Norway for founders: company, tax and banking
NorwayEurope- Residence of managing director and board
- Managing director and at least half of the board in the EEA, the UK or Switzerland
- As of 3 November 2026 · [3]
Overview
Norway sits outside the European Union but inside the European Economic Area. The usual vehicle for a business is the aksjeselskap. Brønnøysundregistrene, the register centre, records the company, its beneficial owners and its annual accounts, while Skatteetaten, the tax administration, deals with tax, VAT and payroll reporting.
Companies pay 22% tax on their income for 2026. Dividends to foreign shareholders carry 25% withholding tax as a rule, which tax treaties can reduce. Under the tax exemption method, an AS is not taxed on gains on shares, and only 3% of the dividends it receives counts as taxable income.
The people running the company face a residence rule. The managing director and at least half of the board members must live in an EEA state, the United Kingdom or Switzerland; the ministry can make exceptions by individual decision. The company needs a Norwegian physical business address, and where a board member or other role holder has no Norwegian identity number or D-number, the company registers on paper.
Redomiciled works with Norwegian accountants and corporate service providers on setting up the AS and its recurring filings. Tax questions go to Norwegian advisers and to advisers in the country where you live.
Norway company formation: setting up a Norwegian AS
A Norwegian aksjeselskap (AS) is a private limited company registered in the Register of Business Enterprises. As of November 2026, it needs at least NOK 30,000 of share capital paid in before registration and pays 22% tax on its profits; any managing director and at least half of the board must live in the EEA, UK or Switzerland.
One or more natural or legal persons found an AS by signing a memorandum of incorporation that includes the articles of association. The NOK 30,000 of share capital is paid in full before the company is notified for registration, and the payment is confirmed by a financial institution, a lawyer, an authorised accountant or an auditor.
Registration goes through the Coordinated Register Notification in Altinn, which reaches the Register of Business Enterprises at Brønnøysund. Brønnøysundregistrene says cases processed automatically are usually completed within one hour and cases that need manual processing usually within three weeks. Where a board member or other role holder has no Norwegian identity number or D-number, the company uses the paper form with a D-number application and sends it by post; Brønnøysundregistrene notes that postal submissions may take significantly longer.
The board needs at least one member, and the general meeting decides whether to elect deputies; a managing director is optional. The managing director and at least half of the board must live in an EEA state, the United Kingdom or Switzerland, and the company needs a Norwegian physical business address.
Within 14 days of registration the AS registers its beneficial owners, or that it has none. It registers for VAT once its VAT-able sales pass NOK 50,000 in a 12-month period, files the a-melding every month when it pays salaries, submits the tax return by 31 May and the annual accounts by 31 July.
A foreign company can instead register a Norwegian-registered foreign business (NUF), a branch that is registered on paper. A NUF need not have a general manager, and one with a duty to keep accounts files its own accounts together with a copy of the parent's.
Redomiciled coordinates registration, the business address, bookkeeping, annual accounts, and tax, VAT and payroll reporting with Norwegian providers; the legal and tax advice comes from Norwegian advisers.
Who it suits
Businesses selling into Norway
You have Norwegian customers, staff or contracts and want a local company registered at Brønnøysund.
Holding companies
Under the tax exemption method an AS is not taxed on share gains and only 3% of dividends received is taxable; it applies to qualifying shares only.
Founders with management in Europe
Managers who live in the EEA, the UK or Switzerland meet the residence rule without an exception from the ministry.
Foreign companies testing the market
A NUF lets a foreign company register its Norwegian activity as a branch before deciding on a subsidiary.
Requirements
- Required
Share capital of at least NOK 30,000
Paid in full before registration and confirmed by a financial institution, a lawyer, an authorised accountant or an auditor.
- Required
Board with at least one member
The general meeting decides whether deputies are elected; board members must be of legal age.
