2.2 The Introduction Program & Integration Services

The Introduction Program & Integration Services

Norway's public integration policy is anchored in the principle that early, structured qualification leads to financial self-sufficiency and active participation in civic life. The cornerstone of this policy is the Introduction Program (introduksjonsprogrammet), a comprehensive, full-time qualification scheme tailored for newly arrived refugees and their family members.

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The Integration Act (Integreringsloven)

On 1 January 2021, the modern Integration Act (Integreringsloven) replaced the previous Introduction Act of 2003. The statutory purpose of Integreringsloven is to provide newcomers with early assistance in acquiring the Norwegian language, understanding Norwegian society, achieving financial independence, and gaining a foothold in the labor market or formal education.

Who is covered?

The introduction programme primarily serves qualifying newly arrived refugees and certain family members settled through the municipal system. IMDi's 2026 participant guidance describes the main 18–55 target group. Announced extensions must not be treated as operative without checking their commencement. Collective temporary protection has separate temporary rules; participation, Norwegian tuition and social studies obligations must be checked under the applicable scheme.

A permit category alone does not establish every entitlement. The municipality assesses the conditions and issues a decision. Someone already working sufficient hours can fall outside the duty to start under changes effective in 2026.

Rights and Duties (Rett og plikt)

Participation in the introduction program is both a legal entitlement and a civic obligation for the target group. Eligible individuals have the right to receive customized training, but they also have the duty to attend classes, participate in practical work placements, and follow their agreed integration schedule. Refusing to participate without justifiable cause results in the loss of financial allowances and can jeopardize eligibility for permanent residence permits.

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The Individual Integration Plan (Integreringsplan)

Under Integreringsloven, the introduction program moved away from a rigid, standardized duration. Instead, it is customized through an individual integration plan (integreringsplan) based on standardized competence mapping (kompetansekartlegging).

Mapping competence and setting a duration

The municipality maps education, experience and needs and uses career guidance to establish an achievable end goal. Programme length depends on educational background, end goal and the rules applying to the participant. Rules effective in 2026 distinguish employment goals from full or partial upper secondary education. A participant pursuing a school qualification can have a substantially longer pathway than someone preparing directly for work.

Do not infer a guaranteed programme length from a simple university/no-university table. Ask for the written decision, the end goal and any conditions for extension. The plan should identify what must happen first: language study, recognition of a qualification, school subjects, a work placement or a job search.

Binding Goals: Sluttmål and Delmål

The integration plan is a formal administrative agreement co-signed by the participant and the municipality. It defines:

• Final Goal (sluttmål): The ultimate employment or educational target (e.g., obtaining employment as a certified bus driver, completing an accounting degree, or passing a trade exam).
• Intermediate Goals (delmål): Measurable steps toward the final goal, such as achieving CEFR level B1 in Norwegian, finishing a health-worker internship, or completing driver licensing coursework.

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Core Program Components

The introduction program is structured as a full-time commitment—equivalent to an ordinary 37.5-hour working week—running throughout the entire calendar year with standard holiday provisions.

Language learning and social studies

The Integration Act uses individual Norwegian-language goals rather than a single classroom-hour target for every participant. Teaching must take account of prior schooling, literacy and the learner's objectives. Older descriptions of three fixed language tracks should not be mistaken for a current legal entitlement.

The current social studies curriculum comprises three 25-hour modules, totalling 75 hours, with transitional or special schemes for some groups. A municipality determines the actual training duty. Under the current permanent-residence rules, passing the required tests and completion of course hours are different issues. There is no universal additional 75-hour residence-application requirement after the September 2025 change.

Workplace Practice (Arbeidspraksis / Praksisplass)

Theoretical classroom instruction is coupled with practical workplace training (arbeidspraksis). The municipality cooperates with private and public employers to establish internships where participants practice professional Norwegian, experience workplace culture, build local references, and demonstrate their competence to potential employers.

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Financial Support: Introduksjonsstønad & Sanctions

Participants in the introduction program are entitled to a specific financial allowance: the introduction benefit (introduksjonsstønad). This benefit is designed to guarantee financial security while instilling the rhythm and expectations of working life.

Calculation and Indexation

The benefit is pegged to the National Insurance Basic Amount (Folketrygdens grunnbeløp, widely abbreviated as G):

• Adults aged 25 and older: Receive an annual benefit equal to two times the basic amount (2G).
• Younger participants: Reduced rates can apply, including rules linked to whether the participant lives with parents. The municipality calculates the applicable amount; 2G is not the rate for everyone.

Taxation and Pension Accumulation

Unlike standard municipal social welfare benefits (økonomisk sosialhjelp), introduksjonsstønad is fully taxable as earned income (lønnsinntekt). Participants receive a regular pay slip, have income tax deducted via their tax deduction card (skattekort), but the introduction benefit does not itself create pension accrual.

Absence and the Sanction Regime

Because the introduction program mirrors a standard job, attendance rules are strictly enforced:

• Excused Absence: Paid absence is permitted only for documented personal illness (using statutory self-certification / egenmelding or a medical doctor's sick note / sykemelding), child illness (sykt barn-dager), or pre-approved leave.
• Unexcused Absence: Any undocumented absence results in an immediate, hour-for-hour deduction (trekk i stønad) from that month's benefit payout. Repeated unauthorized absence constitutes a material breach of the integration plan, which can lead to formal written warnings and ultimate expulsion from the program.

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Municipal Settlement & Administrative Responsibilities

Integration policy in Norway is executed locally by the municipalities (kommunene), under coordination from the central Directorate of Integration and Diversity (Integrerings- og mangfoldsdirektoratet, IMDi).

IMDi (Central Quotas) ──> Municipality (Kommunen) ──> Housing & Advisor ──> Adult Education Center

1. Settlement Agreements: IMDi requests municipalities to settle a specific number of refugees each year. The elected municipal council (kommunestyret) formally votes to accept a settlement quota.
2. Housing Allocation: The municipal refugee service (flyktningtjenesten) or housing department secures suitable initial housing (bosetting) for refugees and their families.
3. Integration Advisers: The municipality assigns a personal integration adviser (integreringsrådgiver / veileder) from NAV or the refugee service. The adviser coordinates competence mapping, develops the integration plan, oversees school enrollment for children, and conducts regular progress reviews.
4. Adult Learning Centers: Municipalities run or contract Adult Education Centers (voksenopplæringssentre) to deliver language classes, 75 hours of social studies, and primary/secondary adult education courses.

Using the programme actively

A fictional participant wants work in childcare but has an overseas qualification and limited Norwegian. The adviser should help identify whether qualification recognition, additional subjects or supervised work practice is needed. The participant should ask who arranges each step and when progress will be reviewed. The end goal is meaningful participation in education or employment, not merely collecting attendance hours.

Before moving to another municipality, contact the current adviser and receiving municipality. Moving without an agreement can affect the programme and benefit. Do not assume that a local arrangement transfers automatically. Keep decisions and absence documentation and ask how to challenge a decision you believe is wrong.

Remember

• The introduction programme supports qualifying newcomers toward employment or education through an individual integration plan.
• Municipal decisions determine eligibility, end goals, duration and benefit; collective temporary protection has separate rules.
• Norwegian learning and social studies duties differ from the evidence required for a permanent-residence application.

Official sources

Checked 18 October 2026: IMDi: 2026 participant guidance; IMDi: changes effective in 2026.