Refugees without statutory rights of young people

Who is eligible for refugee grants?

You must;
  • Be registered with refugee status with the Norwegian Directorate for Immigration (UDI)
  • Be enrolled in primary, secondary or upper secondary education
  • Not receive introduction benefit at the same time as receiving a refugee grant
  • Not live at a reception centre for asylum seekers

Refugee grants

Refugees who do not receive introduction benefit at the same time may be eligible for refugee grants for up to three years.

What is the refugee grant?

The refugee grant is a separate support scheme for refugees in primary, secondary or upper secondary education. The refugee grant means that loans you could otherwise have received from Lånekassen are converted to grants instead.

You cannot receive a refugee grant at the same time as participating in an introduction programme.

You may be eligible for a refugee grant for three years

You may be eligible for a refugee grant for up to three years within a period of six years after the date on which you were granted asylum. The number of years for which you may be eligible for the grant depends on how quickly you start your education after being granted asylum. If you start your education within three years of being granted asylum, you may receive a refugee grant for up to three years, but if you start your education after five years, for example, you may only receive a refugee grant for one year.

The period during which you may receive a refugee grant may be extended from six to eight years if you already have children or have a child during that time refugee grant can normally be granted. You may then still be eligible for a refugee grant for three years even though you did not start your education before five years had elapsed.

To the application

Video about refugee grant from Lånekassen

The grant may be converted to a loan if you have income

If you receive social security benefits exceeding NOK 114,617 in 2024, you will need to repay the refugee grant. For earned income, the limit is higher.

The refugee grant is means-tested against your income and savings. This means that if you have income, savings or benefits that exceed the threshold, your grant will be converted to a loan that must be repaid.

If you are married, the grant may be reduced if the combined savings of you and your spouse exceed the threshold.

We will check how much income and savings you have

Lånekassen receives information about your income from employment, savings and benefits for each year in which you receive a refugee grant. The information about your income is used to check whether you are eligible to keep your grant.

You will receive a letter from us when we have checked your income and savings.

Thresholds for income and assets

Do you have children?

You may receive extra
loans and grants
if you have or get children

If you have children while studying, you may be entitled to additional loans and grants.

Parental grant in the event of birth or adoption

If you have children while studying, your basic support and additional loan for school fees may be converted to a grant for up to 49 weeks.

Child grant

If you have children below the age of 16, you may qualify for an additional grant. If you have several children, you receive more in grants. The child grant is means tested, which means that the amount is reduced if the family has income or assets in excess of the limits stipulated in the regulations. If you are a part-time student, you also get a smaller amount.

Additional loans

You may also borrow NOK 55,820 extra per year when you have children below the age of 16, with an upward limit of NOK 111,640 in total. Income and assets have no impact on whether you can receive an additional loan. If you are a part-time student, you will be offered a loan with a smaller amount.

Read about children and childbirth

Related rules