- Required
Residence of managing director and board
The managing director and at least half of the board live in the EEA, the UK or Switzerland, unless the ministry makes an exception.
- Required
Norwegian business address
A physical address in Norway with street, house number, postcode and town; a post office box is not accepted.
- Required
Beneficial owners registered
Within 14 days of registration, including the statement that there are none.
- Required
Auditor, unless waived
Required as a rule. The general meeting can waive it while operating revenue is below NOK 7 million, the balance sheet total below NOK 27 million and staff no more than 10 full-time equivalents; the waiver applies once registered.
- Depends on your case
VAT registration
Once VAT-able sales exceed NOK 50,000 within a 12-month period.
- Depends on your case
Managing director
Optional for an AS; where there is one, the residence rule applies to that person.
Documents
- Memorandum of incorporation with articlesSigned by the founders; it sets the share capital, the shares and the first board.
- Confirmation of the share capitalFrom the bank, lawyer, authorised accountant or auditor that confirms the payment.
- Coordinated Register NotificationFiled in Altinn, or on the paper main form where a board member or other role holder has no Norwegian identity number or D-number.
- D-number applicationsFor each board member or other role holder without a Norwegian identity number, with a certified copy of their identification.
- Business address detailsThe Norwegian physical address at which the company is registered.
- Confirmation of the share capital
- By a Norwegian or EEA financial institution, a lawyer or an authorised accountant, or an auditorAs of 3 November 2026 · [5]
- Board and managing director
- Board of 1 or more members; managing director optionalAs of 3 November 2026 · [3]
- Registration processing time (Brønnøysund)
- Usually within 1 hour when processed automatically; usually within 3 weeks when processed manuallyAs of 3 November 2026 · [7]
- Beneficial owners
- Registered within 14 days, also when there are noneAs of 3 November 2026 · [8]
- Withholding tax on dividends to foreign shareholders
- 25% as a rule; tax treaties can reduce itAs of 3 November 2026 · [10]
- VAT registration threshold
- NOK 50,000 of VAT-able sales within 12 monthsAs of 3 November 2026 · [12]
- Annual accounts
- To the Register of Company Accounts by 31 July, without extensionAs of 3 November 2026 · [13]
- Audit
- Required as a rule; can be waived below NOK 7 million operating revenue, NOK 27 million balance sheet total and 10 full-time equivalentsAs of 3 November 2026 · [14]
- Tax return for companies
- By 31 May every year, also without revenueAs of 3 November 2026 · [15]
- a-melding (payroll report)
- By the 5th of every monthAs of 3 November 2026 · [16]
- Employer's national insurance contributions
- 14.1% in zone I; lower in other zonesAs of 3 November 2026 · [17]
Timeline
- 1Structure and rolesDecide the shareholders, any holding company above, the board, whether to appoint a managing director and how the residence rule is met.
- 2Memorandum and capitalSign the memorandum of incorporation and pay in the share capital, then obtain its confirmation.
- 3Registration at BrønnøysundFile the Coordinated Register Notification in Altinn, or on paper with D-number applications; automatic cases are usually completed within one hour, manual ones usually within three weeks.
- 4Beneficial owners and tax registrationsRegister the beneficial owners within 14 days, register for VAT once the threshold is reached and report employees through the a-melding.
- 5Bank and bookkeepingOpen the operating account after the bank's due diligence and set up bookkeeping for the annual accounts and the tax return.
- 6Annual cyclea-melding by the 5th of each month, the tax return by 31 May and the annual accounts by 31 July.
Tax notes
- Norwegian companies pay 22% tax on their income for 2026. The company files its tax return through an accounting system by 31 May every year, also in a year without revenue.
- Dividends paid to foreign shareholders carry 25% withholding tax as a rule. Tax treaties can reduce the rate, and corporate shareholders resident in the EEA may be exempt.
