Oslo's activity card: who gets it, and how much
The City of Oslo introduced a digital activity card at the start of the school year, and applications opened on 17 August 2026. The card provides money towards membership and course fees in sports, culture and outdoor life, and both the application and the payment are handled digitally. The city promises an immediate answer to the application.
It is worth reading the rates before concluding that this doesn't apply to you. The scheme is often described as support for low-income families, but the top income threshold sits at just over 1.5 million kroner combined. So families on fairly high incomes can also get something, and the difference between the tiers is about how much, not whether.
This is what you get for autumn 2026
| Combined household income | Ages 6 to 12 | Ages 13 to 19 |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 780,960 kr | 1,650 kr | 2,450 kr |
| Up to 1,171,440 kr | 1,350 kr | 2,050 kr |
| Up to 1,561,920 kr | 1,100 kr | 1,650 kr |
The table scrolls sideways.
The rates apply to autumn 2026, that is, half a year. The income thresholds correspond to 6, 9 and 12 times the national insurance base amount as it stood in 2025. The base amount rose on 1 May 2026 without the autumn thresholds changing, so check the city's page for the thresholds that apply from 2027.
Who can get it
Children with a registered address in Oslo, from the year they turn 6 up to and including the year they turn 19. The age limit follows the calendar year rather than the birthday, so a child turning 6 in December can use the card from January of that same year.
You do not need to attach proof of income. The city retrieves both parents' tax information and processes the application automatically.
What the card covers
Membership and course fees at organisations approved by the city, within sports, culture or outdoor life in Oslo. One-off activities such as tournaments and competitions are included too. By late June 2026 around 200 activity providers had registered, and the list is still growing, so check whether your club is on it before giving up.
The card does not cover equipment, gym memberships, language tuition or religious and political activities. Skis, skates, football boots and bicycles must therefore be covered some other way. On the other hand, there is free equipment lending at several places around the city through BUA and Skattkammeret.
Two things to be aware of
The amounts in the table cover half a year, not a full year. Autumn 2026 is the first round, and the city has signalled that from 2027 the support will be granted for a whole year at a time. So if you compare the rates against an annual membership fee, expect the yearly figure to be different.
Holiday camps and holiday courses are generally not covered. The city states that summer courses are excluded, and that membership and course fees are only covered for activities lasting at least three months. A one-week camp therefore falls outside the scheme.
How to apply
The application is with the City of Oslo and opened on 17 August 2026. Payment to the club or course goes through the same system, so you should not have to pay up front and claim it back afterwards.
The activity card at the City of Oslo →
Holiday programmes that are free without the activity card, and their sign-up deadlines, are listed in a separate guide.