NorgeStart
Healthcare in Norway: fastlege, frikort and costs
In an emergency call 113 for an ambulance, 112 for police and 110 for fire — free from any phone, and you can speak English. People registered in the National Population Register as resident in a Norwegian municipality are normally entitled to a fastlege, the family doctor who is the entry point to all non-emergency care; most people holding only a D-number are not, though they remain entitled to the healthcare they need. You pay a modest fee per visit until your yearly total reaches the egenandel ceiling, after which a frikort makes most public healthcare free for the rest of the year.
NorgeStart is an independent private service. It is not a government agency and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or operated by any Norwegian public authority. NorgeStart brings information from many official Norwegian sources together in one place, and we work to keep it up to date. Even so, rules, rates and amounts can change at any time, and we cannot guarantee that a page here always matches the authority's latest wording. Always confirm with the responsible authority before you act. We give general information, not professional advice on legal, tax, immigration or medical matters, and we take no responsibility for differences between this page and the official source, or for decisions taken on the basis of it.
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 the National Population Register as resident in a Norwegian municipality is entitled to a fastlege. Pick/switch one (max 2×/year) at helsenorge.no.
- A D-number is not the same thing. Most people who hold only a D-number are not entitled to a fastlege — but you are still entitled to the healthcare you actually need, and legevakt (116 117) and emergency care are open to you regardless.
- 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 visits carry a co-payment (egenandel): 179 kr in normal hours and 301 kr in the evening, at your fastlege or the municipal legevakt. A GP who is a specialist in general medicine charges 235 kr (357 in the evening). X-rays, blood tests and blue-prescription medicines also count.
- When your co-payments pass the yearly cap (frikort, 3 278 kr for 2026 — auto-tracked, unchanged from 2025), the rest of the year is free.
- Free: hospital stays, everyone under 18 — 16- and 17-year-olds were added to the frikort scheme on 1 August 2026 — pregnancy & birth care, and 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.
Useful services (not official bodies)
Dr. Dropin ↗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 explains important documents and gives clear, source-based answers.