Moving to Norway – Import Household Goods Duty and VAT Free

Are you moving to Norway and planning to bring your furniture, household equipment, clothes and other personal belongings with you?

In many cases, household goods can be imported into Norway without paying customs duty or Norwegian import VAT, provided that the conditions for the moving goods exemption are met.

TollAgent AS provides customs clearance for household goods and personal belongings when moving to Norway. We can prepare the customs documentation, verify whether the exemption can be applied and handle the customs declaration on your behalf.

What are household goods when moving to Norway?

Norwegian Customs uses the concept of household goods or moving goods for personal belongings that you bring with you when permanently relocating to Norway.

This may include items that formed part of your normal household abroad and that you intend to continue using after moving to Norway.

The exemption is intended for your personal belongings, not for commercial goods or new products imported for resale.

When can household goods be imported to Norway duty free?

You can normally import qualifying household goods without customs duty and import VAT when:

• you have lived outside Norway continuously for at least one year,
• you owned and used the items while living abroad,
• you intend to continue using them in Norway,
• the goods are imported in connection with your move to Norway,
• and the goods are imported within a reasonable period and normally no later than one year after moving to Norway.

The goods must be intended for your personal use.

Importantly, the value of qualifying household goods does not determine whether the exemption applies.

Do I have to pay Norwegian VAT on moving goods?

Normally, import VAT applies when goods are imported into Norway.

However, qualifying household goods imported in connection with moving to Norway can be exempt from both customs duty and Norwegian import VAT.

This can make a significant difference when moving an entire household to Norway.

The exemption is not automatic, however. The conditions must be met and the goods must be correctly declared to Norwegian Customs.

What can I bring to Norway as household goods?

Many everyday personal belongings can qualify as moving goods.

Typical examples include:

• furniture such as tables, chairs, wardrobes, beds and sofas,
• household appliances,
• televisions and other home electronics,
• clothes and personal items,
• kitchen equipment,
• household textiles,
• bicycles,
• sports equipment,
• musical instruments,
• books,
• toys,
• decorations and other personal household belongings.

The important point is that these are your existing personal belongings that you have used abroad and intend to continue using in Norway.

What is NOT covered by the moving goods exemption?

Not everything transported as part of a move automatically qualifies for duty and tax exemption.

Special rules apply to certain categories.

In particular:

Cars and other vehicles are not exempt from customs duties and taxes simply because you are moving to Norway.

Professional or occupational equipment is not covered by the normal moving goods exemption and must be declared separately.

Food products are not covered by the moving goods exemption and are subject to separate import rules.

Alcohol and tobacco are not covered by the moving goods exemption.

Weapons require the necessary permits.

Plants are subject to specific import restrictions.

Animals are subject to separate requirements, including rules administered by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

Recreational boats may qualify under separate conditions and procedures.

If your shipment contains any of these categories, tell us before the goods are transported so that we can determine the correct customs procedure.

How does customs clearance for moving goods work?

The process is relatively straightforward when the documentation is prepared before the shipment arrives in Norway.

First, you prepare information about your move and an inventory of the belongings you are bringing with you.

We then review the documentation and determine how the shipment should be declared.

The process will normally include:

1. preparing an inventory of the household goods,
2. completing the required moving goods declaration,
3. verifying your eligibility for the exemption,
4. preparing the customs documentation,
5. submitting or handling the customs declaration,
6. completing customs clearance so the shipment can continue to its destination.

When a professional transport company is transporting your belongings, customs clearance can be handled through a customs representative.

RD0030 – declaration for household goods

When importing household goods in connection with moving to Norway, you must complete the Norwegian Customs Declaration for the Importation of Household Goods – RD0030.

The declaration contains information about you, your move and the belongings being imported.

If you are not personally present when the goods are customs cleared, the signed declaration must be available to the person or company transporting your belongings.

A carrier or customs representative may also require a power of attorney allowing them to handle the customs formalities on your behalf.

Do I need an inventory list?

Yes.

Norwegian Customs requires an inventory of your household goods, but it does not have to list every individual plate, shirt or book.

The inventory can use practical categories.

For example:

• Box 1 – Clothes
• Box 2 – Kitchen equipment
• Box 3 – Books
• Box 4 – Children’s toys
• 1 sofa
• 1 dining table
• 6 chairs
• 1 television
• 2 bicycles

The purpose is to provide Norwegian Customs with a clear overview of what is being imported.

A properly prepared inventory can make customs clearance considerably easier.

Example: moving a family to Oslo

A family is relocating permanently from another European country to Oslo.

They have lived abroad for several years and are transporting their existing furniture, kitchen equipment, clothes, children’s belongings, bicycles and electronics to their new home in Norway.

Before the transport arrives at the Norwegian border, they send TollAgent AS the required documentation and an inventory of the belongings.

We review the documents, verify whether the conditions for duty-free import are met and prepare the customs clearance.

Because the goods are used household belongings imported as part of the family’s relocation, they can normally be imported without Norwegian customs duty and import VAT when all statutory conditions are fulfilled.

Can moving goods be imported in several shipments?

Yes, household goods do not necessarily have to arrive in one single transport.

For example, you may move to Norway first and transport some of your furniture later.

However, the different shipments must still be connected to your move and the relevant time limits must be respected.

Qualifying household goods should normally be imported within a reasonable period and no later than one year after moving to Norway.

