If you are called as a witness in court, you normally have to attend and tell the truth. Confirm the summons and give early notice if you need an interpreter or cannot attend. The court decides on exemptions. Expense coverage depends on the type of case.
What does being called as a witness mean?
As a witness, you tell the court what you know about the case. You provide information that can help the judges decide it.
You normally have to give evidence even if you have already spoken to the police. The court needs to hear your testimony. Norges domstoler (Norway’s courts) explains this on its page about witnesses in court.
You do not judge anyone. The judges do that, and some cases also involve lay judges. SamfunnPrep has a separate guide to the role of a lay judge in the district court. This article is for people called as witnesses.
The rules below were checked as of 7 October 2026. The duty to attend applies to both criminal and civil cases, with exceptions provided by law. A criminal case concerns a possible offence. A civil case concerns a dispute, for example about an agreement. The rules appear in straffeprosessloven § 108, the Criminal Procedure Act, on Lovdata and tvisteloven § 24-1, the Dispute Act.
When the summons arrives:
- Read the date, time, address and case number.
- Confirm that you have received the summons in the way it asks.
- Save the contact details of whoever called you.
- Notify your employer and clarify practical needs early.
You must confirm receipt even if you believe you have a valid reason for absence. Politiet (the Norwegian police) explains this on its page about attending court.
For the wider context, explore democracy and citizenship on SamfunnPrep.
Do you have to attend if you are ill or the time is inconvenient?
Yes, the summons remains valid until you are told you are exempt or another arrangement is made. You cannot decide for yourself that illness, a long journey or work makes attendance unnecessary.
Contact the court as soon as you know about the problem. If you are ill, you must send a medical certificate. The court decides whether the illness is a valid reason for absence. A medical certificate therefore does not automatically exempt you. Follow the summons's instructions about anyone else you must notify. See Norges domstoler's practical information for witnesses.
In criminal cases, you can also contact the prosecutor, who presents the case for the prosecuting authority. In civil cases, contact the party or lawyer who called you.
If you have a long journey, you can ask about remote testimony. This means giving evidence by video or telephone. The court must approve it; you cannot simply send a video link instead of attending. Straffeprosessloven § 109 a describes the court's decision in criminal cases.
Can you refuse to give evidence?
Most witnesses must give evidence, but the law provides exceptions. A possible right to refuse testimony does not mean you can ignore the summons yourself.
In criminal cases, some people close to the defendant are among those who may have a right not to give evidence. There are exceptions. You may also be allowed to refuse particular answers that could lead to criminal punishment for you. The rules appear in straffeprosessloven §§ 122–123.
Give early notice if you think an exception applies. Also explain if your work imposes a duty of confidentiality. Ask the court to clarify what you should do. Civil cases have their own rules; do not treat a family-related exception in criminal cases as a general exemption.
How do you get an interpreter in court?
Give early notice if your Norwegian is not good enough to give evidence or understand the questions. State the language and any dialect, and ask for confirmation that your need has been recorded.
For example, you can say: “I have been called as a witness and need a Ukrainian interpreter. Who will clarify this with the court?” Use the contact person in the summons or contact the court.
As of 7 October 2026, the public authorities cover interpreting costs in criminal cases. This also applies to civil cases with free legal representation, meaning publicly funded help to conduct the case. In other civil cases, interpreting costs are covered when the court considers it necessary. The public authorities can also cover an interpreter for witnesses who do not speak Norwegian. Ask the court to clarify booking and payment in your case. See Norges domstoler's information about interpreters.
During your testimony, say if you do not understand a question or the interpretation. Ask for it to be repeated before you answer.
Which expenses can be covered?
As a witness in a criminal case, you can have travel, any overnight accommodation and lost earnings covered. In civil cases, you must agree reimbursement with the party who called you. This distinction appears in the courts' practical information.
Compensation here means coverage under specific rules. Do not expect the same fixed payment as a lay judge. As of 7 October 2026, vitnegodtgjørelsesloven §§ 2 and 5, the witness compensation act sets rules for travel and reasonable coverage of documented financial loss.
| What to clarify | What to keep |
|---|---|
| Travel and any overnight accommodation | Tickets and receipts. |
| Actual lost income | Evidence of pay deductions or other loss. |
| Who to send your claim to | Case number and contact details. |
Ask before booking an expensive journey or a hotel. Also clarify with your employer whether you will keep your pay. Absence from work and actual lost pay are different things.
The courts' national website says witnesses submit claims through Betalmeg or the DFØ app. DFØ is Direktoratet for forvaltning og økonomistyring, the Norwegian Agency for Public and Financial Management. Ask the court if you need help with access or documentation. Use the guide to witness expense claims.
How do you prepare your testimony?
Review what you remember yourself and read relevant notes or documents you have. You can bring notes to help you, but you must give your testimony orally.
Distinguish between what you saw yourself, what others told you and what you are unsure about. Do not guess just to give a complete answer. “I do not remember the date” is more accurate than a date you invent. The courts also advise you to avoid discussing the case with others before your testimony. See preparing before you attend court.
In civil cases, the court can ask you to bring documents and refresh your knowledge of the case. If you use notes, you must be able to explain when and why they were made. This follows from tvisteloven §§ 24-4 and 24-9.
What happens when you arrive at court?
Bring the summons, find the right courtroom and wait until you are called in. As an ordinary witness, you normally must not hear other people's testimony before your own.
Allow time for waiting. The victim, meaning the person affected by the offence, and bereaved family members may have different rights. Follow the court's instructions on where to wait.
The judge asks who you are and how you are connected to the case. You are normally asked to formally affirm that you will tell the truth. Then you give your evidence and answer questions. Say if you are unsure. If you later remember something important that you forgot, contact the lawyer or prosecutor. Norges domstoler describes witness testimony.
Can you get help if you are anxious?
You can contact a witness support volunteer for practical information and support before and after the hearing. The volunteer is neutral, has a duty of confidentiality and does not advise you on what to say.
All district courts offer witness support, but it is not available at every court location. Digital witness support also accepts enquiries from across the country. Ask the court about the service where you are due to attend. See the national information about witness support.
If you are afraid of meeting someone in a criminal case, tell the prosecutor beforehand. Ask to clarify practical arrangements for arriving and waiting. The courts give this advice on the page about witnesses in court.
To understand more of your rights and duties as a resident, SamfunnPrep has a guide to democratic participation in Norway.
