Export declaration for goods leaving Norway
An export declaration is the message to Norwegian Customs (Tolletaten) that goods are leaving Norway: it identifies the goods, the consignee and the value, and it is the proof that the goods actually left the country.
We classify the goods and file the export declaration with Norwegian Customs, whether your customer is in Sweden, elsewhere in the EU or on the other side of the world. You do not need a freight contract with us.
No obligation – you are not committing to anything.
Start your export case
Tell us what you are exporting
Fill in what you have. If a document is missing, send the request anyway and we will tell you what is needed.
Takes under 2 minutes · No obligation
Who are you?
Two fields and we are under way. You fill in the rest next.
Our answer goes to this address.
We save your name and email when you continue, even if you do not submit. Read more in the privacy policy.
- years in customs
- 60+
- declarations issued
- 50,000+
- satisfied customers
- 2,000+
No obligation. We use your details to assess the case and to come back to you with an offer, in English. You decide whether you want to take it further.
What is an export declaration?
An export declaration is the message to Norwegian Customs (Tolletaten) that goods are leaving Norway: it identifies the goods, the consignee and the value, and it is the proof that the goods actually left the country.
In Norwegian it is also called an utførselsdeklarasjon, and it is one of several obligations Norwegian Customs places on goods leaving the country. Customs clearance is the everyday word for the whole procedure. We have a step-by-step walkthrough of customs clearance in Norwegian if you want to see the whole process in detail, or you can simply ask us in English.
Why the declaration is worth more than the obligation
The export declaration is not only a legal requirement. It is the basis for the export statistics, it is what customs in the destination country builds its import on, and it is the documentation you point to when the export has to be treated correctly in your accounts. A consignment without a declaration is a consignment you cannot prove you sent.
If you discover after the fact that goods left Norway without a correct export declaration, it is not too late to get the documentation in place. The consignment is then filed as a post-clearance declaration, which applies to export just as it does to import.
Preferential duty: what your customer actually pays for
If you are shipping to the EU, origin decides whether your customer avoids duty at the other end. And it is you, the seller, who has to be able to document it, with an origin declaration on the invoice or an EUR.1 certificate, depending on the agreement and the value.
That is also where the expensive surprises come from. Goods assembled in Norway from inputs bought in third countries do not automatically have Norwegian origin: the rules of origin set requirements for how much processing the goods have to undergo. If the declaration was issued on the wrong basis, it is the exporter who is liable for it, after the fact.
| What has to be right | Why | Who owns it |
|---|---|---|
| Commodity code | Governs the statistics and any restrictions, and is used by customs in the destination country. | We classify; you confirm the description of the goods. |
| Origin | Decides whether your customer can claim a preferential duty rate on import. | You, as the exporter. We tell you what is required. |
| Value | The statistical value, and the basis in the destination country. | Your invoice. |
| Permits | Some goods are subject to export restrictions regardless of destination. | We check against the commodity code before filing. |
The background is in our Norwegian guides to export from Norway, rules of origin and approved exporter status.
What we need to declare the export
| Document | When it is needed | What we use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | Always. | The basis for the statistical value and the description of the goods. |
| Packing list | When there is more than one line item or package. | To allocate weight and quantity correctly per line. |
| Transport document | Always. CMR, bill of lading or air waybill. | To tie the consignment to the transport and the point of exit. |
| Proof of origin | When your customer is going to claim a preferential duty rate. | To issue the correct declaration or EUR.1. |
| Export licence | For goods subject to restrictions. | To establish whether the goods may leave the country at all. |
Are the goods going the other way instead? See how we handle customs clearance on imports to Norway.
How we handle the customs clearance on your export
- 1
Send us the case
Describe the goods, tell us the destination country and upload the invoice. If a document is missing, send the request anyway.
- 2
We classify the goods
We find the correct commodity code in the customs tariff. It governs both the statistics and any restrictions that apply.
- 3
We check origin and restrictions
Is your customer claiming a preferential duty rate? Do the goods need an export licence or a permit? We tell you before the declaration is filed.
- 4
We declare to Norwegian Customs
The export declaration is filed electronically. You get the declaration number and the supporting paperwork back for your accounts.
- 5
You have the documentation
The export is documented, and you have what you need both for customs in the destination country and for your own auditor.
What does an export declaration cost?
We price per case, and you get the price before the work starts. The reason there is no number here is that the work genuinely varies: a consignment with one line and complete documentation is a different job from a groupage load with twenty lines, preferential origin and one restricted item in the middle. No lock-in, and no charge for asking.
Questions & answers
Common questions about export from Norway
What is an export declaration?
An export declaration is the message to Norwegian Customs (Tolletaten) that goods are leaving Norway: it identifies the goods, the consignee and the value, and it is the proof that the goods actually left the country. In Norwegian it is also called an utførselsdeklarasjon.
Does export from Norway have to be declared?
As a general rule, goods leaving Norway must be reported and declared to Norwegian Customs. The export declaration is both a legal requirement and your own documentation: it is the basis for the export statistics, it is what customs in the destination country builds its import on, and it is what you point to when the export has to be treated correctly in your accounts.
Do I have to declare when I sell to Sweden or the EU?
Yes. Norway is not part of the EU customs union, so goods that cross the border must be declared whether they go to Sweden, Germany or the United States. Your customer also has to import the goods in the destination country, and whether they avoid duty there depends on the proof of origin you provide.
What do you need from me to declare an export?
Usually the commercial invoice, a packing list and the transport document (CMR, bill of lading or air waybill). If your customer is going to claim a preferential duty rate, we also need to know whether the goods meet the rules of origin. If you do not have everything, send the request anyway and we will tell you what is missing.
Who documents origin on exports to the EU?
You do, as the seller. The preferential rate your customer claims in the destination country rests on proof of origin from the exporter: an origin declaration on the invoice, or an EUR.1 certificate, depending on the agreement and the value. It is one of the things most often discovered too late, once the goods have already arrived at the customer.
What is the difference between export and temporary export?
If the goods are coming back to Norway, for a trade fair, for repair or as samples, it is not export, and separate procedures apply, including the ATA carnet. Use an ordinary export declaration on something that is going to be returned and you risk paying duty and taxes on your own goods when they come back.
Can you handle the export even though another carrier moves the goods?
Yes. We are a customs broker, not a freight forwarder: you keep the carrier and the transport contract you already have. We need the invoice, the details of the consignment and the place where the goods leave Norway, and we declare the export regardless of who drives.
Do I need an EORI number to export?
Norwegian businesses identify themselves to Norwegian Customs with their organisation number. EORI is the identifier used in the EU, and it is the consignee, or whoever imports the goods into the EU, who needs one. If you are unsure what your customer has to have in place, ask us before the consignment leaves.
Exporting goods from Norway?
Send us the case and we will tell you what is missing and what it will cost. We work for Norwegian and Swedish businesses alike, and we handle the case in English.