Child support advance is money paid by NAV to you who live permanently with the child when the other parent does not pay child support. From 1 July 2026, the rates are 2 600, 2 080, 1 560 or 1 040 kroner per month per child, depending on your income and the child's age. You must apply for the advance yourself.
Child support advance is not the same as child support
These are two different schemes. Child support is money one parent pays to the other. Child support advance is a means-tested financial benefit from NAV (Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration) that is paid out if child support is not paid.
Many who are new to Norway are familiar only with child support. Then the entire advance scheme passes them by. The Norwegian Tax Administration collects the payment from the other parent, while NAV pays the advance to you. The rules are linked to what we have written about custody rights and child support after separation.
What are the rates from 1 July 2026?
The rates apply per month and per child. Which rate you receive depends on your income.
| Type of advance | Amount per month |
|---|---|
| Elevated advance, child under 11 years | 2 080 kroner |
| Elevated advance, child 11 years and older | 2 600 kroner |
| Standard advance | 1 560 kroner |
| Reduced advance | 1 040 kroner |
If you are entitled to elevated advance, the amount automatically increases by one third of the standard rate when the child turns 11 years old. You do not need to apply again.
A combined annual income of 388 200 kroner or less gives you the right to elevated advance. If you have over 686 400 kroner in combined annual income, you receive no advance at all. Between these two limits, your income, number of children and whether you live alone or with a partner determine which rate you receive. The exact income thresholds are listed on nav.no. Net capital income over 10 000 kroner per year is counted as income.
Can you get an advance if the other parent lives abroad?
Yes. NAV states that it does not matter where the parent obligated to pay child support lives. The requirement is that you yourself live in Norway and meet the conditions. If you live abroad, you generally have no right to child support advance from Norway.
The conditions are that the child lives permanently with you, that you have actual care of the child, and that the other parent must pay child support which the Norwegian Tax Administration collects. If child support has not been established yet, you should contact NAV about your case.
This is an application, not a conflict
Applying for child support advance is an administrative matter between you and NAV. The purpose of the law is to ensure that the child receives a payment each month. The support is tied to the child's right to maintenance, not to disagreement between adults.
You also do not need to collect money from the other parent yourself. Folketrygden takes over the claim for child support, up to the amount paid out in advance.
Child support advance is not economic social assistance but a financial benefit under the child support advance law. UDI (Directorate of Immigration) does not list child support advance among the benefits accepted as independent income when you apply for permanent residence permit. Check the rules at UDI if you are unsure how your application will be assessed.
How to apply
The advance does not come automatically. You must submit an application to NAV, and you can apply online or on paper. Use the child's national ID number and information about the other parent.
If you live alone with a child, several schemes may apply at the same time. Also see transition allowance for single parents and support schemes for low-income families. At SamfunnPrep, we explain each scheme separately so you can see what you can actually apply for.
Family law and NAV's role are also part of the curriculum for the citizenship examination, and SamfunnPrep uses the same themes in our exam questions.
All figures in this article are from nav.no as of 25 July 2026.
