Accompanying certificate

Companion certificate is a card that can be given to people with illness and/or functional variations who need a companion to participate in society, and functions in many ways as an activation and inclusion tool.

With an accompanying certificate, the person can take the necessary assistance with them (e.g. parents, BPA assistant, support contact, grandparents, staff from housing, etc.) on many different offers and activities, either completely free or at a reduced price.

Accompanying certificates also usually give the right to "show consideration" bands in amusement parks, so that they do not have to wait in queues or that they are prioritized in queues. For many, this can be the difference between whether they can participate or not.

Who can get a companion certificate?

All persons with illness or functional variation, such as e.g. muscle disease, diabetes, cognitive diagnoses, sensory loss, walking difficulties, allergies, heart disease, lung disease, mental disorders, arthritis, neurodivergence, metabolic diseases, etc.

Unfortunately, a companion certificate is not a right, and it is up to the municipalities to decide who gets it or not. Unfortunately, many municipalities still have a lower age limit of 8 years, despite the fact that in January 2023 Bufdir introduced new national guidelines for companion certificates, where they have moved away from a lower age limit, so our advice is to apply anyway. Argue well and thoroughly for why your child needs an accompanying certificate. Functionally healthy children must not bring a wheelchair or other aids, feeding pump, oxygen, respirator, CPAP/BiPAP, emergency bag, medicines, syringes and other medical equipment. Functionally healthy children also have the stamina to walk short and longer distances, tolerate noise and crowds, and they don't just act out because they have to queue or the carousel is the wrong colour. They must also not be supervised and cared for part of or all of the day.

Løvemammaene has produced a national overview of municipalities with and without an age limit for companion certificates. You will find the overview here.

Where can companion certificates be used?

It can be used across municipal and county borders, for example on public transport, cultural events (e.g. concert, theater and museum), cinema, aquarium and the like, and in most major amusement parks and the like both in Norway and in other countries (e.g. Daisy, Legoland, Liseberg, Disneyland).

Always check the website or call the relevant place you want to visit to see if they accept companion certificates and their routines around this.

Physical card or digital?

Companion certificates are issued either as a physical card or digitally via an app. Whether you receive a companion certificate as a card or an app depends on the individual municipality.

Here you can see the overview about which municipalities offer digital companion certificates.

We are constantly working on developing the app and in the long term the plan is that as an administrator you will be able to grant access to others who should have access to the companion certificate, e.g. respite housing, grandparents, BPA assistants, etc.

Here you can read more about digital companion certificates.

Application requirements

Documentation that the need is permanent, i.e. lasts for at least 2 years.
Medical certificate on the child's need for supervision and assistance. Ask the doctor to explain why it is important to have an accompanying certificate for the child.
A thorough application text. Here, it may be a good idea to describe the differences in your child's needs for supervision and help, compared to able-bodied children of the same age.
Feel free to refer to Bufdir's guidelines for companion certificates in the application, if you live in a municipality with a lower age limit.

You can apply either digitally or via paper, depending on which municipality you live in.

Complain

If you are nevertheless refused an application for a companion certificate due to the child's age, you should complain and show proof Bufdir's guidelines, as well as refer to other nearby municipalities that do not practice a lower age limit.