When are you a worker on the continental shelf?

• You must perform work on the Norwegian continental shelf
• There is no requirement for you to be paid by a Norwegian employer
• There is no requirement for you to be resident in Norway

What happens when you start working on the Norwegian continental shelf?

You are a compulsory member of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme when you work on the Norwegian continental shelf. You must pay national insurance contributions to Norway even if you do not pay taxes to Norway.

You can apply to maintain membership of the insurance scheme you normally belong to, and receive exemption from the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme when you

• Are resident in another EEA-country or Switzerland
• Are posted by an employer in your country of residence
• Will be working less than five years on the Norwegian continental shelf

Consequences of not being a member of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme

When you are not a member of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme, you are not entitled to any benefits under the National Insurance Act and you do not have to pay national insurance contributions.

The most important consequences are as follows:

• The Norwegian National Insurance Scheme does not cover the cost of health services incurred abroad
• You are not automatically entitled to health services in Norway for illness contracted during a stay abroad
• You do not earn pension rights/points under the National Insurance Act
• Other consequences may affect the right to disability benefits and benefits for surviving spouse and children

When you are a member of social security scheme in another EEA-country or Switzerland, you earn your pension rights there and are entitled to have health services covered according to the regulations of that country. If you become ill while working and need medical assistance from Norway, the expenses will be covered according to the National Insurance Act.

What can you do to retain membership?

You are automatically a member of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme when you work on the Norwegian continental shelf. Nevertheless, you should send an application for membership of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme to Nav National Office for Social Insurance Abroad in order to have membership confirmed, and obtain the necessary information.

Coverage of health services

Coverage of health services applies principally to what you have paid for doctor, hospital and medications.

Using health services in Norway, you will be entitled to have medical treatment covered under the National Insurance Act. For example, in Norway it means free admission to hospital and having to pay patient’s charge for medications.

Outside the EEA, you will be entitled to extended coverage for health services in the country of residence and during travelling to and from the work place. This coverage is equivalent to the coverage you would have had in Norway. Treatment must be performed by a doctor or hospital approved by Nav. Alternative medicine is not covered.

In an EEA-country or Switzerland, health services will be covered in accordance with the regulations of the country of residence. In Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia,  the health facilities have been assessed as to entitle you to refunds under the regulations of the National Insurance Act as if you were outside the EEA.

Family members

Family members staying abroad more than 12 months are not members of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme. They do not meet the requirements for voluntary membership entitlement either.

Outside the EEA, your family members have no entitlement to health services covered by Norwegian National Insurance.

In an EEA-country or Switzerland, the social security authorities will assess whether to enter family members onto your E 106 form thus entitling them to health services according to the regulations of the country of residence.

What does it cost?

You must pay national insurance contributions to be a member of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme.

How much you have to pay will depend on your income.

Entitlement to different benefits

The right to benefits from the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme while living abroad depends on membership.

In order to be entitled to a benefit, you must fulfil certain conditions, be a member of that section of Norwegian National Insurance that gives entitlement to the benefit, and satisfy the special requirements of the benefit for you to receive it abroad.