What to Do When Your GP Has No Available Spots in Norway
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If the list is full at the GP you want, you still have a right to a GP (fastlege). Around 1.9 percent of the population had no regular GP in May 2026, according to the Norwegian Directorate of Health (Helsedirektoratet). Here is what you can do.
1. Look for open spots in neighbouring municipalities
You can choose a GP in a municipality other than the one you live in. See which GPs have open spots in your municipality and the ones around it, on Helsenorge or on DinLos (in Norwegian).
2. Join a waiting list
You can be on one waiting list at a time. When a full list opens, residents of the municipality who are not on any GP list get priority. After that, people are taken from the waiting list.
3. Get notified when something opens
DinLos lets you know when a GP in your municipality gets an open spot or opens a waiting list: free by e-mail, or by text message within ten minutes from NOK 99. The service is in Norwegian. See alerts and prices.
4. Contact the municipality
The right to a GP follows from the Patient and User Rights Act (pasient- og brukerrettighetsloven) section 2-1c. If you have no GP, contact the municipality.
5. Complain to the County Governor
If your right to a GP is not met, you can complain to the Statsforvalter (County Governor). The complaint is sent to the municipality, and the deadline is four weeks (sections 7-2 and 7-5 of the same Act). The Patient and User Ombudsman (Pasient- og brukerombudet) helps free of charge.
While you wait
If you need medical help that cannot wait, call the out-of-hours service (legevakt) on 116 117. You do not need a GP to use it. If life is at risk: 113.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do when the GP list is full?
Look for open spots in your municipality and neighbouring municipalities, join the waiting list of the GP you want, and contact the municipality if you have no GP. You have a right to a GP.
Can I choose a GP in another municipality?
Yes. You can choose a GP in a municipality other than the one you live in.
Who gets a spot first when a full list opens?
Residents of the municipality who are not on any GP list get priority. After that, people are taken from the waiting list.
Can I complain if I cannot get a GP?
Yes. If your right to a GP is not met, you can complain to the Statsforvalter (County Governor). The complaint is sent to the municipality, and the deadline is four weeks.
Sources
- Helsedirektoratet: Kontinuitet og tilgjengelighet i fastlegeordningen. Andelen innbyggere uten fast lege, 1,9 prosent per mai 2026. Sist endret 26. august 2026.
- Lovdata: Pasient- og brukerrettighetsloven. § 2-1c, retten til fastlege for alle som er folkeregistrert i en norsk kommune. LOV-1999-07-02-63, gjeldende lov.
- Lovdata: Pasient- og brukerrettighetsloven kapittel 7, klage. Klage til Statsforvalteren (§ 7-2), anmodning om tilsyn (§ 7-4) og klagefristen på fire uker (§ 7-5). Gjeldende lov.
- Helfo and Helsenorge: Changing your regular doctor. Number of changes per year, waiting lists, when a change takes effect and the order of allocation. Last updated 12 August 2025.
- Helsenorge: Legevakt. Når du skal bruke legevakt framfor fastlege. Sist oppdatert 9. mars 2023.
- Norsk helseinformatikk: Når bør du klage?. Pasient- og brukerombudet og Norsk pasientskadeerstatning. Hentet 15. oktober 2026.
This article was written with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Last verified 17 October 2026. If something looks wrong, tell us at hei@dinlos.no and we will correct it.
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Read article →Check for available GPs now
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This article provides general information about the Norwegian GP scheme, not medical or legal advice. Rules, rates and waiting times change. For binding information about your own situation, see helsenorge.no or contact Helfo.