Assistance provided by the Norwegian authorities

The kind of assistance provided by the Norwegian authorities will depend on whether the child has been abducted to/from a country that has signed an international convention on child abduction. The information on these pages is therefore divided into two main sections relating to: Contracting States and Non-Contracting States.

Find out if the child has been abducted to a country that has endorsed a convention, see List of Countries

 

The role of The Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs

The Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs is responsible for: 

• Receiving and forwarding applications for repatriation to the central authorities in the other country or the body authorised to make such decisions in Norway.
• Receiving and forwarding information necessary for consideration of the application.
• Forwarding information on the Norwegian legal system and regulations to the correct recipient.
• Coordinating contacts between the central authorities in the other country and other Norwegian bodies which may become involved.
• Where necessary, coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the provision of assistance by Norwegian foreign service missions.
• Where necessary, following up authorities in Norway or the other country in order to achieve a quick decision in child abduction cases.
• Where there is a legally binding decision that the child is to be repatriated we can, where necessary, follow up the authorities in Norway or the other country to achieve the rapid return of the child/children.
• Helping to coordinate the efforts of the central authorities and the Norwegian foreign service mission, where the foreign service mission's assistance is necessary for the repatriation of the child/children.
• Compiling statistics on the number of child abduction cases to/from Norway that are dealt with under the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

The Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs cannot: 

• Intervene directly in or influence any decisions pertaining to the case made by courts in Norway or another country.
• Take any action that contravenes laws and regulations in Norway or the country where the child is staying.
• Travel to another country and fetch home a child that has been unlawfully abducted from Norway.
• Provide financial assistance in connection with child abduction cases. An application for means tested legal aid may be made to the County Governor of Oslo and Akershus.

The role of the police

The police/prosecution service is responsible for:

• Recording a missing-child report. Issuing a wanted bulletin for the child both nationally and internationally. In certain circumstances the police may ask the authorities in another country to take the wanted child into their custody.
• Recording an allegation of child abduction. Initiating an investigation in order to clarify whether an unlawful child abduction has taken place, pursuant to Section 26 of Norway's General Civil Penal Code. Prosecution will take place only if criminal charges are filed by the aggrieved party.
• Issuing a wanted bulletin for the alleged abductor, with a view to his/her detention and possible extradition to Norway from another country.
• Keeping the aggrieved party informed of what the police are doing in the child abduction case, if to do so would not harm the investigation.
• Implementing measures to prevent a child from being abducted if such a risk is deemed to exist.
• Assisting and cooperating with other bodies which may become involved in the child abduction case.

 

Who to contact

The Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs
Tel: +47 466 15 000
Email: barnebortforing@bufdir.no
Office address: Fredrik Selmers vei 3, Oslo
Postal address: PO Box 2233, 3102 Tønsberg, Norway

Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
Services Department
Section for Consular Affairs and Immigration
Tel: +47 23 95 00 00
Fax: +47 22 24 95 80/81
Email: post@mfa.no
Office address: 7. juni-plassen/Victoria Terrasse, Oslo
Postal address: PO Box 8114 Dep, 0032 Oslo, Norway

Police 
Your local police service, Tel: 02800
Police emergency number, Tel: 112

Kripos (National Criminal Investigation Service)
Tel: +47 23 20 88 88
Email: post.kripos.desken@politiet.no

Do not hesitate to get in touch!

 

 

Important information:

To make it easier for us to help you please have the following information to hand:

• Personal details of the parents and children concerned
  · name
  · date of birth/personal identity no./passport no.
  · place of birth
  · nationality/dual nationality
  · place of habitual residence
• If relevant, proof of parental responsibility, eg:
  · birth certificate
  · marriage certificate
  · parental responsibility agreement
  · court order or ruling