Doing business in Norway

Companies and branches register with the Brønnøysund Register Centre, usually through the Altinn government portal, and beneficial owners must be reported shortly after registration. Tax and withholding are administered by the Norwegian Tax Administration (Skatteetaten), employee registration runs through NAV's a-melding, and merger control sits with the Norwegian Competition Authority. As an EEA state, Norway takes part in the EU internal market without being an EU member, and customs, data protection, IP and dispute resolution were not checked on official pages for this guide.

Key facts

Corporate income tax

22%

Main entity form

Private limited company (AS), minimum share capital NOK 30,000

Board residence

At least half resident in Norway, EU/EEA, UK or Switzerland

Dividend withholding tax

25%, reducible with documentation

EU relationship

EEA member, not EU member

Merger control

Notify above NOK 1 billion combined Norwegian turnover

Foreign investors usually form an AS or register a NUF branch with the Brønnøysund Register Centre. An AS needs NOK 30,000 share capital confirmed before registration, a board at least half resident in the EEA, UK or Switzerland, and registration within three months of founding. Beneficial owners must be reported within 14 days of receiving an organisation number.

Key facts

• An AS needs at least NOK 30,000 share capital, confirmed by a bank, auditor, lawyer or accountant (only an auditor for non-cash contributions) before registration.

• The board needs at least one member and a chair, and at least half must live in Norway, the EU/EEA, the UK or Switzerland; a general manager is optional but subject to the same rule.

• Register within three months of the last founder signing; online registration costs NOK 6,825.

• Report beneficial owners within 14 days of receiving the organisation number to avoid daily fines.

• A foreign company doing business in Norway registers as a NUF with recent home-registry proof, its articles and a board decision.

Who handles this in NorwayCorporate & Entity ServicesRisk, Compliance & Financial Integrity

Company profits are taxed at 22%. Dividends to foreign shareholders carry 25% withholding tax, reported and paid by the distributing company within seven days, with reduced rates available on documentation. Intercompany dividends and share gains are largely exempt, and small companies can opt out of audit.

Key facts

• AS profits are taxed at 22%.

• Withholding tax on dividends to foreign shareholders is 25% unless the shareholder documents entitlement to a lower rate; the paying company reports and pays within seven days.

• The exemption method makes most dividends and share gains tax-free for companies, with 3% of dividends taxed; it covers EEA companies but not low-tax companies outside the EEA.

• An AS with turnover under NOK 7 million, assets under NOK 27 million and fewer than 10 FTEs can normally opt out of audit.

Who handles this in NorwayTax & International StructuringAccounting, Reporting & Statutory ComplianceAudit & Assurance

Employers register employees with NAV through the a-melding and pay employer's national insurance contributions every two months. Eligible foreign workers can be taxed under a flat 25% PAYE scheme. Non-EU/EEA nationals need a residence permit allowing work.

Key facts

• Eligible foreign workers can be taxed at a flat 25% under the PAYE scheme, including 7.7% national insurance, without deductions.

• Employer's national insurance contributions are paid every two months; an A1 form can exempt posted workers.

• Every employee must be registered with NAV through the a-melding.

• Non-EU/EEA nationals running a business need a UDI residence permit that allows work.

Who handles this in NorwayEmployment, Payroll & Mobility

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1 statement on rates, thresholds or deadlines is held back until it is checked against an official source.

Public procurement follows EU rules through the EEA Agreement. Foreign ownership of real estate is not generally restricted, but acquisitions of some property, notably agricultural and forest land, need a concession.

Key facts

• Banks, insurers, investment firms and payment institutions need authorisation from Finanstilsynet.

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• Public procurement follows EU directives as applied through the EEA Agreement.

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• There is no general restriction on foreign ownership of real estate, but some acquisitions need a concession.

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• Support includes Innovation Norway financing and the SkatteFUNN R&D tax incentive, within EEA state aid rules.

