Submitting a complaint

Before you file a complaint with the Ombudsman, you should check the following:

• have you used your right to appeal decisions passed by public administration agencies?

If there is an appellate body or other supervisory body for public administration that can process such cases, your complaint must in the first instance be addressed to this body. The Parliamentary Ombudsman may not process cases before a final decision has been passed by the public agency concerned.

• have you submitted your complaint within the deadline?

The time limit for submitting a complaint to the Ombudsman is one year. The time limit applies from the date of the final decision by the public agency concerned, or from the date of the occurrence the complaint applies to.

Cases that are not processed by the Parliamentary Ombudsman

The Parliamentary Ombudsman may investigate most types of cases and situations that have been processed and decided on by the public authorities. Some cases are not however encompassed by the Ombudsman’s mandate. Such cases include:

• Private disputes

• The activities of the courts

• Some decisions passed by local councils or county councils

• Cases in which the Storting or the Odelsting has passed a decision

• Decisions passed at cabinet meetings

• The activities of the Office of the Auditor General of Norway

• Cases that pertain to the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces and the Ombudsman for conscientious objectors in civilian service

Contact us if you are uncertain whether the Parliamentary Ombudsman can process your case. You may call us or request an appointment for a conference with one of our executive officers.