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Agreement between the parents

If you are afraid that your child will be abducted, you can seek to enter into an agreement with the other party to try and prevent the child from actually being abducted.

To/from a Contracting State - the Council of Europe Convention

In connection with countries that have signed the Council of Europe Convention on child abduction, assistance from the Norwegian authorities is provided through the Ministry of Justice and Public Security.

To/from a Contracting state - the Hague Convention

In connection with countries that have signed the Hague Convention on child abduction, assistance from the Norwegian authorities is provided through the Ministry of Justice and Public Security.

To/from a Non-Contracting State

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Child abduction is a criminal offence

Child abduction is regulated under Section 216 of the Norwegian General Civil Penal Code. Abduction from the person who has parental responsibility is a criminal offence. It is also an offence to abduct a child from the Child Welfare Services or

Norwegian court proceedings

A child abduction case is not the same as a child custody case. In a child abduction case pursuant to one of the conventions the court's task is to determine whether the child shall be repatriated following an unlawful abduction.

Background for the list of lawyers

The Ministry of Justice and Public Security has established a list of lawyers who specialise in child abduction cases so that affected parents may get in touch with a lawyer that has special expertise on and knowledge of child abduction.

From another country to Norway – foreign lawyer

The Norwegian legal aid scheme does not cover legal fees that you as the left-behind parent, incur in your home country.

List of lawyers in child abduction cases

The Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Public Security has established a list of lawyers in child abduction cases, so that affected parents quickly can get in touch with a lawyer with particular competence and knowledge about child abduction.

Glossary of legal terms

| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | Æ | Ø | Å | Abductor The person who takes a child illegally out of its country of habitual residence or who fails to return a child to its

Frequently asked questions

Where is your child? Contact your nearest police station for advice on whether your child should be reported as missing and whether an international search notice should be issued. You can read more about searching for a child/abductor under

What is an international parental child abduction?

A typical example of parental child abduction is when a child is wrongfully taken out of the country by one if its parents, contrary to the other parent’s custody rights. A child can also be retained abroad unlawfully, e.g. following a holiday or

Can you travel or relocate with your child to Norway?

If you live with your child outside Norway and are considering travelling or relocating to Norway, it is important that you make sure you do so lawfully.

Can you travel or relocate with your child to another country?

If you live with your child in Norway and are considering travelling or relocating to another country, it is important that you make sure you do so lawfully.

Passports for children

Norwegian children must have their own passports. This is also recommended for travel within the Schengen Area (Europe's passport-free zone), since a passport is the only valid proof of identity for Norwegians abroad.

List of countries

List of countries and their relations to conventions on child abduction. H = Hague Convention CE = the Council of Europe Convention - = No convention | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y

Child abduction from or to Norway

The assistance provided by the Norwegian authorities will depend on whether your child has been abducted to a signatory country to one of the international conventions on child abduction. The information on these pages has therefore been divided

Links and sources

Relevant websites The Norwegian police The Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion Ministry of Justice and Public Security www.norway.info Information about Norway Domstol.no The official website of the

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Cooperation on foreign and security policy

Norway and the EU cooperate closely in the area of foreign policy. Working together increases our ability to promote shared values and interests effectively.