Your NAV Meeting
NAV-møtet ditt
Why this matters
NAV is Norway's welfare and employment agency — think job centre, unemployment office, and social services combined. If you lose a job, need parental leave, or have a work injury, you will deal with NAV. Knowing what to bring and what to say prevents costly delays.
Key Vocabulary
NAV
nav
Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration
dagpenger
DAG-pen-ger
unemployment benefit
sykepenger
SEE-ke-pen-ger
sick pay from NAV (after employer period)
foreldrepenger
fo-REL-dre-pen-ger
parental leave benefit
arbeidsavklaringspenger
AR-bayds-av-kla-rings-pen-ger
work assessment allowance (AAP)
veileder
VAY-le-der
NAV case officer / adviser
aktivitetsplan
ak-tiv-i-TEETS-plan
activity plan (agreed job-search steps)
meldekort
MEL-de-kort
fortnightly status form you must submit
arbeidssøker
AR-bayds-søø-ker
job seeker
rettigheter
re-TIG-he-ter
rights / entitlements
oppsigelse
op-SEE-gel-se
dismissal / notice of termination
permittering
per-mi-TER-ring
temporary layoff
trygd
tryg
social security / welfare benefit
oppfølging
op-FØL-ging
follow-up / ongoing support
Cultural Tips
Register with NAV immediately after losing your job
You must register as an arbeidssøker on nav.no within 8 days of your last working day to avoid losing dagpenger entitlement. Waiting even a week can delay your first payment by months.
Meldekort is non-negotiable
Every two weeks you must submit a meldekort online confirming you are actively job-seeking. Missing one stops your payments immediately. Set a phone reminder — it opens on Monday and must be submitted by the following Sunday.
Your veileder is your ally, not a gatekeeper
Norwegian NAV advisers are generally helpful and want you employed. Be honest about your situation. If you disagree with a decision, you have the right to klage (appeal) within 6 weeks. This right is rarely used but very effective.
NAV meetings are participatory, not interrogations
Meetings follow an agreed aktivitetsplan. Come prepared with a list of jobs you have applied for and any courses you are taking. Showing initiative consistently results in fewer mandatory meetings.
Key Phrases
Jeg mistet jobben min og ønsker å registrere meg som arbeidssøker.
I lost my job and want to register as a job seeker.
First contact with NAV
Hva har jeg krav på?
What am I entitled to?
Asking about benefits
Jeg har sendt inn meldekort for denne perioden.
I have submitted the fortnightly card for this period.
Confirming compliance
Kan du forklare aktivitetsplanen min?
Can you explain my activity plan?
In a NAV meeting
Jeg er uenig i denne avgjørelsen. Kan jeg klage?
I disagree with this decision. Can I appeal?
Challenging a NAV ruling
Hvor lenge vil det ta å behandle søknaden?
How long will it take to process the application?
Asking about timelines
Trenger du mer dokumentasjon fra meg?
Do you need more documentation from me?
Being proactive
Practical Steps
Register on nav.no immediately
Log in with BankID and go to "Registrer deg som arbeidssøker". This starts your eligibility clock. Do not wait for a formal letter from your employer — register the day you know you are losing your job.
Apply for dagpenger
On nav.no, apply for dagpenger. You need: last 3 payslips, confirmation of oppsigelse, and your personnummer. You must have worked and paid tax in Norway for at least 12 months in the last 3 years to qualify.
Prepare documents for your first meeting
Bring: passport or residence card, CV (in Norwegian if possible), the oppsigelse letter, and any education certificates. Your veileder will assess your "arbeidsmarkedserfaring" (work history).
Set up meldekort reminders
Meldekort periods open every other Monday. Go to nav.no > Min side > Meldekort. Fill in the hours you worked (if any) and confirm you are still actively job-seeking.
Build your aktivitetsplan
Work with your veileder to set realistic job-search targets. These might include: X applications per week, attending a Norwegian language course, or completing a specific certification.
Track all job applications
Keep a simple spreadsheet of every job you apply for: date, company, position, outcome. NAV may ask for this at any meeting. Finn.no and EURES.europa.eu are the main job boards.
Ready to practice?
Practise this scenario with a character in Samtale.