Sending goods abroad

The carrier responsible for transporting the goods, such as Posten, will determine whether you need to declare the items to the Customs Authority. Typically, the carrier will handle any necessary declarations on your behalf. In all cases, they will ask you to present relevant documents and/or fill out a form. Different carriers may have varying procedures. The required documentation depends on the type of goods, their value, the purpose of sending them, and their destination. Examples of relevant documents include invoices, pro forma invoices, and any necessary permits.

Which goods should be declared to the Customs Authority?

The following shipments must be declared to the Customs Authority:

• Goods in the shipment have a total value exceeding 5,000 Norwegian kroner.
• Goods with restrictions (e.g., weapons, antiques)
• Goods that you temporarily export, such as for repairs abroad (i.e., items that will be returned to Norway).
• Returns of goods where you intend to cancel the purchase or exchange previously customs-cleared items.
• Goods being re-exported that were previously temporarily imported into Norway.

You do not have to pay customs duties or fees to Norway for goods that are being sent out of the country, except for the export duty on fish.

Goods with restrictions must be declared regardless of their value

Goods with restrictions require special export permits. Such items must always be declared to the Customs Authority.

Different authorities are responsible for enforcing these restrictions, depending on the type of goods. You should contact the relevant authority to obtain more information.

Examples of goods with restrictions:

1. Cultural heritage objects: These include antiques and objects with artistic, cultural, or historical value.
2. Endangered animal and plant species: Certain species are protected, and their export may require specific permits.
3. Weapons: For information on weapons, please contact the police.

Research the rules in the recipient country

When sending goods abroad, remember that even though Norwegian authorities allow you to export the items, there may be restrictions on importing them into the recipient country. The carrier may also have rules regarding which goods they will not transport. These can include weapons, hazardous materials, and valuable items such as gold, silver, gemstones, and money.

The Norwegian Medical Products Agency discourage private individuals to send medications out of Norway.

Import duties in the recipient country

The recipient country may require fees for the goods you are sending there. This depends on the rules of each specific country, so you should investigate this with the customs authorities in the recipient country. Additionally, the recipient country’s embassy or consulate in Norway may be able to assist you. 

Find Customs Authorities in other countries

Finding the correct customs tarriff number

Usually, the carrier fills in the tariff number (item number) on the declaration, but sometimes you may be asked to provide it yourself. The tariff is an international item number registry used for both import and export. The Norwegian item number consists of eight digits, with the first six being international.

For more information, please follow the link to Tolltariffen