Import of recreational boats

There is no customs duty on recreational boats whether you import as a private individual or as a company.

The total value or the Customs value, is the value of the boat + freight costs + other costs that have incurred abroad, for example costs of maintenance, repairs, CE-marking, etc.

Calculation examples:

You purchase a boat in Denmark and pay NOK 65 000. Freight and insurance costs to Norway are NOK 1 500. You will be charged:

VAT: (NOK 65 000 + NOK 1 500) * 25 % = NOK 16 625.

You purchase a boat in Germany and pay NOK 50 000. Freight and insurance costs to Norway are NOK 1 500. In addition, you have had the boat maintained and paid NOK 8 000 for this. You will be charged:

VAT: (NOK 50 000 + NOK 1 500 + NOK 8000) * 25 % = NOK 14 875.

There is no Customs duty on boats.

How to import the boat

Contact Norwegian Customs immediately when you arrive in Norway with the boat you are importing. Norwegian Customs will calculate the taxes you will be charged.

• If you are arriving by road: Choose a border crossing with a manned customs office.
• If you are arriving by sea: Contact your local customs office.
• List of customs offices in Norway

VAT-registered businesses

VAT-registered businesses do no longer declare VAT in the customs declaration at the point of import. Instead, import VAT is determined in the same way as for domestic VAT in the VAT tax report.

• Read more on the Norwegian Tax Administration's website

Requirements for CE marking of boats and engines upon import

All boats with a hull length from 2.5 to 24 meters and water scooters must be CE marked. Excluded are boats that were used in a EU/EEA country before 16 June 1998. The CE mark indicates that the boat meets the safety requirements for the boat type.

Engines must initially be CE marked by the manufacturer.

• More on CE marking of boats and engines (Norwegian Maritime Authority)

Tourists and others with temporary stays in Norway

If you are a tourist or are in Norway temporarily for other reasons, you may bring a foreign recreational boat temporarily without paying taxes. The boat must be for personal use, and it may not be used by persons with permanent residence in Norway. If you meet these requirements, you do not need to report to Norwegian Customs upon arrival.

The boat must be taken with you when you leave the country. It may nevertheless be left behind under certain conditions.

• More information about storing a foreign boat in Norway

Moving to Norway

You may bring you recreational boat to Norway without paying duties if the following conditions are met:

• You must have resided abroad continuously for at least five years immediately prior to arrival.
• The boat may not be larger than 15 meters in length.
• You must have owned the boat for at least 12 months before arrival and used it abroad for the same period of time.
• You must bring the boat to Norway within one year after arrival at the latest.
• You must remain in possession of the boat for at least two years following customs clearance before it can be sold or transferred.

These conditions must be documented when you import the boat. The application for exemption from customs duties must be submitted to the customs region to which you move.