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The Integration Act

Valid in Norway

Last peer-reviewed July 16, 2026

Brief overview

The Integration Act regulates the introduction program and training in Norwegian and social studies for specific groups of immigrants. The purpose is for immigrants to be integrated into Norwegian society at an early stage and become economically self-sufficient.

For persons covered by the regulations, the municipality shall make a decision on and ensure an introduction program or training in Norwegian and social studies. For specific participants receiving the training as part of full-time upper secondary education, the implementation responsibility lies with the county municipality. When the municipality uses other entities to carry out the training, the municipality still bears the responsibility for ensuring that the regulations are met.

The training must be adapted to the participant. Norwegian language training is goal-oriented, and the provision must have sufficient intensity and quality for the participant to reach their Norwegian language goal within the statutory deadlines. Decisions, plans, exemptions, suspensions, appeals, and participation must be handled and documented in accordance with applicable rules. Relevant information must be registered in the National Introduction Register (NIR).

The Integration Act is not a general law on interpreting, document translation or AI. It is nevertheless linguistically relevant when municipalities need to provide information about rights and obligations, make decisions concerning multilingual participants, or use language and AI tools in teaching and case processing. Any duty to use an interpreter must be assessed pursuant to the Interpreter Act and other relevant regulations.

What regulates this

The Integration Act determines who has the right and obligation to participate in an introduction program and training in Norwegian and social studies, who is responsible for the offering, and rules regarding planning, implementation, tests, exemptions, suspension, appeal processing, and registration. For municipalities, the act is central both as service regulations and as a basis for individual decisions regarding participants.

Who is affected

Public sector supplier

Public sector

Why it has practical significance

Municipalities and county municipalities encounter participants with diverse languages, educational backgrounds, and needs. Incorrect information, poor linguistic adaptation, or deficient documentation can affect an individual's rights, deadlines, and ability to complete the training.

AI, machine translation, and digital language tools can support the work, but must be used in a way that ensures the content is accurate, personal data is protected, and responsibility for decisions and quality is not shifted to the tool. The law does not in itself provide a general obligation to use an interpreter. This must be assessed in accordance with the Interpreter Act and the specific situation.

Key Requirements and Obligations

  • Determine whether the person is covered by the right and/or obligation to participate in an introduction program or training pursuant to the Integration Act.
  • Make and justify necessary individual decisions, and provide information on the right to appeal.
  • Provide an individually tailored educational offer of sufficient intensity and quality.
  • Determine and document the Norwegian language standard and relevant plans in accordance with applicable rules.
  • Assess and document exemptions, absence, leave, suspension, and trial requirements.
  • Register decisions and participation correctly and within the applicable deadlines in NIR.
  • Ensure that suppliers and partners comply with requirements for quality, privacy, information security, and documentation.
  • Assess the need for a qualified interpreter according to the Public Administration Interpreter Act; do not use the Integration Act as a substitute for this assessment.

What the business may consider documenting

  • Map which units, professional systems, and suppliers process cases pursuant to the Integration Act.
  • Establish target-audience-adapted templates for decisions, plans, and information regarding rights, duties, and appeals.
  • Describe when written translation, multilingual information, or a qualified interpreter should be used.
  • Create approved procedures for the use of AI and machine translation in teaching materials and administrative case processing.
  • Require human control of texts concerning rights, duties, deadlines, objectives, exemptions, suspensions, or appeals.
  • Verify that NIR registrations are complete, correct, and registered within applicable deadlines.
  • Clarify the basis for processing, access, storage, and data processor relationships for personal data.
  • Follow up with training providers regarding requirements for competence, language, quality, non-conformities, and documentation.
  • Coordinate the routines with the Public Administration Act, the privacy regulations, the Interpreter Act, the Language Act, and the Education Act where relevant.

Sources and Further Reading

The links point to external sources. Check the current text and status before using them in your own work.

The information is general information and not legal advice. The applicable requirements must be assessed based on the enterprise's sector, role, information, and specific use of technology.