Import from Norway
Imports from Norway must be declared. Industrial goods with EEA origin are duty-free if you have proof of origin.
Imports from Norway to Sweden are an important part of trade between the two countries. Norway supplies everything from fish and shellfish to technology products and raw materials.
Because Norway is not an EU member, imports require customs procedures that can seem complicated. We process your case within a few hours of it reaching our team.
Why is customs clearance needed when Norway is so close?
Many businesses are surprised that imports from Norway need customs procedures. Norway is nearby and an important trading partner, but it is not an EU member. Goods brought from Norway into Sweden are therefore treated as imports.
The import must be handled correctly from the outset. You need to check:
- What the goods are
- The value of the goods
- The correct commodity code
- Who the consignor is
- Who the consignee is
- Which documents are required
- Whether duty and import VAT must be reported
Duty-free, but only if you can prove origin
This is the most common misconception about imports from Norway. Duty-free treatment is not automatic.
Norway is covered by the EEA Agreement. Industrial goods in chapters 25–97 of the customs tariff are duty-free between the EU and Norway, but the preference requires EEA origin and proof of it. Clothing is in chapters 61 and 62 and is also covered.
Without proof of origin, duty-free treatment is lost and the normal tariff applies, as for other countries outside the EU.
Goods merely transported through Norway do not have Norwegian origin. Where they were manufactured, and to what extent, determines their origin.
VAT is not always 25 per cent
If your business is VAT-registered in Sweden, no import VAT is paid to Swedish Customs; it is reported to the Swedish Tax Agency. Otherwise it is charged at import, and the type of goods determines the rate.
- 25 per cent
- Standard rate. Applies to most goods.
- 12 per cent
- Works of art, collectors’ items and antiques.
- 6 per cent
- Food, books and newspapers.
Three tax rates
The customs process, step by step
Step 1: Find the correct commodity code
First identify the correct commodity code for your product. Every item must be classified to calculate the correct duty and VAT. This is critical because an incorrect code can delay clearance and create unexpected costs.
For example, you import sports equipment such as skis and helmets from Norway. To establish the correct duty and VAT, you must use the right code for each item.
Step 2: Submit a complete import declaration
Once the code is established, complete and submit the import declaration. Swedish Customs needs it to assess duty and VAT. The supporting documents include:
- Commercial invoice
- Consignment notes
- Certificate of origin, where applicable
- Any additional certificates or licences, depending on the product
Step 3: Pay duty and VAT
As Norway is not in the EU customs union, duty may apply to certain goods imported into Sweden. See the sections on EEA origin and VAT rates above for the applicable rules.
Step 4: Transport and logistics
Once customs clearance is complete, the goods are transported onwards. Methods vary according to the goods, from road transport to sea and air freight. The two largest crossings for imports from Norway are Svinesund and HÃ¥n.
The main border crossings
Your chosen crossing determines whether the vehicle must stop once or twice, and where each country’s formalities are handled.
Svinesund
The busiest Norway–Sweden crossing, on the E6. Svinesund Bridge over Iddefjorden is a vital import and export link. The Swedish customs clearance office handles both Norwegian exports and Swedish imports, so the vehicle only needs to stop once.
Hån, near Töcksfors
The other of the two largest crossings, on the E18. Norwegian exports and Swedish imports are also handled together here. If importing machinery or technology products from the Oslo area along the E18, this is where you should go, not Ørje.
Ørje
Ørje customs office is on the Norwegian side, at Svenskeveien 595, Ørje, Østfold, by the E18. It handles Swedish exports and Norwegian imports, the opposite direction to imports into Sweden.
Charlottenberg and Eda
Eda customs office is at Kungsvägen 39 A in Charlottenberg, Värmland County, well north of Årjäng. It is open 24 hours a day, every day and handles both Swedish and Norwegian imports and exports, making it one of the border’s most useful offices. Agricultural, industrial and consumer goods pass here.
