Customs clearance of consignments from abroad

Posten works to ensure that you can receive as many shipments from abroad as possible right where you prefer to receive them. To pay for shipments that have been cleared through customs and delivered to your mailbox, you can use the Posten app or posten.no/en/import-duties.

Posten works to ensure that you can receive as many shipments from abroad as possible right where you prefer to receive them. To pay for the shipment you have been notified about, use posten.no/en/import-duties.

Posten works to ensure that you can receive as many items as possible from abroad directly to where you prefer to receive them. For items sent by letter with a value of less than 500.– kroner, we can deliver the shipment directly to your mailbox and you can pay digitally for import duties and customs clearance. For shipments with a higher item value, you still collect your shipment at Posten's pick-up location. Always use a digital payment solution where possible.

When items are too large to be delivered in the mailbox, they can be picked up at Posten. You still pay in the Posten app or at posten.no/en/import-duties.

From 2020, new rules came from the authorities for buying food from abroad. This means that Posten must clear customs and collect fees for this type of goods. Read more about restricted goods.

The calculation basis is taken from the customs documentation, i.e. either from an electronic message, a customs declaration or from the commercial invoice that the sender has enclosed with the shipment.

Post is required to use the Norwegian Customs' exchange rate. These change weekly and are based on the exchange rate from Norges Bank. Since Norges Bank adjusts exchange rates more frequently than the Norwegian Customs Service, deviations will occur.

Norwegian Customs' exchange rates.

Posten uses the Customs Service's official exchange rates, which are updated weekly. If you have traded in a currency that is not listed by the customs service, Norges Bank's daily updated exchange rates are used. In very rare cases, there may be currencies that are not listed by Norges Bank. Posten will then contact you to obtain documentation of the actual amount paid before the shipment is cleared through customs.

Posten has sent you a message that we have a shipment for you. The shipment lacks/or has incomplete customs documentation.

It is important that you get what we demand. When we receive information from you, we will process the shipment and forward it to you as soon as possible.

Submit missing information from this page.

Posten must cover costs we have in connection with the processing of all shipments, including shipments to customers who clear customs themselves.

The price shall cover our costs for performing statutory tasks such as: arrival processing, registration of the consignments and mandatory customs warehouse accounts to the Norwegian Customs.

We also have to carry out these statutory tasks on consignments that customers customs themselves. Posten does simplified customs clearance automatically, but for full customs clearance (item value over 3,000.– kroner), you as a customer can reserve yourself and carry out the customs clearance yourself.

The notice sent to you states which import duties have been calculated. To calculate taxes, we use the goods and value statement that accompanies the shipment. If you think the calculation is incorrect, you must document the error. Please contact customer service before picking up your shipment to ensure that the correct charges are applied to the payment.

See the Norwegian Customs Service's website which provides good information and guidance when you want to apply for a refund of overpaid VAT and customs duties, as well as in those cases where you demand a refund of fees when you return goods.

The price covers the costs associated with statutory tasks that Posten must perform: arrival processing, classification and registration of the goods, calculation and collection of fees, settlement with the authorities, and storage pending payment from the recipient. Full customs clearance costs more than simplified customs clearance because the documentation requirement and the degree of detail in a full customs clearance is higher than for simplified customs clearance.

If you have not paid Norwegian VAT and other taxes through purchases in the online store, you must pay taxes when the item arrives in Norway. This also applies to gifts with a value of more than 1,000.– kroner. Read more at toll.no/en/online-shopping/.

We can carry out simplified customs clearance on goods to private individuals with a value of up to 3,000.– kroner (excluding transport and insurance) if the sender has not collected Norwegian fees in advance. The scheme does not cover restricted goods such as food, alcohol and tobacco products.

The simplification consists of minor requirements for a detailed product description and there is no need to identify the recipient with a birth and personal identity number.

No, Posten has digitized the customs clearance process and reduced the prices for customs clearance. Thus, in most cases, it will be worthwhile to let Posten clear customs and, consequently, not reserve against Posten clearing customs for you.

Books are normally free of charge. If the shipment contains your other goods, they must be cleared through customs. You pay VAT and any other fees as well as customs clearance for these goods.
The books will be kept out as long as they are specified on the customs information from the sender.

No, you don't have to pay. The shipment will be returned after 2 weeks if you do not collect the shipment.

Contact customer service before you pick up the shipment, so we can clarify what has happened. The reason is probably due to a lack of labeling of the consignment from abroad. If you have picked up the consignment and paid import duties to Posten, you must contact the online store to ask them for a refund.

If it turns out that the shipment is correctly marked, we will apply to the authorities for a refund and refund you afterwards.

VAT, customs and excise duties. See the Norwegian Customs' summary of what you have to pay when you shop online.

The calculation basis comes in customs documentation that is sent electronically from the sender.

Examples of typical personal information that Posten processes are name, address, birth number, telephone number and e-mail address. Birth number is required only in special cases. Read about how Posten processes your personal information.

Posten needs your personal information in order to be able to perform customs clearance services in line with the authorization given by Posten to the Norwegian Customs. Read about how Post processes your personal information.

The main rule is that you have to pay VAT. for works of art you import to Norway. In certain cases, you can be granted a full or partial exemption from VAT, but then you must be able to document that the work of art meets the requirements for a tax-free import.

According to the regulations, there are two requirements that must be met in order to be fully exempt from VAT:

• The work of art must be calculated as a work of art in the VAT regulations
• The work og art must be made by a living artist who imports art himself

Artwork that does not come under duty exemption requires full customs clearance and will incur a customs fee to be paid.

For more information: Work of art and VAT – Norwegian Customs

No VAT shall be calculated when importing stamps, banknotes and coins as collectibles. In order for banknotes and coins to be introduced tax-free, as collectibles, they must previously have been valid means of payment.

Note: A commemorative coin has not been a means of payment and therefore added value must be calculated upon import. Stamps that can still be used for franking also do not come under the regulations for collectibles with duty-free import.