Financial support

Government accommodation and subsistence

• The government (the UDI) will look after you as a newly arrived refugee in Norway.
• You will be given a place in a reception centre while you are waiting to be settled.
• If you are allocated alternative accommodation, the municipality has entered into an agreement with the UDI to take care of you in the same way as in an ordinary reception centre. This means that the municipality is responsible for your subsistence.

• At UDI's website you will find more information about asylum reception centres, emergency accommodation and alternative accommodation.

Introduction Programme and introduction benefit:

• If you are taking part in the Introduction Programme, you will receive introduction benefit from the municipality.
• You can apply for social security benefits while waiting for the Introduction Programme to start or if the introduction benefit is not enough to cover your expenses.

• Read more about the Introduction Programme.

If you are not entitled to take part in the Introduction Programme and are unable to support yourself, you can apply for social security benefits.

• More information about social security benefits is available on NAV’s website. 

Housing allowance is a means-tested government grant for people with low incomes and high housing expenses.

• More information about who is entitled to housing allowance, what type of housing you can get housing allowance for, and what income limits apply, is available on the Housing Bank's website.

If you have a place at a school or on a study programme, you can receive financial support from the Norwegian State Educational Fund – Lånekassen. It furnishes loans and grants on behalf of the Norwegian government and offers favourable terms and conditions compared with other loans. 
 
On Lånekassen’s website, you can apply for loans and grants (information in Norwegian or English).

Read more about grants and loans on the Lånekassen website.

If you are a refugee taking primary, lower or upper secondary education, you are entitled to a refugee grant. A grant is something you do not normally have to pay back. You cannot receive a refugee grant at the same time as you receive introduction benefit or stay in an asylum reception centre. 

You can find more information about refugee grants on the Lånekassen website (in Norwegian or English).

Read more about refugee grants on the Lånekassen website.

If you are going to take higher education, or other education that is not primary, lower or upper secondary education, you will not receive a refugee grant, but you can get a loan and grant from the Norwegian State Educational Fund – Lånekassen.

Read more about grants and loans on the Lånekassen website.