Can I watch NRK without paying a licence in Norway?
Yes — the old TV licence (the broadcasting fee) was abolished on 1 January 2020. NRK is now funded through the state budget and the tax system, not by a per-household fee. There is no licence department, no inspectors and nothing to evade — the stories about someone knocking on the door to check whether you own a TV are out of date. The funding works by reducing the personal tax allowance, so ordinary income tax covers NRK. That means you contribute according to income: those on low income or a tax exemption card, and minimum pensioners, pay zero. Businesses and schools have no separate fee. So you need neither a licence nor a registration to watch NRK.
📋 The rules
- The TV licence was abolished on 1 January 2020
- NRK is now funded through tax
- No licence department or inspectors
- Funded by reducing the personal tax allowance
- Low income and minimum pensioners pay zero
🔓 Exceptions
- Low income or a tax exemption card means no NRK funding via tax
- Minimum pensioners pay nothing
- Businesses and schools have no separate fee
⚠️ Penalties & fines
There is no penalty or charge for the public, simply because there is no longer a licence to evade: no inspectors, no registration, no reminders. The only financial consequence lies in the past — unpaid licence debt from before 2020 did not disappear when the fee was abolished, but was transferred to the State Collection Agency. Going forward, collection happens through your tax settlement: because the personal allowance was reduced, the NRK contribution is part of your ordinary income tax, and if you do not pay the tax, it is the tax rules that apply.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
Does the TV licence still exist?
No. The broadcasting fee was abolished on 1 January 2020 and replaced by funding through the tax system. There is no licence department and no inspectors any more, so there is no separate amount for you to pay to watch NRK.
How is NRK funded now?
Through the state budget. The personal tax allowance was reduced when the licence went, so ordinary income tax covers NRK — you still contribute, but according to income and through your tax bill, instead of a flat fee per household.
Must everyone pay?
No. Those on an ordinary income contribute through tax, while those on low income, a tax exemption card or a minimum pension pay zero. Because the contribution follows income, the old situation where every household paid the same amount is gone.
Do I need a licence to watch NRK?
No. There is no separate licence any more, nothing to register and nothing to evade. You can watch NRK without notifying anyone, and without anyone being able to charge you a separate amount for it.
What happened to old licence debt?
Unpaid licence debt from before 2020 was not written off when the fee was abolished, but transferred to the State Collection Agency. If you have an old outstanding claim it must still be settled, even though the licence itself no longer exists.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “is there still a tv licence norway”
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