Foreigners' unemployment benefit is possible in Norway. The basic principle adopted by NAV is that such a person must have earned income in the territory of the Kingdom. The Office allows for the possibility of converting income obtained e.g. in Poland to estimate the amount of the Norwegian benefit.
Work in Norway, living in Poland
You are entitled to unemployment benefits for foreigners even if you work in Norway but live in Poland to which you return every day or once a week. To be entitled to this benefit, you must have worked in the Kingdom for at least the last 12 months full time. Applying for benefits requires meeting one of the following requirements:
- you work part-time,
- the employer reduced your job,
- Your employer is at risk of bankruptcy.
IMPORTANT! You can receive unemployment benefit for foreigners even if you stay in Poland after losing your job or part-time. This only applies if you have been classified by NAV as a cross-border worker.
Learn more on support for unemployed people in Norway >>>
Cross-border worker - a person who works in Norway, but lives in another country belonging to the EEA (e.g. in Poland) and travels home at least once a week.
Employee who is not cross-border
However, if you are not classified as a cross-border worker, you can apply for unemployment benefit looks slightly different. As long as you live and stay in Norway, you are treated the same as any other unemployed person. You will be in a slightly different situation if you have obtained benefits for unemployed foreigners in Norway, but you have returned to the country where you previously worked. Without the status of a cross-border worker, you lose the right to benefits in such a situation.
Find out more about ithow to deal with Norwegian labor law >>>
You have the right to transfer your rights to another country
Worth knowingthat if you have been recognized as a cross-border worker and you decide to return to your home country, you can apply for the transfer of your benefits rights to Poland. In most EEA countries, benefits for unemployed foreigners are available only after working for a specified period of time. Details vary by country.
For proof of earned income in order to determine the amount of unemployment benefits, you must apply on 04-02-05 in order for NAV to issue a PD U1 certificate.
Learn more about social support from NAV >>>
You worked in another country and moved to Norway
If before you worked in another EEA country when you moved to Norway, you can show your earnings before being employed by a Norwegian employer. On this basis, NAV will calculate the amount of benefit you are entitled to. You have the right to report income up to three years ago. However, for the Office to do this, you must submit a PD U1/SED U002 application.
What if you want to find a job in another EEA country?
In certain cases you can collect unemployment benefits staying in another EEA country to find a job. You must meet the following requirements:
- you must be completely unemployed,
- You should be registered with NAV as job seeker at least 4 weeks in the 12 weeks before departure,
- during these 4 weeks you must be entitled to unemployment benefits.
Learn more on the conditions of granting unemployment benefits >>>
You are not entitled to unemployment benefit in another EEA country if:
- you were fired In Norway,
- you started your own economic activity,
- you receive unemployment benefits as a result of your employer's bankruptcy,
- you use activation instruments unemployed people in Norway.
If you are planning to go to another EEA country to find work and want to receive unemployment benefits during this time, you must apply for PD U2.