If you are planning several shipments, it is advisable to organise the customs documentation from the beginning so that each shipment can be correctly connected with your relocation.

What if I moved to Norway more than one year ago?

Special procedures apply if more than one year has passed since you moved to Norway.

Norwegian Customs may, in certain circumstances, extend the normal one-year period when there are special reasons.

In this situation, a separate application should normally be submitted to Norwegian Customs so they can assess whether the goods can still qualify for duty-free import as moving goods.

It is therefore important not to send the shipment before checking the customs procedure.

What if I bought new furniture just before moving?

New goods purchased shortly before moving to Norway require particular attention.

The exemption applies to belongings that you owned and used during your stay abroad and intend to continue using in Norway.

A shipment of newly purchased furniture, electronics or other products should therefore not automatically be treated as duty-free household goods.

If your shipment contains both existing personal belongings and newly purchased products, tell us before customs clearance.

The goods may need to be separated and treated under different customs procedures.

Do I need a Norwegian identification number?

To declare moving goods, you need an identification number that can be used for Norwegian customs purposes.

If you already have a Norwegian national identity number or D-number, this can normally be used.

If you do not have a Norwegian national identity number or D-number, you may need to apply to Norwegian Customs for a TRK number.

A TRK number allows the customs declaration to be processed even when the person moving to Norway does not yet have a Norwegian personal identification number.

This is particularly relevant for people arranging their move before all Norwegian registrations have been completed.

Can I import my car as moving goods?

You can bring your car with you when moving to Norway, but a vehicle is not covered by the ordinary duty and tax exemption for household goods.

Importing and registering a vehicle in Norway involves a separate procedure.

Depending on the vehicle and circumstances, this may involve:

• customs formalities,
• Norwegian VAT,
• vehicle-related taxes,
• technical approval,
• and registration in Norway.

If you are moving to Norway with both household goods and a car, the two should therefore be treated separately for customs purposes.

TollAgent AS can assist with the customs part of importing the vehicle.

Can I bring professional tools and equipment?

Professional or occupational equipment is not covered by the normal duty-free exemption for household goods.

For example, if you are moving to Norway and bringing equipment that will be used in your business or profession, it should be identified separately from your private household belongings.

This distinction is particularly important for self-employed persons, tradespeople and business owners relocating to Norway.

Tell us about professional equipment before transport so that we can determine the appropriate customs procedure.

What documents are required?

The exact documentation depends on your circumstances, but you should normally prepare:

• completed and signed RD0030 moving goods declaration,
• passport or other identification,
• Norwegian national identity number, D-number or TRK number where applicable,
• inventory list,
• information documenting your move to Norway,
• transport information,
• power of attorney if a customs representative or carrier is acting on your behalf,
• and additional documentation for any goods subject to special regulations.

Depending on the circumstances, we may ask for additional information to document that the conditions for the exemption are met.

FAQ – Moving Household Goods to Norway

Can I bring my household goods to Norway without paying VAT?

Yes, provided that the statutory conditions for the moving goods exemption are met.

Qualifying personal household goods can be imported without customs duty and Norwegian import VAT.

How long must I have lived outside Norway?

You must generally have lived outside Norway continuously for at least one year before moving to Norway.

How long do I have to import my belongings?

The household goods should be imported within a reasonable period and normally no later than one year after moving to Norway.

Special circumstances may allow Norwegian Customs to approve a later import following an application.

Do I need receipts for all my belongings?

Norwegian Customs requires an inventory, but the value of qualifying household goods is not relevant to the exemption itself.

You do not normally need to produce a purchase receipt for every ordinary household item.

However, additional documentation may be required in particular circumstances.

Do I need to list every item separately?

No.

The inventory does not need to describe every individual item.

You can use general categories such as “Box 1 – Clothes”, “Box 2 – Kitchen equipment” or “Box 3 – Toys”, together with larger individual items such as furniture and televisions.

Can I send my household goods with a transport company?

Yes.

If a professional moving or transport company carries the goods, customs clearance can be handled by a customs representative.

The required declarations and authorisations must be prepared correctly before customs processing.

Can TollAgent AS handle the customs clearance for me?

Yes.

TollAgent AS can handle customs clearance for household goods imported when moving to Norway.

We can review your documents, prepare the customs documentation and handle the customs procedure with Norwegian Customs.

Can I import a car duty free because I am moving to Norway?

No. Vehicles are not covered by the ordinary customs and tax exemption for household goods.

A car must be handled under the separate Norwegian vehicle import rules.

Moving to Norway? Let TollAgent AS handle the customs clearance

Moving to another country already involves enough paperwork.

TollAgent AS can handle the Norwegian customs formalities for your household goods, allowing you and your transport company to prepare the shipment correctly before it reaches Norway.

We assist with:

Household goods customs clearance
Customs procedures for personal belongings when moving to Norway.

Import customs clearance
Declarations for goods imported into Norway.

Vehicle customs clearance
Customs assistance when bringing a car or other vehicle to Norway.

Digitoll
Digital customs information required for transports entering Norway.

Transit procedures
T1 and NCTS customs transit services where required.

Our customs services can be handled 100% remotely.

TollAgent AS – Customs Agency in Norway
Phone: +47 919 07 836
Email: post@tollagent.no
Organisation number: 934 390 652
Wessels gate 4, 0165 Oslo, Norway