Customs regulations for your trip to Norway

Customs regulations

Used Household Goods and Personal Effects

Documents Required                                          

• Passport
• Original bill of lading (OBL) / air waybill (AWB)
• Detailed inventory in Norwegian, English or German (2 copies)
• Customs Form RD 0030E (Importation of Removal Goods Declaration)

 Drugs and drink driving laws are stricter in Norway than in the UK. Don’t become involved with drugs of any kind. Possession of even small quantities can lead to heavy fines and/or imprisonment.

Whale meat is available in Norway but importing it into the UK/EU is illegal under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Any importation of whale meat to the UK will result in seizure of the goods, possibly a fine of up to £5,000 and a custodial sentence.

Advance rulings on classification

Before signing a long-term contract or sending a shipment of considerable value, it may be prudent for the Norwegian importer or U.S. exporter to obtain an official ruling on customs treatment.  Requests for advance information regarding the customs classification of products may be addressed directly to:

Toll og Avgiftsdirektoratet (Norwegian Customs and Excise Authority)

Tel: 011 (47) 22 86 03 00, E-mail: [email protected] 

Taxation and Customs Union Directorate 

The Union Customs Code (UCC) was adopted in 2013 and its substantive provisions apply from May 1, 2016.  It replaces the Community Customs Code (CCC).  In addition to the UCC, the European Commission has published delegated and implementing regulations on the actual procedural changes.  These are included in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446, Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/341 and the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447.

There are a number of changes in the revised customs policy which also require an integrated IT system from the customs authorities.  In April 2016, the European Commission published an implementing decision (number: 2016/578) on the work program relating to the development and deployment of the electronic systems of the UCC.  The EC continues to evaluate the timeline by which the EU-wide integration of the customs IT system can be implemented.  The current deadline of December 2020 may be extended until 2025 (draft proposal).  It remains to be seen how this will affect Norway and other EEA countries.

Key link: Homepage of Customs and Taxation Union Directorate (TAXUD) Website

Customs Valuation

Most customs duties and value-added tax (VAT) are expressed as a percentage of the value of goods being declared for importation.  Thus, it is necessary to dispose of a standard set of rules for establishing the goods’ value, which will then serve for calculating the customs duty.

Given the magnitude of EU/EEA imports every year, it is important that the value of such commerce is accurately measured for the purposes of:

• Economic and commercial policy analysis;
• Application of commercial policy measures;
• Proper collection of import duties and taxes; and
• Import and export statistics.

These objectives are met using a single instrument – the rules on customs value.  The EU/EEA applies an internationally accepted concept of ‘customs value’.

The value of imported goods is one of three ‘elements of taxation’ that provides the basis for assessment of the customs debt, which is the technical term for the amount of duty that has to be paid, the other ones being the origin of the goods and the customs tariff.

Specific Information

• All shipments are subject to inspection.
• A used household goods shipment can be imported tax and duty free if the owner has lived abroad for at least 1 year and the shipment has been owned and used during that time prior to importation.

Free import:

1. residents of Norway who have been abroad for less than 24 hours: goods representing a total value of NOK 3,000.-. This does not include alcohol or tobacco products, unless it can be proven that they have been purchased with a price including tax (not duty free) in an EEA Member State ;
2. residents of Norway who have been abroad for 24 hours or more and visitors to Norway: goods representing a total value of NOK 6,000.-. Articles included in this limit (not for passengers under 18 years) are:
a. tobacco products (not for passengers under 18 years): 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of other tobacco products and 200 leaves of cigarette paper; and
b. alcoholic beverages (only persons over the age of 18 are allowed to import alcoholic beverages. For importing alcoholic beverages with more than 22 % alcohol per volume the minimum age is 20):
– 1 liter of spirits of 22% vol. or higher to a max. of 60% vol. and 1.5 liters of alcohol of 2.5% up to and incl. 22% vol.; or
– 3 liters of alcohol of up to and incl. 22% vol.; and
– 2 liters of beer with more than 2.5% up to/incl. 4.7 vol.
This means a max. of 5 liters of beer if no other alcoholic beverages are imported.

Meat and dairy products: A total of 10 kilograms of meat, meat products, cheese and foodstuffs (excl. dog and cat food) from EEA Member States .

The TARIC is available to help determine if a license is required for a particular product.  Moreover, the European Commission maintains an export helpdesk with information on import restrictions of various products at Import Restrictions on Agricultural Products.

Many EU/EEA countries maintain their own list of goods that are subject to import licensing.  The Norwegian Directorate of Customs’ list of goods with import restrictions can be found on the following website https://www.toll.no/en/corporate/import/goods-with-import-restrictions/.

For information relevant to member state import licenses, please consult the relevant member state Country Commercial Guide: EU/EEA Country Commercial Guides EU/EEA Country Commercial Guides or conduct a search on the Commerce Department’s Market Research Library, available from Market Intelligence.

Restricted/Dutiable Items

• Cigarettes – persons over 18 years or older (200), tobacco leaves (200), other tobacco products (250 g)
• Television sets (Customs will report television imports to the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK), which will forward an annual license invoice to the owner.)
• New items (any item owned and used less than 12 months are considered new and subject to import tax and duty)
• Vitamins (milligram dosage allowed in Norway is very low.  It is advised not to include them in the shipment.)
• Medications (must be hand carried by the owner of the goods and a prescription shown to Customs upon arrival)
• Weapons (a permit from the local police is required)
• Food items (only canned food, dried food, and spices can be imported and in small quantities for personal consumption – not recommended for import)
• Outboard engines (charges of approximately NOK 285,- per horsepower + 25% VAT calculated from purchase price/invoice apply)
• Wood packaging materials must be treated and marked according to ISPM-15 regulations.
• Live plants (a certificate from the Plant and Wildlife Department at origin is required)
• Alcohol:
  • An import permit from the Ministry of Drugs is required and must be obtained prior to import.
  • The import of alcohol is strongly discouraged as high duties and taxes will apply.
  • A detailed list including brand, volume, year and strength must be presented to Customs.
  • Spirits containing over 60% alcohol by volume cannot be imported.

Prohibited Items

The Tarif Intégré de la Communauté (TARIC) is designed to show various rules applying to specific products being imported into the customs territory of the EU or, in some cases, when exported from it.  To determine if a product is prohibited or subject to restriction, check the TARIC for the following codes:

• CITES Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species
• PROHI Import Suspension
• RSTR Import Restriction

For information on how to access the TARIC, see the Import Requirements and Documentation Section.

• Drugs
• Poisons
• Explosives
• Potatoes
• Endangered animal and plant species

Miscellaneous (Pets, Motors, and others.)

Motor Vehicles

Documents Required

• Title / registration
• Status report
• OBL

Specific Information

• For vehicles more than 30 years old, antique vehicle rules apply (no duties, only 25% VAT).
  • For all others, extreme charges will apply based on a very complicated calculation of ccm3, horsepower, weight, equipment etc.
• The owner of the goods should contact Customs to determine the import charges on specific vehicles.
  • All taxes and duties must be paid to Customs before a shipment with a vehicle is released.
• Vehicles must be registered in Norway and are subject to a yearly road tax.
• Import taxes and duties are approximately 105% of the current value of the vehicle.

Pets

Documents Required

• Vaccination record
• Veterinary health certificate
• Import license
• Identification marking (tattoo or approved microchip)
• Certificate of de-worming against echinococcos

Specific Information

• Cats and dogs must be treated for fox tapeworm within the 48 hours prior to importation by a licensed veterinarian.
• After the first treatment, cats and dogs that regularly travel to Norway from Sweden may subsequently be treated a minimum of every 28 days instead of just before each border crossing.
• No earlier than 120 days after the vaccination, a blood sample must be taken for antibody testing.
• Vaccinations against distemper and leptospirosis must be done at least 1 month prior to import.
• Contact agent for additional information regarding the importation of pets.

IAM Note:  Cats and dogs older than 3 months imported from Sweden must be treated for fox tapeworm (echinococcosis).  The spread of the parasite can occur through direct contact with cats and dogs of through ingestion of mushrooms, berries, etc. from areas where the parasite exists.

Arms and Ammunition regulations:

An import/export permit is required for transport of firearms and ammunition.

Crew members customs regulations:

Free import allowed up to 40 cigarettes and goods up to a total value of NOK 250.-. Alcohol is not allowed.

Pets:

Cats and dogs:
1. imported from Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland, Vatican City or an EU Member State must have:
a. EU passport or national passport;
b. ID microchip or, if applied before 3 July 2011, a readable tattoo;
c. vaccination against rabies;
d. for dogs only: anti-echinococcus treatment (tapeworm). Tapeworm treatment not required for dogs arriving directly from Finland, Ireland (Rep.), Malta or United Kingdom.
2. imported from other countries, must also:
a. have a valid rabies antibody test. Not required if:
– imported from the countries listed above or from Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Ascension Isl., Australia, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Bermuda, Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Cayman Isl., Chile, Chinese Taipei, Curacao, Falkland Isl., Fiji, French Polynesia, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Japan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Montserrat, New Caledonia, New Zealand, North Macedonia (Rep.), Russian Fed., Singapore, St. Helena, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Pierre and Miquelon, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, United Arab Emirates, USA, Vanuatu, Virgin Isl. (British) or Wallis and Futuna Isl.; or
– if transited through not listed third countries above, provided that the owner or authorized person provides a signed declaration that during such transit the pet animals have had no contact with animals susceptible to rabies and remain secured within a means of transport or within the perimeter of an international airport.
b. enter Norway via Oslo (OSL) and notify 48 hours before arrival. Tel: 4722777900.

For further information contact the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NSFA) www.mattilsynet.no/language/english/animals/

Note: only cats and dogs may travel in the cabin on Scandinavian Airlines (SAS).

Baggage Clearance regulations:

Baggage is cleared at the first airport of entry in Norway.

Exempt: baggage of transit passengers traveling to a destination outside of Norway or on a direct flight to Svalbard/Longyearbyen (LYR).

Currency

Currency Import regulations:

Allowed:
Local currency (Norwegian Krone-NOK) and foreign currencies: up to NOK 25,000.- (or equivalent). Amounts more than this must be declared on a form available at Customs. There are no limits on traveler’s cheques.

Currency Export regulations:

Allowed:
Local currency (Norwegian Krone-NOK) and foreign currencies: up to NOK 25,000.- (or equivalent). Amounts more than this must be declared on a form available at Customs. There are no limits on traveler’s cheques.