Social security
If you are employed by a Norwegian institution during your stay abroad, you will be considered an expatriate employee. If you are going to be residing outside Norway for less than 12 months, you will retain membership of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme. If your stay exceeds 12 months, you will still be allowed to retain membership in most cases. As a general rule, you can stay up to 24 months (1+1 year) in EU/EEA countries.
In countries with which Norway has a social security agreement, the agreement regulates how long you can be away. If you are going to stay in a country that does not have a social security agreement with Norway, you may apply for voluntary membership of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme.
In all cases you should submit an application to the Norwegian Welfare and Labour Administration (NAV) to retain your membership during your stay abroad. If you will be supporting an accompanying partner or children, they will receive membership via your membership. Your partner will not retain membership if he/she is employed during the stay. The researcher is the primary applicant and information about an accompanying partner and children is to be provided in the same application. If your partner has a Norwegian employer during your stay, he/she must apply separately for individual membership of the National Insurance Scheme, provided that he/she will earn more than 1.5 G (National Insurance basic amount) over a period corresponding to one year.
In a number of cases, you will be entitled to receive benefits from NAV while abroad if you satisfy certain special terms and conditions. The most relevant of these benefits during a stay abroad are:
- Child benefit;
- Parental benefits/lump-sum grants;
- Cash benefit for parents;
- Sickness benefit.
Contractual schemes
As a general rule, collective contractual schemes (Basic Collective Agreement) do not apply to stays outside Norway. One exception here is if you are on a business trip and have travel insurance coverage for your person and possessions as well as for accidents. Collective contractual schemes rarely apply to extended stays, such as a stay in connection with a sabbatical or fieldwork. Doctoral research fellows in particular must be aware that they will not be covered under the Basic Collective Agreement for extended stays abroad.
Private insurance needs
It is a good idea to assess your insurance needs. Check whether the insurance coverage you already have will be valid and whether you need additional coverage for health care, accidents and repatriation. Research fellows staying abroad, especially in non-EU/EEA countries, will need life insurance, travel insurance, health insurance, property damage insurance, household contents insurance, and personal liability insurance.
Important information
Contact the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) if you have any questions regarding the National Insurance Scheme: