Norway - Customs
Customs Rules for Yachts Arriving/Departing Norway
Arriving by Yacht
Yachts from Nordic countries do not need to make a Customs declaration provided they are not carrying an excess of dutiable stores and equipment and do not remain in Norwegian waters more than six months.
Yachts from other countries (including UK yachts) should report immediately on arrival at a Port of Entry. The penalties for importing excess alcohol or tobacco are severe.
For the full procedure see Clearance.
Customs Restrictions
Firearms must be declared. All firearms must have a license from the country of origin. See full details here.
Norway allows the importation of up to 10kg of meat, meat products, and cheese from the EEA area. A permit is required to import these products from outside the EEA area. See full details here.
Customs rules specify that only up to 10 kg of fruit, berries, and vegetables are allowed to be imported for personal use. For larger quantities of goods, a phytosanitary certificate is required.
Potatoes may only be imported with a permit. See full details here.
If you are carrying goods that must be declared, such as alcohol or tobacco, in excess of the permissible quota (quotas are severely limited, and enforcement is strict), there is a Customs app that allows you to check the quotas and even pay any duties owed. Note: The importation of alcoholic beverages containing over 60% alcohol by volume without a permit is strictly prohibited. See full details here.
Leaving your boat in Norway
A vessel is allowed to be stored in Norway for up to 24 months before it becomes eligible for VAT.
A boat can remain stored in Norway, without special permission, for up to 6 weeks in any 12 month period, but it may not be used by others if left this way.
If you want to leave the boat for longer than six weeks, you must apply to Norwegian Customs for permission before you leave the country. Initially, you apply for one year from the time it entered the country. If you need to leave the boat for longer than 1 year, you must make a second application. Such a boat cannot be used by others. The Customs department has created a standard application form for boat owners, see www.toll.no/en/services/forms. A total of two years from initial entry into Norway is the maximum time allowed.
It is VERY important to apply to Customs IN ADVANCE for permission to leave the boat. Failure to do so may result in a criminal charge of illegal importation, the penalty for which carries a very substantial fine as well as a VAT of 25% of the value of the boat.
See the official website at www.toll.no/en/goods/boat for the details.
The vessel may only be used by the person to whom clearance is given and cannot be used for commercial purposes.
Other Items
Value Added Tax (VAT) – To claim VAT refunds for imported or purchased parts in Norway, you must apply in person at a Customs office upon leaving the country.
Last updated: August 2024
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Clearance August 2024:
We tried to set up a SeaSafe account, but didn’t manage because it seems to be set up for professionals only. We arrived from Scotland without prior notice, then called +4702800. We were transferred to a border force officer, who informed us that we should have notified them by e-mail prior to coming to Norway. The e-mail address for arriving in Agder Province (Southern Norway) is: Agder.grensekontroll@politiet.no
No one needs to take a test before or after entering Norway. The info on here is dated.
Thanks for letting us know Steve – really helpful. Yes I see rules changed last week and we’ve updated the biosecurity section accordingly.
The best pilot guide we used was, in fact, an app downloaded to our iPad and phone: https://www.harbourguide.com.
Norway is very capable when it comes to gas refilling. We found that our existing UK Calor bottles could be refilled with Propane by a professional for the same or less than in the UK. We did not have to buy a Norwegian bottle.
Rorvik and Harstad are where we filled our bottles but it seems like you can do it in most major towns. This site is useful: https://www.mylpg.eu/stations/norway/
To be more precise phasing out is a process as I have explained here: http://59nord.pl/en/radio-2/
It will be finished at the and of the current year, so there is still a good chance that this season visitors to Norway may be able to use their FM receivers.
When it comes to weather forecasts I have elaborated on that here: http://59nord.pl/en/weather-forcast-on-nrk-radio/ and here: http://59nord.pl/en/marine-radio-weather-forecast/
I want to highlight that Norwegian radio has shut down their FM senders from 2017 and the only way to access public radio is by having Dab+ in your boat as this is the only transmission remaining.
To access weather, check VHF Ch 16 where they inform which working channel they will broadcast the weather every day at 9:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 21:00 local time.
Being Norwegian, I would like to expand on your statement about all shoreline being private (Restrictions section).
Few countries, if any, give a sailor better access than Norway. The public intention is to keep all shoreline within 100m open to the public. Deviations from this rule are unfortunately many. Some because of existing buildings when the law was passed, some because of too good lawyers. But the general rule is that you can freely use the shoreline.
You can anchor outside the private property. You can take your dinghy ashore anywhere that is not obviously private. You can spend the day at the shore, collect firewood, and pick berries. All this without asking anybody for permission.
Any “private” signs are most often illegal. With exceptions for the densely populated southeastern part of Norway, the vast majority of the shoreline is free to use.