Administrative System

Because the public sector in Norway is particularly robust, administrative law plays a significant role in the Norwegian legal landscape. The basic rules and procedures for cases concerning public administration are codified in the Public Administration Act.

Individuals and legal entities have a right to receive guidance from any public administrative body within its field of work. 

Most public administrative decisions must be given in writing and explain the grounds on which the decision is based. Decisions can be appealed to a higher administrative body. The deadline for appeal is usually three weeks, but the specific deadline for appeal should be noted in the written decision. 

Administrative decisions can be appealed once within the public administration, but after that they must be challenged through the court system. Administrative decisions can usually be brought before a district court or the National Insurance Court in the first instance. 

The Parliamentary Ombudsman (Sivilombudsmannen) is an alternative to the courts when an individual believes his or her rights have been violated by the public administration. The Ombudsman investigates, among other things, complaints from individuals who have received a final refusal from a higher body within the public administration, or who have experienced overlong processing time in their case.