Pensions in Norway

Norway's pension system has three layers: a retirement pension (alderspensjon) from the National Insurance Scheme, paid by Nav; an occupational pension (tjenestepensjon) from your employer; and private savings. Some employers also offer a contractual early retirement pension (AFP). You pay for the public pension through the national insurance contribution (trygdeavgift): 7.6% of wages in 2026.

Retirement pension from Nav (alderspensjon)

• If you were born in 1963 or later, 18.1% of your pensionable income, up to 7.1 times the basic amount (G), is added to your pension account (pensjonsbeholdning) every year. You can earn pension until the year you turn 75.
• The usual pension age is 67. You can start earlier, from 62, if you have earned enough. Your pension must then be at least the guarantee pension at the high rate (NOK 253,787 a year in 2026). You can take 20, 40, 50, 60, 80 or 100% of your pension and keep working.
• Stortinget has proposed raising the pension age gradually in line with life expectancy. Nav says the politicians have not yet decided when this will apply.

Guarantee pension and residence time

If you have little or no pension income, you can get a guarantee pension (garantipensjon), the minimum pension.

• You need at least 5 years of insurance time (trygdetid). This is usually time you lived or worked in Norway between age 16 and the year you turn 66.
• A full guarantee pension needs 40 years of trygdetid. With fewer years it is reduced.
• Rates from 1 May 2026 for people born in 1963 or later, with full trygdetid: NOK 253,787 a year if you live alone, or if your partner has no pension and an income below 2 G (high rate). The ordinary rate is NOK 234,765 a year if your partner has a pension or income above 2 G.
• If you live in Norway, are over 67 and have too few years for a full minimum pension, you can apply for a supplementary benefit (supplerende stønad).

Occupational and private pensions

• Under the Mandatory Occupational Pension Act (OTP), employers covered by the Act must pay at least 2% of your salary up to 12 G into a pension scheme each year. In a defined-contribution scheme, employees from age 13 are members.
• AFP in the private sector can be taken from age 62. It is paid for life on top of your other pensions, if your employer is part of the scheme.

Agreements with other countries

Periods you lived or worked in other EEA countries can be added to your Norwegian trygdetid under the EEA coordination rules. The Nordic Convention on Social Security covers the Nordic countries. Norway also has bilateral agreements with Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada (and Quebec), Chile, India, Israel, Luxembourg, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Serbia, South Korea, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and Austria.

Common pitfalls for newcomers

• If you arrive as an adult, you will probably have fewer than 40 years of trygdetid, so your guarantee pension will be lower.
• A pension from another country you lived or worked in must be applied for there. Nav advises checking how well before you retire.
• If you take your pension before 67, the yearly amount is lower for the rest of your life.

Official guidance: Nav: retirement pension, Nav: countries with social security agreements, Mandatory Occupational Pension Act