The teams finishing in second place in their respective group will qualify for the promotion play-offs, where they will face each other.

From 2009 to 2011, the official name of the league was Fair Play ligaen, and from 2012 to 2015 the name was Oddsen-ligaen (after the main sponsor Norsk Tipping's betting-game called Oddsen).

Each group winner played qualification play-offs to decide which teams promote to 1. divisjon.

Reserve teams of clubs from the two top divisions can participate in the 2. divisjon.

[5] From 2016, 2. divisjon has its title sponsorship rights sold to PostNord.