Yachts visiting Norway

There are laws for VAT (moms) and Cruising/Sailing Permit that
all yachts planning to visit Norway must know.

Sailing Permit in Norway

All foreign yachts must have a sailing permit. (EU citizens, read this note)

It must be specified which harbours and anchorages you want to visit,
time of arrival and time of departure of every harbour or anchorage.
You cannot visit any other harbour or anchorage or change time schedule unless there is an emergency situation,
in which case the Police must be notified immediately.

The sailing permit will be given by the local Police upon your arrival.
You must therefore enter a harbour with an authorized Police station.
Here is a list of harbours with authorized Police stations.

See the entry form here.

Read the law here.

Les loven på Norsk her. – Les veiledning til søknadsskjema her.

If your nationality needs a visa for Norway, or if you want to enter a harbour without police station,
you must apply 2 months before you leave your own country
so you have the permit on board upon arrival.

For questions, contact: UDI - Norwegian Directorate of Immigration

VAT on foreign yachts visiting Norway.

As Norway is not a member of EU, these rules also apply to all European citizens.

These laws are very different from other countries in Europe.
Read EU rules here and EU FAQ here

If you leave Norway for more than 6 weeks and leave your boat here,
the boat must be in bonded storage.
If you don’t and are caught “red handed”,
your boat will be taken in arrest until you have paid the import taxes,
and it is then not refundable.
The import taxes are 25% VAT on your boats marked value
and 188 N.kr. (~20 Euros) pr. hp on your engine.
This is not a new law, but customs have not been enforcing it until recently.
But they are doing now:
Two boats had to pay large sums in 2009 & 2010;
201.000 N.kr. & 70.000 N.kr. (~ 22.000 € & 8.000 €)

Some boats have been given permission to store the boats for free,
but this is not based on the law so do not count on a friendly custom officer to give you such a document.

Read the law in English here or Les loven på Norsk her

Read the boats’ experiences & press here.

So, this is what you have to do:

Find the marina, harbour or yard where you want to leave your boat.
Let the person in charge contact the local/nearest bonded/in transit warehouse.
They can let the marina/harbour/yard to be the bonded storage site for your boat.
But you will have to pay a deposit equal to the import taxes
i.e. 25% VAT on your boats marked value and 188 N.kr. (~20 €) pr. hp on your engine.
You will also have to pay for the paperwork.
This costs will be negotiable with the warehouse, expect 4-10.000 N.kr. (500 – 1.000 €.)

This procedure must be repeated every time you leave Norway for more than 6 weeks.
Norwegians are not allowed to use your boat when you are away, it is bonded.
The maximum period you can have your boat here is 12 months from date arrived,
but another year can be given upon application.

If you leave your boat without having it bonded, and caught “red handed”,
your boat will be taken in arrest until you have paid the import taxes,
and it is then not refundable.

You might also be “caught” without you knowing, and get the bill in the post when you come home.
Your country will have to collect this from you. This happened with the Swedish boat.

If your boat needs repair, read this.

Read the boats’ experiences here.

For questions, contact Norwegian Customs

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3 months.

For nationals of Schengen, or other nationals that do not need a visa to Norway or Schengen,
you can stay in Norway for 3 months.
After 3 months you have to go outside the Schengen Area for 3 months before you can re-enter.

Read the law here.

Note that not all European countries, like UK, are in the Schengen Area.

This means that for nationals outside Schengen,
you cannot cruise in Schengen area for more than 3 months.

Nationals from outside Schengen Area shall see the immigration Office upon arrival.

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Unique visitors since 8^th November 2010:

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This page is made by Norwegian friends of foreign yachts visiting Norway.

Mail: friends@yachts-visiting-norway.no

This page was last updated 24^th November 2010