NorgeStart
Healthcare
Moving to Norway or just arrived? NorgeStart explains Norwegian bureaucracy, work, taxes, housing, healthcare and daily life in plain language — with an AI assistant that translates official letters and audits payslips.
Updated: 2026-07-06
Emergencies — know these cold
- 113 medical emergency · 112 police · 110 fire. Free, from any phone, English OK.
- 116 117 — legevakt (urgent care) for things that can't wait for your GP: deep cuts, high fever, suspected fractures, mental health crises. Call first; they triage and tell you where to go.
- Emergencies are treated first, paperwork later. Never delay calling 113 over money or papers — emergency care won't bankrupt you here.
Family doctor (fastlege) — your entry point
- Everyone registered in Norway is entitled to a fastlege. Pick/switch one (max 2×/year) at helsenorge.no.
- The fastlege handles everything first and writes referrals (henvisning) to specialists and hospitals — you cannot book a public specialist directly.
- Popular doctors have full lists; if you can't get one nearby, take any available and set an alert to switch later. Reviews: legelisten.no.
Private walk-in clinics (when you can't wait)
- Dr. Dropin — private GP chain in the big cities: same-day drop-in or booked video/physical consultations at fixed prices (~NOK 500–800), no referral needed. Also dermatologists, psychologists, physio.
- Volvat and Aleris — bigger private clinics/hospitals: fast specialist access, pay ~NOK 1 000–2 500 per consultation.
- Online doctors (Kry, Hjemmelegene, Dr.Dropin video) — prescriptions and sick notes for simple things, often within the hour.
- Private = speed and convenience; it does NOT count toward your frikort, and public healthcare remains the cheap, complete option.
What healthcare costs
- Public GP/specialist visits carry a co-payment (egenandel, roughly NOK 170–400). X-rays, blood tests and blue-prescription medicines also count.
- When your co-payments pass the yearly cap (frikort, ~NOK 3 300 — auto-tracked), the rest of the year is free.
- Free: hospital stays, children under 16, pregnancy & birth care, emergency ambulance when medically needed.
- Dental for adults is fully private — a check-up runs NOK 800–1 500, fillings 1 500–3 000+. Prices vary hugely; compare, and consider dental trips home. Children/teens: free public dental until 19 (subsidised a few years after).
Mental health, pregnancy & children
- Mental health: start with your fastlege (referral to psychologist/DPS, subsidised) or go private (Dr. Dropin psychologists ~NOK 1 000–1 300/session). Crisis: legevakt 116 117. Helplines: Mental Helse 116 123.
- Pregnancy: free check-ups with midwife (jordmor) at the local helsestasjon or your GP; free birth at hospital; you choose the hospital via Helsenorge.
- Children: helsestasjon gives free check-ups and the free childhood vaccination programme; school health nurses are free and confidential for kids.
- EU/EEA visitors: EHIC card covers necessary public care until you're a member of the Norwegian scheme (working here = you're in).
Pharmacies & medicines
- Chains: Apotek 1, Boots, Vitusapotek. Prescriptions are electronic — any pharmacy can see yours (bring ID).
- Blue prescription (blå resept) = subsidised chronic medication, counts toward frikort. White = you pay full.
- Painkillers (paracet/ibux) are sold in small packs in grocery stores from age 18.
- Bringing your own medication when moving: allowed for personal use (up to 3 months' supply for most medicines, 1 month for strong/narcotic ones) with documentation.