- Under the tax exemption method an AS is not taxed on gains on shares and cannot deduct losses on them, and only 3% of the dividends it receives is taxable income. It applies only to qualifying shares, for example in companies genuinely resident in the EEA.
- VAT is 25% as standard, with 15% on foodstuffs and 12% on some services. Registration is required once VAT-able sales exceed NOK 50,000 within a 12-month period.
- Employers file the a-melding by the 5th of every month and pay employer's national insurance contributions by zone, 14.1% in zone I and less in the other zones.
General information, not tax advice. Your position depends on your circumstances.
Banking fit
- A share capital account at a bank is the most common way to pay in the capital, but the law also allows confirmation by a lawyer, an authorised accountant or an auditor.
- Norwegian banks verify the company against the register, map its ownership and beneficial owners and ask about the purpose of the account before opening it.
- Finanstilsynet's position against de-risking concerns blanket refusals of whole groups or sectors; each bank still decides on the individual company after its own due diligence.
Keeping a Norwegian company in good standing
The annual accounts reach the Register of Company Accounts by 31 July; Brønnøysundregistrene does not extend the deadline. An audit is required as a rule; the general meeting can waive it while the company stays below NOK 7 million operating revenue and NOK 27 million balance sheet total with no more than 10 full-time equivalents.
Beneficial owners are registered within 14 days of registration and within 14 days of any change. The managing director and at least half of the board must keep living in the EEA, the UK or Switzerland unless the ministry has made an exception.
The company keeps a Norwegian physical business address, and the monthly a-melding continues for as long as it pays salaries.
Questions
How long does it take to register an AS in Norway?
Brønnøysundregistrene says cases processed automatically are usually completed within one hour, and registrations that need manual processing usually within three weeks. It also publishes which dates it is currently processing.
How much share capital does a Norwegian AS need?
At least NOK 30,000, paid in full before registration. A Norwegian or EEA financial institution, a lawyer or an authorised accountant can confirm a cash payment, and an auditor can always confirm it.
Can the board of a Norwegian AS live abroad?
Partly. At least half of the board members and the managing director must live in an EEA state, the United Kingdom or Switzerland. The ministry can make exceptions by individual decision.
Does a Norwegian AS need an auditor?
As a rule, yes. The general meeting can waive the audit while operating revenue is below NOK 7 million, the balance sheet total below NOK 27 million and staff no more than 10 full-time equivalents, and the waiver applies once registered. Other rules, for example for some parent companies, can still require an audit.
When are the tax return and annual accounts due?
The tax return for companies is due by 31 May each year and the annual accounts by 31 July. Payroll is reported monthly through the a-melding, by the 5th.
What is a NUF in Norway?
A Norwegian-registered foreign business, the form a foreign company uses for a branch in Norway. It is registered on paper, does not need a general manager, and one with a duty to keep accounts files them with a copy of the parent's.
Banking in our network
We do not publish institution names: the right partner depends on your profile, and each institution keeps its own view on who it will serve.
60+
Banking partners across Europe in our network
No partner institution in our network is based here; companies and residents here are introduced to partners in other jurisdictions.
- The share capital must be paid in before the AS is registered. Brønnøysundregistrene names a share capital account at a bank as the most common route, and the payment can be confirmed by a Norwegian or EEA financial institution, a lawyer or an authorised accountant, or by an auditor.
- Under the Anti-Money Laundering Act a Norwegian bank carries out customer due diligence before it opens an account. It records the company's name, form, organisation number, address and the names of its managing director and board, checks them against a public register or a certificate no older than three months, and works out who owns and controls the company.
- Finanstilsynet, the supervisor, says the anti-money laundering rules do not permit de-risking: people, whole groups or sectors may not be refused financial services solely because of their money-laundering risk. A bank that cannot complete its due diligence must still not establish the relationship.
Do I need a Norwegian bank account to form an AS?
