What will be the length of parental leave?

Overview

Degree of coverage

You can chose between two salary alternatives during the parental leave. These are also known as the degree of coverage.

• 100% coverage means that you will be paid 100% of your salary while on leave.
• If you select a 80% coverage, you will be paid 80% of your regular salary and your leave will extend over a longer period.

Both parents must select the same degree of coverage since the degree of coverage will affect the length of the shared period. With 80% coverage, the both the maternal and the paternal quota are 19 weeks and the shared period that can be divided between parents as they wish, is 2 weeks longer than at 100% coverage. The degree of coverage selected will apply to the entire period of parental benefit.

Parental benefit period

• Read about the parental benefit period at nav.no (Norwegian).

When both parents are entitled to parental benefit in Norway

• When both parents are entitled to parental benefit, the benefit period will be 49 weeks with 100% coverage and 59 weeks with 80% coverage.
• The parental benefit period for birth starts 3 weeks prior to the due date. If the mother does not use these weeks or gives birth early, the benefit period will be reduced equivalently.
• 15/19 weeks are reserved for the mother, and constitute the maternal quota. For health reasons, the mother must take 6 of these weeks immediately after birth. The father's/co-mother's regular withdrawal of parental benefit may start at the earliest in the 7th week after birth.
• 16/18 weeks constitute the shared period which the parents may divide between themselves as they wish. However, if the father/co-mother wishes to use some of the weeks from the shared period, special requirements to the mother's activities (nav.no) (Norwegian) apply.
• 15/19 weeks are reserved for the father/co-mother, and constitute the paternal quota. No requirements regarding the mother's activity apply to the paternal quota.

When parents are covered by different country's social security legislation

When one parent is entitled to parental benefit in Norway, and the other parent lives in a different country, specific rules apply depending on your situation.

Please contact the parental leave team for further assistance.

Adoption

For adoptions, the three weeks prior to birth do not apply, and thus the parental benefit period is:

• 46 weeks with 100% coverage and 56 weeks with 80% coverage.
• 15/19 weeks are reserved for the mother, and constitute the maternal quota.
• 15/19 weeks are reserved for the father/co-mother, and constitute the paternal quota.
• 16/18 weeks constitute the shared period which the parents may divide between themselves as they wish. However, if the father/co-mother wishes to use some of the weeks from the shared period, special requirements to the mother's activities (nav.no) (Norwegian) apply.

Parents of twins

• If two children is are born/adopted, the extended parental benefit period is will be 17 weeks at 100% coverage, or 21 weeks at 80% coverage.
• These 17/21 extra weeks can be taken at any time during the parental leave period. Both parents may have parental leave at the same time throughout the extra weeks.
• No requirements apply to the mother's activities when the father/co-mother take the extra weeks. This is also applicable when only the father/co-mother is entitled to parental benefit.

Birth or adoption of three or more children

• If more than two children are born/adopted, the extended parental benefit period will be 46 weeks at 100% coverage, or 56 weeks at 80% coverage.
• These 46/56 extra weeks can be taken at any time during the parental leave period. Both parents may have parental leave at the same time throughout the extra weeks.
• No requirements apply to the mother's activities when the father/co-mother take the extra weeks. This is also applicable when only the father/co-mother is entitled to parental benefit.

Multiple childbirths

• If more than one child is born/adopted, each additional child means that the parental benefit period is extended by 5 weeks at 100% coverage, or 7 weeks at 80% coverage.
• These 5/7 extra weeks can be taken at any time during the parental leave period. They can be taken while the other parent is on parental leave. In the case of multiple childbirths, no requirements apply to the mother's activities when the father/co-mother take the extra weeks.

Flexible withdrawal: graded or postponed parental leave

About flexible withdrawal of parental benefit

• Flexible withdrawal of parental benefit makes it possible to extent the benefit period. Both parents can choose a graduated payment of their parental benefit.
• Grading or postponement of parental benefit must always be agreed with the manager and case handler in the parental leave team.
• You can use flexible withdrawal until the child turns 3 and choose from these alternatives:

a) Postponement due to full-time work

• You can put the leave on hold by working full-time without receiving parental benefit.
• The working period must include at least 15 real working days, i.e. regular working days with scheduled full-time work from Monday to Friday. Public holidays do not count in this calculation. For example, if you decide to work in the Easter week, Maudy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Monday are not considered as real working days.

b) Graded withdrawal

• You can combine partial work with partial withdrawal of parental benefit. This causes parental leave to extend over a longer period of time. The total number of benefit days will be the same as when you choose the full amount of parental benefit.
• There is no upper or lower limit for the relationship between work and parent benefit you choose.
• Graded withdrawals can also be carried out without the benefit period being extended by the mother and the father/co-mother distributing the leave between them so that they together have full parental leave.

Read more about flexible withdrawal at nav.no (Norwegian)

Time off beyond the parental leave period

• The father/co-mother is entitled to 2 weeks of paid family care leave in connection with the birth.
• In cases of adoption, the parent who does not take out parental leave is entitled to two weeks' paid family care leave in connection with the placement.
• Parents are entitled to a combined 3 years of unpaid leave to care for a child. This entitlement is additional to the parental leave with pay.
  • The leave can be used in the period until the child turns 12.
  • The leave can be used simultaneously by both parents.
  • If you wish to use this type of leave, you should notify your manager as soon as possible, and at the latest 4 weeks before the leave begins.
  • Pension rights continue to accumulate during the leave.

Read more about family care leave and leave for nursing mothers.

Questions?