There is no customs duty on cosmetics, but you must pay 25 per cent VAT when buying cosmetics from abroad.
| 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. |
Many people buy make-up, shampoos, lotions, perfumes and skincare products from foreign online stores. These are goods that you are permitted to import to Norway.
What does it cost to import cosmetics?
When buying cosmetics from an online shop that is registered in the VOEC scheme, you will pay 25 % Norwegian value-added tax (VAT) directly in the online store. Read more about the VOEC scheme here.
When buying cosmetics from an online shop that isn’t registered in VOEC sheme, there is a transitional arrangement, so you don’t have to pay import duty on shipments with a value of less than NOK 350 including freight and insurance. Read more about the transitional arrangement here.
If the shipment has a value of NOK 350 or more, you have to pay 25 % VAT.
The shipping agent, such as Posten, generally demands payment for customs clearance work (often called price for simplified customs clearance, customs clearance fee or handling fee). This is not a fee to Norwegian Customs, but a payment to the shipping agent.