Not by law. The share capital can be confirmed by a Norwegian or EEA financial institution, a lawyer, an authorised accountant or an auditor, although Brønnøysundregistrene calls a share capital account at a bank the most common route. If an EEA bank confirms the capital, the registration goes on paper.
What does a Norwegian bank check before opening a company account?
The company's details against a public register or a certificate no older than three months, its ownership and control structure, its beneficial owners, such as anyone holding more than 25%, and the purpose and intended nature of the relationship. Identification without personal attendance needs additional documentation.
Can a Norwegian bank refuse my company?
If it cannot complete customer due diligence, it must not open the account. Finanstilsynet adds that the rules do not allow de-risking: whole groups or sectors cannot be refused solely because of their money-laundering risk. Each bank decides on the individual company after its own checks.
Does due diligence end once the account is open?
No. Banks follow up customer relationships on an ongoing basis, repeat their checks when earlier information is in doubt, apply enhanced measures where the risk is high, and must end a relationship when the checks can no longer be carried out.
Questions
Can a foreigner set up a company in Norway?
Yes. One or more natural or legal persons can found an AS. The residence rule concerns management: the managing director and at least half of the board must live in the EEA, the UK or Switzerland. Where a board member or other role holder has no Norwegian identity number or D-number, the company registers on paper with a D-number application.
What is the corporate tax rate in Norway?
22% for 2026. Dividends paid to foreign shareholders carry 25% withholding tax as a rule; tax treaties can reduce it, and corporate shareholders resident in the EEA may be exempt.
Does a Norwegian company need an address in Norway?
Yes. Altinn's guidance says an AS must have a Norwegian business address, meaning a physical address with street, house number, postcode and town. A post office box is not enough.
Sources
- 1.Brønnøysundregistrene: Share capital in a limited company, retrieved 2026-11-03
- 2.Lovdata: Limited Liability Companies Act (aksjeloven), chapter 2, retrieved 2026-11-03
- 3.Lovdata: Limited Liability Companies Act (aksjeloven), chapter 6, retrieved 2026-11-03
- 4.Brønnøysundregistrene: Roles in a limited company, retrieved 2026-11-03
- 5.Brønnøysundregistrene: Pay the share capital, retrieved 2026-11-03
- 6.Altinn: Starting and registering a private limited company (AS), retrieved 2026-11-03
- 7.Brønnøysundregistrene: When will my case be processed?, retrieved 2026-11-03
- 8.Brønnøysundregistrene: Beneficial owners, retrieved 2026-11-03
- 9.Skatteetaten: Advance tax assessment 2026 (statement), retrieved 2026-11-03
- 10.Skatteetaten: Reduced withholding tax on dividends for foreign shareholders, retrieved 2026-11-03
- 11.Skatteetaten: Value added tax rates, retrieved 2026-11-03
- 12.Skatteetaten: Register for VAT, retrieved 2026-11-03
- 13.Brønnøysundregistrene: Submission of annual accounts, retrieved 2026-11-03
- 14.Brønnøysundregistrene: Audit requirements for limited companies, retrieved 2026-11-03
- 15.Skatteetaten: Tax return for companies, retrieved 2026-11-03
- 16.Skatteetaten: The a-melding, deadlines and payment, retrieved 2026-11-03
- 17.Skatteetaten: Employer's national insurance contributions, rates, retrieved 2026-11-03
- 18.Brønnøysundregistrene: Norwegian-registered foreign business (NUF), retrieved 2026-11-03
- 19.Skatteetaten: The tax exemption method, retrieved 2026-11-03
- 20.Lovdata: Anti-Money Laundering Act (hvitvaskingsloven), retrieved 2026-11-03
- 21.Finanstilsynet: The anti-money laundering rules and consumers' right to financial services, retrieved 2026-11-03
- 22.Finanstilsynet: EBA statement on de-risking (2022), retrieved 2026-11-03
- 23.Lovdata: Accounting Act (regnskapsloven), chapter 8, retrieved 2026-11-03
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