Repayment deferral

Information about schemes which apply when you have trouble paying your invoice.

You can defer repayment of your invoice up to 36 times

You can defer repayment of your invoice 36 times in total during the period over which you will be repaying your loan. You do not have to explain why.
Please remember this:
  • Direct debits - you are responsible for cancelling your direct debit payment in online banking

You can defer repayment

If you are having trouble paying your invoice, we have several schemes that could help you.

Applying for repayment deferral

The first thing you should do when you are unable to pay an invoice is to apply for repayment deferral. You can defer your invoice 36 times, i.e. the equivalent of 3 years, and there are no specific conditions that you need to comply with in order to defer payment. 

You can both defer invoices that you have already received and future invoices. If you defer future invoices, we will not send you an invoice.

If the payment deadline has passed, you could also be granted deferral of your payments, but it is best to apply before the deadline. because then you will not have to pay any extra fees.

Certain circumstances may entitle you to have interest cancelled, provided that you have also had a low income. See which circumstances entitle you to the cancellation of interest.

What happens when you defer repayments

When you are granted repayment deferral, the repayment period will be extended accordingly. Interest will be added for the months for which you do not pay, and your total interest costs will be higher due to the extended repayment period. If you can later afford to pay extra, you can reduce your total interest costs accordingly.

Any reminder fees will be added to the next invoice you are due to pay.

If you can pay part of the invoice, but not the full amount

If you can pay part of the invoice, but not the full amount, you can apply for a repayment deferral, and then pay the amount you want. This solution assumes that repayment deferral is granted. Remember that you use a deferral even if you pay some of the amount.

Have you used up all your repayment deferrals?

If you have used all the deferrals you can receive without giving a reason, you can only be granted addtional deferrals if you can demonstrate that you are entitled to interest cancellation for the same period.

How to do it:

  1. First submit an application for interest cancellation
  2. Then submit an application for repayment deferral

The order is important, but you do not have to wait for a decision on the interest cancellation before applying for a deferral.

See which situations may entitle you to interest cancellation

Apply for repayment deferral

Failure to pay your invoice costs a lot

You must pay the instalments that normally include the interest and instalments due on your student loan each month. If you fail to pay an invoice, and do not apply for repayment deferral either, this could quickly become very expensive. Lånekassen’s reminder fees are higher than elsewhere, and if your loan is terminated you will have to pay interest on overdue payments for the whole loan.

We will send you a reminder by e-mail 4 days after you should have paid your invoice in order to remind you to pay.

If you pay by direct debit, you must check to see if the maximum amount is high enough, and that you have enough money in your account.

You should pay as quickly as possible, or apply for repayment deferral.

Reminders will be sent out with your next invoice. In addition to the original instalment and the instalment for the next month, you will have to pay a reminder fee of NOK 280.

Interest on overdue payments will also be added to the amount that is overdue, with effect from the payment deadline date.

You should apply for repayment deferral if you are unable to pay.

This is a notice of termination. Reminders will be sent out with your next invoice. You must pay 3 instalments, one reminder fee of NOK 280 and a further reminder fee of NOK 490.

Interest on overdue payments will also be added to the amount that is overdue.

You should apply for repayment deferral if you are unable to pay.

This warning will be sent in the post and your invoice will now consist of four instalments, the fees from your previous invoice and accrued interest on overdue payments.

These decisions concern termination of your whole loan and it being transferred to the Collection Authority.

Once your loan has been terminated, you cannot receive further grants and loans until you have sorted things out.

You can sort things out by paying the overdue amount or applying for repayment deferral.

If you do not pay or apply for repayment deferral by the deadline indicated in our last letter, your loan will be terminated.

Once your loan has been transferred to the Collection Authority, interest on overdue payments will be added to the full debt. Your debt will increase quickly, and it is important that you try to sort it out before it becomes so much that you are unable to handle it. You can do this by making payments to bring your account up to date or by applying for repayment deferral.

You risk compulsory collection of your loan by the Collection Authority, e.g. by making deductions in your wages.

You cannot receive further loans and grants from Lånekassen once your loan has been transferred to the Collection Authority, but you can apply for payment deferral and other payment relief schemes if you are entitled to such.

Read more about loans that have been transferred to the Collection Authority

Are you experiencing problems with direct debits or e-invoices?

There may be various reasons why invoices are not paid by online banking:
  • you have not set a maximum amount for your direct debit
  • you have changed bank and pay by direct debit
  • you do not have enough money in your account on the date the invoice is due to be paid
Read more about direct debits and e-invoices
Low income and illness, AAP, unemployed
or other special circumstances may entitle you to the deletion of interest.
Disabled
If you receive disability benefit, you may be entitled to have your debt deleted.
Students
If you are a student while you are paying off your loan, you may be entitled to the deletion of interest.
The Collection Authority
What does it means when your loan has been terminated and transferred to the Collection Authority in the Tax Administration?
Persistent payment difficulties
Are you unable to service your debt?

Relevant rules