When you are ill, the business does not always stop costing
You cancel an assignment, postpone a meeting, put away your tools. Revenues may fall, but fees for premises, software or phone still remain.
The owner of an ENK should not assume that during illness they will receive the same protection as an employed worker.
As a rule a self-employed person can receive sykepenger from the 17th day of incapacity for work, at 80% of the established basis. The first 16 calendar days are not covered by the usual payment on these terms. It is possible to purchase additional cover in advance. sykepenger for selvstendig næringsdrivende
It's best to check your coverage while you're still working and the business is operating normally.
Step 1. Determine in what capacity you are working
This guide is mainly for the owner of a sole proprietorship — enkeltpersonforetak, ENK.
Do not equate this situation with employment in your own AS company or with the Norwegian category frilanser. The term “freelancer” used colloquially does not determine the rules for benefits.
If you simultaneously work as an employee and run an ENK, inform NAV about both income sources. Employment income and self-employment income are considered according to the rules applicable to them. nav.no
Step 2. Check the basic conditions
Registering the business alone does not guarantee the right to sykepenger.
NAV checks, among other things, incapacity to work due to illness or injury, loss of income, the period of professional activity and the required income level. For the self-employed the basic conditions include at least four weeks of work immediately before falling ill and an appropriate annual income base amounting to at least ½ G. Other conditions and exceptions also apply. nav.no
G stands for grunnbeløpet — the base amount in the Norwegian social insurance system. It changes over time, so check its value for the relevant period.
Step 3. Do not wait until the 17th day to report
The first 16 days are counted from contact with a doctor due to incapacity for work or from NAV receiving information about that incapacity.
So do not assume that you can stay at home without reporting for more than two weeks and then automatically begin to receive benefits. sykepenger for selvstendig næringsdrivende
In practice:
When illness prevents work, contact a doctor and arrange documentation of the incapacity.
Check on NAV's website the reporting procedure appropriate for the self-employed.
Keep the information about the date of contact and the documents submitted.
Follow up on further actions indicated in your case.
Instructions and the relevant links are on the page NAV - Sykepenger, in the section for selvstendig næringsdrivende.
Step 4. Differentiate the sick note from the application for benefits
Sykmelding documents incapacity for work. Søknad om sykepenger is the application for the benefit.
The sick note alone does not replace all the actions needed to process a payment. Check tasks in your NAV profile, submit the required application and complete the documentation.
Provide your actual professional activity during the period covered by the application, also if you carried out part of the work despite the illness. nav.no
Do not describe the situation solely as “the company was closed” if you actually fulfilled assignments or other professional duties.
Step 5. Check from which income NAV calculates the benefit
80% of the base does not mean 80% of turnover nor the amount of the last invoice.
The base - sykepengegrunnlag - is usually determined based on the average income that constitutes the pension base from the last three settled years. A limit of 6 G applies. With a new business or certain permanent changes in income an individual assessment may be necessary. Sykepenger for selvstendig næringsdrivende
Simplified example:
Assumption Amount Annual base determined by NAV 400 000 NOK Standard level of protection 80% Annual equivalent after applying 80% 320 000 NOK
This is an illustration of how the percentage works. It is not a promise of an annual or monthly payment. The specific benefit also depends on the period of incapacity, the extent of the sick leave and meeting the conditions.
New ENK without three years of history: prepare documents
The lack of three full years of activity does not automatically mean refusal.
NAV can assess the income you are able to document. It indicates, among others, the current profit and loss account and documents concerning the expected income and forskuddsskatt. nav.no
Practically, prepare:
the date of commencement of activity;
a statement of income and expenses;
available tax returns;
documents showing growth or a permanent change in the business;
an explanation of how the illness affected your work.
Do not base the entire justification on a single large invoice. Ensure a consistent picture of the business.
A helpful guide: Accounting in ENK: how to organize the company's first month.
What about the first 16 days and higher protection?
NAV offers voluntary insurance forsikring - sykepenger.
For the self-employed, three options are available:
Variant Co extends 80% of the base for the first 16 calendar days. Coverage at the start of incapacity 100% of the base from the 17th day. Benefit level after the waiting period 100% of the base from the first day. Start of coverage and its level
Variants are paid and remain subject to the benefit conditions and the base limit. 100% does not mean covering the company’s entire turnover or all company expenses. nav.no
Insurance must be checked before you fall ill
As a rule, additional coverage requires four weeks of waiting, counted from the receipt of the application by NAV. There are exceptions, among others related to continuity of earlier coverage. nav.no
Do not assume that purchasing insurance while already ill will ensure immediate payment for the earlier days.
Current variants, premiums and rules are published by NAV - Forsikring, sykepenger.
Will sykepenger pay the company’s bills?
The benefit is intended to compensate for the loss of your income due to incapacity for work. It is not a separate reimbursement of every business expense invoice. sykepenger for selvstendig næringsdrivende
Therefore, when planning your protection, separate:
funds needed for living;
ongoing business obligations;
the period without regular pay;
the possible waiting time for case processing.
A financial reserve and the benefit serve different functions. Check how long your company will survive during a break in fulfilling assignments.
What to do now?
If you are healthy: check the rules of basic coverage, insurance variants and the quality of income documentation.
If you can no longer work: make sure to contact a doctor, notify NAV and submit the correct application. Do not delay this solely because the standard benefit starts later.
When combining employment with ENK, working in several countries, earlier benefits, or a special professional status, present NAV with the full situation. The general rule “80% from the 17th day” does not explain all such cases.
Information status checked: 18.10.2026.
