Norway - Clearance
Norway is not an EU Member State but it is part of the European Economic Area (EEA) and is part of the Schengen area. See Noonsite’s EU page for all EU regulations.
Ports of Entry:
If you expect to cross the border into Norway at a place remote from an Immigration office, then special permission is required. In this instance, PRIOR permission must be obtained and a Permit issued by the local Police Station. There has to be a very specific reason why this would NOT be granted. You will then be informed of the location as to where you must visit Immigration.
With the introduction of the Europe-wide entry and exit system (EES) by the end of May 2023, biometric data will need to be recorded on entry and exit for third country travelers. While this negates the need to have passports stamped, it will require a visit to an official office at a port of entry, therefore flexible clearance may no longer be possible in 2023. It is not yet known how rigidly EES will be enforced for pleasure boat users.
General Process:
Norway requires all yachts to clear into the country, but rules are more relaxed if coming from another Nordic country or a Schengen Area country.
Yachts from Nordic countries do not need to make a Customs declaration provided they are not carrying an excess of dutiable stores and equipment and do not remain in Norwegian waters more than six months.
Yachts from other countries should report immediately on arrival at a Port of Entry. The penalties for importing excess alcohol or tobacco are severe.
The captain should report to Customs and show the ship’s documents and passports. Customs must be cleared at a quay in the main harbour before moving to a berth for yachts. Immigration must be contacted on arrival and both Immigration and Customs must be cleared on departure.
When completing the normal clearance at a Port of Entry, a list of Harbours to be visited is required. These Harbours actually mean Harbour Districts, which in Norway, are very large areas. They DO NOT mean every port you wish to enter! This is, of course, not at all clear on the (English) form provided.
Domestic Cruising:
For safety reasons, port authorities like to be advised when a boat arrives or leaves a port, if it is possible, and if the port is big enough to have any officials based there. There is no requirement for official clearance except at the first port of arrival into the country or the last when leaving Norwegian waters.
Last updated: May 2022
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No one needs to take a test before or after entering Norway. The info on here is dated.
Thanks for letting us know Steve – really helpful. Yes I see rules changed last week and we’ve updated the biosecurity section accordingly.
The best pilot guide we used was, in fact, an app downloaded to our iPad and phone: https://www.harbourguide.com.
Norway is very capable when it comes to gas refilling. We found that our existing UK Calor bottles could be refilled with Propane by a professional for the same or less than in the UK. We did not have to buy a Norwegian bottle.
Rorvik and Harstad are where we filled our bottles but it seems like you can do it in most major towns. This site is useful: https://www.mylpg.eu/stations/norway/
To be more precise phasing out is a process as I have explained here: http://59nord.pl/en/radio-2/
It will be finished at the and of the current year, so there is still a good chance that this season visitors to Norway may be able to use their FM receivers.
When it comes to weather forecasts I have elaborated on that here: http://59nord.pl/en/weather-forcast-on-nrk-radio/ and here: http://59nord.pl/en/marine-radio-weather-forecast/
I want to highlight that Norwegian radio has shut down their FM senders from 2017 and the only way to access public radio is by having Dab+ in your boat as this is the only transmission remaining.
To access weather, check VHF Ch 16 where they inform which working channel they will broadcast the weather every day at 9:00, 12:00, 15:00 and 21:00 local time.
Being Norwegian, I would like to expand on your statement about all shoreline being private (Restrictions section).
Few countries, if any, give a sailor better access than Norway. The public intention is to keep all shoreline within 100m open to the public. Deviations from this rule are unfortunately many. Some because of existing buildings when the law was passed, some because of too good lawyers. But the general rule is that you can freely use the shoreline.
You can anchor outside the private property. You can take your dinghy ashore anywhere that is not obviously private. You can spend the day at the shore, collect firewood, and pick berries. All this without asking anybody for permission.
Any “private” signs are most often illegal. With exceptions for the densely populated southeastern part of Norway, the vast majority of the shoreline is free to use.