Students, school pupils and apprentices
As a general rule, students, pupils and apprentices who are eligible for a student loan or grant from the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (Lånekassen) are not entitled to housing allowance. This also applies if you live with a student or pupil.
Who is considered a student?
A student is anyone aged 18 or over who is enrolled in an approved course of education that qualifies for a loan or grant from Lånekassen.
If you are eligible for support from Lånekassen, you are not entitled to housing allowance, even if you choose not to apply for a loan or grant.
If Lånekassen has refused your application for educational support, you may still be eligible to apply for housing allowance.
If you will continue your studies after the summer, you are considered a student during the summer months as well.
If you have questions about how the student rules apply to you, contact your municipality.
Has your application been refused because someone in your household is a student?
You can appeal if your decision was based on incorrect information about student status or if you believe you are covered by one of the exceptions below. Read more about how to appeal a decision.
Exceptions for students, pupils and apprentices
If a student or pupil lives in a household with children under the age of 18, you may be entitled to housing allowance. This applies even if the student or pupil receives a loan or grant from Lånekassen.
If you are a parent living with a child over the age of 18 who is studying, you may be entitled to housing allowance.
If your child is living away from home while studying, see "Students and pupils living away from home" below.
Students or pupils who receive one of the following benefits may be entitled to housing allowance, even if they also receive support from Lånekassen:
- Disability benefit
- Work Assessment Allowance (AAP)
- Introduction Benefit
- Qualification Benefit
- Supplementary Benefit for Disabled Refugees
Information about these benefits is obtained automatically.
If the pupil attends primary or lower secondary school (Years 1–10), you may be entitled to Housing Allowance. Primary and lower secondary education is regarded as an employment-related measure and therefore qualifies for Housing Allowance, even if the pupil receives a loan or grant from Lånekassen.
If the pupil or apprentice started upper secondary education in the year they turned 25 or later, you may be entitled to housing allowance. This exception applies to learners who have an adult statutory right to upper secondary education.
Please note: This exception does not apply to pupils or apprentices with the statutory youth entitlement to upper secondary education, even if they are over 25. Youth entitlement applies until the year a person turns 24.
If your education forms part of an employment-related programme arranged with NAV or your municipality, you may be entitled to Housing Allowance.
If you do not receive Qualification Benefit, Work Assessment Allowance (AAP), Introduction Benefit or Disability Benefit, you must provide documentation confirming that your education is part of an employment-related programme.
Students and pupils who live away from home while studying should not be included in your Housing Allowance application.
If the student has registered their new address with the National Population Register, you can apply online once the move has been registered.
If the student still has a connection to the family home and therefore has not registered the move with the National Population Register, you must submit a paper application. You must include details of which household member is living away while studying and provide documentation showing where they live, such as a tenancy agreement for their accommodation.
Remember to let us know when the student moves back home.