Storlien
Located in Jämtland County. Traffic is lighter than at Svinesund, but this crossing handles a significant share of cross-border freight.
Töcksfors and Morokulien
Smaller border crossings used by many small and medium-sized businesses transporting goods between the countries.
Commodity codes are held in two separate tariffs
On the Swedish Customs website, Tulltaxan provides EU codes: ten digits for imports and eight for exports. The Norwegian codes are not listed there, but in the Norwegian customs tariff. You need both when the same consignment is exported from Norway and imported into Sweden.
Restrictions on exports from Norway
Your goods may face Norwegian export restrictions, and some types require a licence or permit. Norwegian Customs lists these groups:
- Waste
- Cultural heritage objects and art
- Endangered animal and plant species
- Electrical and electronic products, and jammers
- Strategic goods and defence equipment
- Weapons
Food and plants instead face specific EU entry requirements, handled in Sweden by the Swedish Board of Agriculture and Swedish Food Agency.
How to avoid border delays
Delays often arise because documents are missing, invoices are unclear or commodity codes are incorrect. This can stop the vehicle or require extra information before the goods continue.
Check the supporting documents before dispatch. The commercial invoice must be clear, the goods description specific and the consignee correctly identified. Value, currency, delivery terms and transport documents must also be correct.
Importing food, fish and raw materials
Norway is a major supplier of fish, food, raw materials and industrial products to Sweden. Some goods require extra import checks, particularly products affecting health, safety, the environment or the food chain.
- Fish and shellfish
- Food
- Products of animal origin
- Raw materials
- Chemicals
- Industrial products
- Goods with special marking requirements
- Products requiring certificates
How to calculate the total cost
Do not look only at the purchase price. The actual cost includes freight, insurance, duty, import VAT, handling charges and customs broker fees.
It is also important to understand how delivery terms affect costs. In some cases the seller is responsible for more of the transport while the Swedish buyer handles customs procedures, charges and importation. Clarify everything before dispatch.
Read on
More on how imports work, whatever the country, is on our page about importing into Sweden.
Sending goods to Norway instead? Read about exporting to Norway.
Importing a car from Norway? Read our guide to importing a car from Norway.
Frequently asked questions about importing from Norway
Are imports from Norway duty-free?
Industrial goods usually are. Norway is covered by the EEA Agreement, and goods in chapters 25–97 of the customs tariff are duty-free between the EU and Norway if they have EEA origin and you can prove it with proof of origin. Clothing falls under chapters 61 and 62 and is therefore also covered.
Without proof of origin, the exemption is lost and the normal duty rate applies. Some goods are exempt from duty, and reduced rates may apply if certain origin criteria are met. Food and agricultural products have their own rules.
How much VAT do I pay?
It depends on the goods and whether you are VAT-registered. If your business is VAT-registered in Sweden, you pay no import VAT to Swedish Customs. Instead, report it in your VAT return to the Swedish Tax Agency.
If you are not VAT-registered, Swedish Customs charges VAT on import at 25, 12 or 6 per cent depending on the goods.
Where can I find the Norwegian commodity code?
Not in Sweden’s Tulltaxan. Tulltaxan on the Swedish Customs website contains EU codes, ten digits for imports and eight for exports, but no Norwegian commodity codes. Those are in the Norwegian customs tariff published by Norwegian Customs. You need both when a consignment is exported from Norway and imported into Sweden.
Can I submit the declaration using Swedish Customs’ Internet Declaration service?
No. That service closed on 6 October 2025. Declarations are submitted digitally through EDI or Swedish Customs’ online services. How import declarations are submitted today.
Which goods require special licences?
Certain goods, such as chemicals, food and weapons, require specific licences and certificates for import into Sweden. We can help identify the rules for your goods.
What happens if customs documents are missing?
The import may be delayed. The carrier, broker or Swedish Customs may need additional information before releasing the goods. Common problems include unclear invoices, incorrect goods descriptions and missing commodity codes.
