Sending to Norway: at a glance
- Duty-free limit
- Most goods are exempt from customs duty; duty mainly applies to clothing and certain finished textile goods.
- Tax above the limit
- 25% VAT; for goods up to NOK 3,000 from VOEC-registered sellers VAT is included in the price and no customs duty is charged. Most private parcels up to NOK 3,000 including shipping are cleared in a joint declaration by the carrier.
- Used personal items
- Refund of duty, VAT or excise on goods exported again unaltered; there is no specific relief for forgotten personal belongings that we know of
- Put in the parcel
- Customs declaration or invoice with description and value of each item, including shipping and insurance value.
These are the usual rules. Customs and courier rules can change at any time, so confirm with Norwegian Customs (Tolletaten) before sending.
Norwegian Customs (Tolletaten)What can you usually send?
Alcohol and tobaccoUsually limited
- Food, drinks, excise goods and restricted goods: Ordinary import duties and taxes apply regardless of shipment value since 1 January 2020.
Food, plants and animal productsUsually limited
- Food, drinks, excise goods and restricted goods: Ordinary import duties and taxes apply regardless of shipment value since 1 January 2020.
Other goodsUsually limited
- Food, drinks, excise goods and restricted goods: Ordinary import duties and taxes apply regardless of shipment value since 1 January 2020.
Your own used itemsUsual rules
- Refund of VAT and excise: goods generally must be unaltered and exported again (sent by mistake, ordered by mistake or not delivered as agreed, or VAT imposed twice); claim VAT and excise from Skatteetaten (the Tax Administration).
- Tolletaten refunds only customs duty; neither authority refunds amounts under NOK 100.
- For joint declarations (up to NOK 3,000) contact the carrier or forwarder that declared the consignment.
- Refund application via Tolletaten or Skatteetaten (Altinn form tilbakebetaling for private)
Anything not listed here (clothes, bags, toys, your own used things) usually follows the standard parcel rules and the duty-free limit above.
Send it yourself
- Ask the office holding it whether they post items, or who may collect it for you (a written authorisation and a copy of your ID).
- Someone collects it and packs it securely.
- Book a courier with a clear description and value; outside the EU it needs electronic customs data.
- The receiver pays any import duty or tax on arrival.
Offices usually work Greek office hours, and staff may answer in Greek. A service we recommend can make the calls and handle the pickup for you.
Rather not do it yourself? Couriers we recommend
Ask whether they can collect it from the office that has it, pack it and send it, and help with the customs paperwork. Ask for the price first.
Family-run Athens courier since 1988. Sends parcels within Greece and abroad, helps with customs clearance, and can store extra bags for travellers and deliver them later. Ask for a price on their website.
We recommend services we think are useful; some may pay us a fee if you book. Prices and terms are set by the service, so check them before you book.
More details
In short
Norway is outside the EU. Private recipients not in the VAT register pay import VAT to Norwegian Customs, and 25% Norwegian VAT is included in the price of items under NOK 3,000 bought from VOEC-registered sellers, with no customs duty on those items. Most goods are duty-free; duty is mainly charged on textiles such as clothing, bedding, towels and curtains. The old NOK 350 tax-free limit no longer applies to food, drinks, excise goods and restricted goods since 1 January 2020.
Good to know
- Private individuals who are not in the VAT register must pay import VAT to Norwegian Customs.
- Carriers usually collect charges from the recipient and add a handling fee.
- You may see older claims (NOK 1,000 gift value, NOK 350 limit abolished); the NOK 350 limit now applies only to non-restricted goods per Customs' own 350-limit page; check toll.no for current wording.