Setting up a business in Norway

Norway is a highly digitalised country that continually works to offer effective public services online, for example to set up a business. To access online public services in Norway, you need either a Norwegian national identity number or a D number from the Norwegian Tax Administration. In some cases, establishing a business may require manual case handling, depending on the complexity of the case.

Read more about Norwegian national identity numbers and D numbers on the Norwegian Tax Administration website:

This is ideal if you’re looking to establish a separate legal entity operating in Norway. It limits the financial liability of owners to their share capital (minimum NOK 30 000). However, the company’s CEO and at least half of the members of its board of directors must reside in an EEA state, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or the Swiss Confederation. Depending on the size of the company, there may be requirements relating to gender representation on the board of directors.

A foreign company that conducts business in Norway and has taxable income in Norway is obligated to register a Norwegian branch. Registering as a NUF does not create a separate legal entity but allows you to operate as an extension of your foreign company. It’s simpler in terms of compliance but doesn’t offer the liability protections of an AS.

Two or more natural or legal persons may start a general partnership. A general partnership has no requirements for investment capital and can take two main forms. In a general partnership with joint and several liability (ANS), all the partners have unlimited and personal liability for the entire debt. In a general partnership with shared liability (DA), the partners collectively have unlimited and personal liability for the entire debt of the partnership, but each partner can only be charged up to its share of the liability. The partners are taxed directly for their respective share of the partnership’s profits. In general, ANS and DA are less suitable for investors and foreign entities seeking to establish a business in Norway.

For tax and liability purposes, a foreign company may wish to consider consulting local legal advisors to decide whether to establish a Norwegian AS, NUF, or ANS/DA.

Read more about this and setting up a business in Norway on the Altinn website.

There are different steps and requirements depending on what type of business you wish to register. Required documents include company statutes, information about the board of directors, and proof of share capital for an AS. Foreign-owned companies need to submit additional documentation, including confirmation of the foreign company’s registration and board resolutions regarding operations in Norway.

Learn more about the process of starting and registering a business in Norway on the Altinn website.