you have agreed together.
Bowel screening is separate from cervical and breast screening. Each programme has its own requirements. SamfunnPrep also has tools for everyday life in Norway to help you keep track of public services and tasks.