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Who handles this in NorwayGovernment & Regulatory Affairs

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Norway uses its own currency, the Norwegian krone, and has no exchange controls; capital moves freely under the EEA Agreement. Banks apply customer due diligence under the anti-money laundering rules, and payment and e-money institutions need authorisation from Finanstilsynet under EEA payment services rules. Cross-border transfers are reported by banks to the Currency Register for control purposes.

Key facts

• The Norwegian krone is the currency, issued by Norges Bank, and there are no exchange controls.

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• Banks report cross-border transfers to the Currency Register, which authorities use for control purposes.

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• Banks must identify beneficial owners and verify customers before opening accounts.

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• Payment and e-money institutions need Finanstilsynet authorisation, or an EEA passport.

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• Non-residents without a Norwegian identity number can find account opening and digital banking slower.

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Who handles this in NorwayBanking & Capital AccessPayments, Foreign Exchange & Settlement

Norway takes part in the EU internal market through the EEA Agreement but is not an EU member. Its customs position, tariffs and export control rules could not yet be confirmed from official sources, so treat trade in goods with the EU and third countries as needing separate customs advice.

Key facts

• Norway takes part in the EU internal market through the EEA Agreement but is not an EU member.

Who handles this in NorwayTrade, Customs & Supply Chain

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5 statements on rates, thresholds or deadlines are held back until they are checked against an official source.

Who handles this in NorwayTechnology, Data & Cyber

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1 statement on rates, thresholds or deadlines is held back until it is checked against an official source.

The Norwegian Industrial Property Office (Patentstyret) registers patents, trade marks and designs. Norway is a party to the European Patent Convention, the PCT, the Madrid Protocol and the Paris Convention, but is not part of the EU Unitary Patent system. Copyright arises automatically, and EU trade marks and designs do not cover Norway.

Key facts

• Patentstyret registers patents, trade marks and designs.

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• Norway is in the European Patent Convention but not the Unitary Patent system.

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• International routes include the PCT, the Madrid Protocol and Paris Convention priority.

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• EU trade marks and EU designs do not extend to Norway, so national or Madrid protection is needed.

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Who handles this in NorwayIntellectual Property & Brand Protection

Concentrations with combined Norwegian turnover above NOK 1 billion must be notified to the Norwegian Competition Authority unless only one party has Norwegian turnover above NOK 100 million. Closing must wait for clearance, with a 25-working-day first phase and a 70-working-day second phase.

Key facts

• Notify if combined Norwegian turnover exceeds NOK 1 billion, unless only one party has more than NOK 100 million in Norway.

• Do not close before notification and completion of the review.

• Phase 1 runs 25 working days and a phase 2 preliminary decision is due within 70 working days, both counted from a complete notification.

Who handles this in NorwayTransactions & DealsLegal & Contracting

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2 statements on rates, thresholds or deadlines are held back until they are checked against an official source.

Larger enterprises must carry out human rights due diligence under the Transparency Act, and gender balance rules apply to certain boards.

Key facts

• Reporting entities must apply AML due diligence and report suspicions to the financial intelligence unit at Økokrim.

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• Employees have a right to report misconduct, and employers with at least five employees need reporting routines.

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• Larger enterprises must carry out human rights due diligence, and gender balance rules apply to certain boards.

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Who handles this in NorwayRisk, Compliance & Financial Integrity

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Civil disputes go through the district courts, the courts of appeal and the Supreme Court, with conciliation boards as a first step for many smaller claims. Arbitration is governed by the Arbitration Act 2004, which is based on the UNCITRAL Model Law, and Norway is a party to the New York Convention. Judgments from EU states, Iceland and Switzerland are recognised under the Lugano Convention.

Key facts

• Civil cases run through the district courts, courts of appeal and Supreme Court, with conciliation boards handling many smaller claims first.

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• The Arbitration Act 2004 is based on the UNCITRAL Model Law, and the Oslo Chamber of Commerce runs an arbitration institute.

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• Norway is a party to the New York Convention.

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• Judgments from EU states, Iceland and Switzerland are recognised under the Lugano Convention.

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• Court-connected mediation is available in civil cases.

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Who handles this in NorwayDisputes & Resolution