If you are going to import goods to Norway on a temporary basis, separate arrangements for declaration apply. You can avoid paying customs duty and taxes on some goods upon provision of security or a guarantee.
| Note: An update of this article is pending. Please note that some terms and/or references may differ from the Movement of Goods Act and the Customs Duty Act that enters into force from the 1st of January 2023. |
You must declare goods as temporary importation when you will be using the goods for a limited period in Norway. This applies to e.g. goods that are to be repaired or exhibited, professional equipment, specialist tools, or animals for breeding purposes.
To avoid paying customs duty and taxes for temporary importation, the provision of security (guarantee) is required in most cases.
However, the following goods may be imported temporarily, without the provision of security:
- Professional equipment of lesser value (under NOK 10,000)
- motor vehicles
- pleasure craft and private planes
- containers
- production and broadcasting equipment
- railway equipment
- goods for use in case of major accidents and natural disasters
- luggage for tourists
Read about the conditions for temporary importation without the provision of security in
- the Customs Act Section 6-1 (in Norwegian)
- the Customs Regulations Sections 6-1-1 to 6-1-34 (in Norwegian)
If you have imported goods temporarily and paid customs duty and taxes, you may apply for a refund of customs duty and taxes when the goods are re-exported. As a business operator, you will generally not be refunded VAT, as businesses have a separate deduction mechanism with the tax authorities.
Relief from customs duty upon provision of security
Relief from customs duty may be granted for the following goods upon provision of security for customs duty and taxes:
- professional equipment of greater value (more than NOK 10,000)
- goods for presentation or demonstration at trade fairs, exhibitions etc.
- equipment for circuses and fun fairs
- equipment for cultural and sporting events
- goods for testing
- specialist tools
- scientific instruments
- animals for breeding purpose
- welfare material for seafarers
Current methods of providing security:
- deposit
- bank guarantee
- via duty deferment account
- ATA-carnet
Read about the conditions for temporary importation upon the provision of security in:
- the Customs Act Section 6-2 (in Norwegian)
- the Customs Regulations Sections 6-2-1 to 6-2-4 (in Norwegian)
ATA carnet
ATA carnet is an alternative to declaration for temporary importation, which also serves as security for customs duty and taxes.
Codes
There are separate procedure codes for temporary importation, and it is important that you use the correct procedure code when completing the customs declaration.
- Read more about entering codes on the import declaration (in Norwegian)
Time limit for re-exportation
Norwegian Customs can grant up to a one year time limit for re-exportation of goods that are imported temporarily. If you re-export the goods after the expiry of the time limit, you risk having to pay customs duty and taxes and the imposition of sanctions for exceeding the time limit. You may apply to Norwegian Customs to extend the time limit for re-exportation. You must send the application to Norwegian Customs before the one-year time limit expires.
The temporary import declaration will not be automatically paired with the re-export declaration in the clearance system TVINN after the goods have been re-exported. You have to inform the Customs about this on post@toll.no. You have to send us both the temporary import declaration’s and the re-export declaration’s clearances and serial numbers so we can pare these in TVINN and close the temporary import declaration. If you do not inform us about this within the re-export time limit of one year after the date the temporary importation declaration was cleared, the Customs will change the temporary import to an ordinary import and you will be charged the import duties and taxes.