The Playoffs to the Norwegian First Division in association football took place from 1996 up to and including the 2000 season.
The playoffs were instituted because of the streamlining of the First Division ahead of the 1997 season. It was reduced from two to one groups, and thus, not all winners of the Second Division groups could be promoted.
From the 2001 season, the Second Division got four groups instead of eight, meaning that each of the four group winners was promoted.
Mandalskameratene beat Lofoten 5–2 on aggregate
Ørn-Horten beat FF Lillehammer on the away goals rule; 3–3 on aggregate
Hødd beat Stålkameratene 7–2 on aggregate
Aalesund beat Skjetten 2–1 on aggregate
Reference: RSSSF
Strindheim beat Asker 3–2 on aggregate
Sandefjord beat Fyllingen on the away goals rule; 4–4 on aggregate
Hamarkameratene beat Vidar 4–3 on aggregate
Tromsdalen beat Aalesund after extra time; 5–4 on aggregate
Reference: RSSSF
Liv/Fossekallen beat Fyllingen 6–2 on aggregate
Skjetten beat Ørn-Horten 5–4 on aggregate
Clausenengen beat Mo 6–2 on aggregate
Lofoten beat Vidar 4–3 on aggregate
Reference:
Kjelsås beat Vidar on the away goals rule; 3–3 on aggregate
Raufoss beat Kolstad 5–3 on aggregate
Strindheim beat Fana 4–3 on aggregate
Ullern beat Lofoten 4–2 on aggregate
Reference: "Fotball: Kvalifisering til 1. divisjon menn" (in Norwegian). Norwegian News Agency. 11 October 1997.
The two number-six-teams from the two groups in the First Division, Byåsen and Harstad, were up for playoff.
Byåsen beat Vigør 8–1 on aggregate
Harstad beat Verdal 4–1 on aggregate
Runar beat Skjetten 6–4 on aggregate
Sarpsborg beat Finnsnes 3–2 on aggregate
Reference: RSSSF
