Set up a company in Norway.
Flat 22% corporate tax. Just 14.1% employer social contributions — less than half what Sweden charges. Backed by the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund, a hydropower-driven grid, and a NATO founding member.
To set up a company in Norway, you choose a legal structure (most commonly an Aksjeselskap (AS) — the equivalent of a UK Ltd or German GmbH), draft the Articles of Association, deposit the share capital, and register with the Brønnøysund Register Centre via the Altinn online portal. You then register with the Norwegian Tax Administration (Skatteetaten) for a tax identification number, VAT (MVA) and employer obligations.
Standard formation takes 2 to 4 weeks for an AS. Minimum share capital is NOK 30,000 (approximately €2,650). Corporate income tax is a clean flat 22%; the headline-grabbing fact is that employer social contributions are just 14.1% — less than half what Sweden charges.
Grant & Graham manages the entire process — structure advice, Brønnøysund filing via Altinn, banking introductions, tax and VAT setup, EEA-residency director arrangements where needed, D-number applications for foreign directors, and ongoing compliance — through a single senior point of contact.
22% flat CIT. Materially lower payroll costs than Sweden.
Norway runs a notably cleaner tax structure than its Nordic neighbours: a 22% flat corporate rate with no surprises, and crucially, employer social contributions at just 14.1% — less than half Sweden’s 31.42%. For headcount-heavy businesses, that single difference can change which Nordic country is most cost-effective to base in. The 5% high-salary surcharge was abolished on 1 January 2025; payroll is now simpler too.
Notable sector regimes (be honest about these): Financial sector companies pay 25% CIT + 5% financial activities tax (30% effective). Petroleum companies on the Norwegian Continental Shelf face a 78% combined marginal rate (22% CIT + 56% special petroleum tax). Onshore wind and aquaculture (salmon/trout farming) face resource rent tax giving a 47% effective rate above the NOK 70m threshold. WHT on dividends to non-EEA recipients is 25% (reducible under DTTs). No inheritance tax. Wealth tax applies to individuals, not companies.
Nine reasons businesses choose Norway.
A wealthy, stable, high-trust EEA economy with sovereign-wealth-fund backing, the cleanest grid in Europe, and a Nordic neighbour’s costs of employment that meaningfully undercut Sweden.
Lowest Nordic payroll costs
Employer social contributions are 14.1% — against Sweden’s 31.42%, Denmark’s ~8% but high marginal tax, and Finland’s ~21%. For headcount-heavy businesses, Norway materially undercuts Sweden on total cost of employment.
Clean 22% CIT
Flat 22% corporate rate, with no municipal layer and no surprises. Below the OECD average. Predictable for ten-year planning. Fritaksmetoden gives an effective 0.66% rate on qualifying intra-group dividends.
Sovereign-wealth-fund backed
The Government Pension Fund Global — world’s largest sovereign wealth fund at ~USD 1.7 trillion — underpins long-term fiscal stability. Norway runs structural surpluses and AAA sovereign credit.
EEA, not EU
Norway opted out of EU membership but joined the EEA in 1994. Full access to the EU single market for goods, services, capital and people — without EU voting rights or contributions to the EU budget in the same form.
Cleanest energy grid in Europe
Around 98% of Norwegian electricity comes from renewable sources — primarily hydropower. The cheapest, cleanest grid in Europe makes Norway a natural home for data centres, electrolysers, aluminium smelting and energy-intensive industry.
EV adoption world leader
Over 90% of new car sales in 2025 were electric. Zero-rated VAT and supportive infrastructure make Norway the global proving ground for electric mobility, charging networks, V2G technology and fleet electrification.
NATO founding member
Norway has been a NATO founding member since 1949. Defence and strategic-industry investment is rising materially post-2022, with significant procurement programmes across maritime, air defence, ISR and cyber.
Maritime & aquaculture leadership
The world’s largest salmon exporter and one of the largest shipping registers. Strong supply-chain depth in offshore wind, subsea, maritime tech and marine biotech — sectors that map to Norway’s natural advantages.
Highest English proficiency in Europe
Norway consistently tops EF’s English Proficiency Index. International staff onboard quickly. Almost all business is conducted bilingually. The cultural distance from London or Amsterdam is genuinely small.
Seven legal structures — one usually fits.
For most international businesses entering Norway, the Aksjeselskap (AS) is the starting point — equivalent to a UK Ltd. The ASA is used for larger listed entities; the NUF for foreign companies retaining the parent as the legal entity.
Private Limited Company
The standard structure for trading and holding businesses. Separate legal entity, limited liability. Minimum NOK 30,000 share capital. At least one shareholder; board minimum one director. At least 50% of board must reside in the EEA.
Public Limited Company
For larger businesses or those intending to list on Oslo Børs or Euronext Growth. Minimum NOK 1,000,000 share capital, fully paid. Three-member board minimum. Required for any company offering shares to the public.
Foreign-Registered Entity
A Norwegian-registered branch of a foreign company. Not a separate legal entity — the foreign parent retains full liability. Taxed at 22% on Norwegian-source income. Common entry route avoiding the AS capital requirement.
Sole Proprietorship
Single owner, no separate legal personality, full personal liability. No minimum capital. Subject to personal income tax (22% flat plus progressive bracket tax up to 17.6%) plus self-employed contributions.
General Partnership
Two or more partners with unlimited joint and several liability. No minimum capital. Tax-transparent — partnership income flows through to partners’ personal tax. Used in some professional services contexts.
Limited Partnership
General partner with unlimited liability and limited partner whose liability is capped at their contribution. Used in some real-estate, maritime and fund structures. Tax-transparent.
Representative Office
Limited to marketing, liaison and promotional activities. Cannot trade or conduct commercial transactions in Norway. Useful for initial market exploration before a fuller commitment.
Branch (legacy term)
Generic term often used interchangeably with NUF. The formal Norwegian classification is NUF; the term filial is still commonly used in foreign-parent documentation and tax treaties.
Talk to us first
AS is the workhorse for nearly every foreign investor. ASA for larger or listed entities. NUF where the foreign parent must remain the legal entity. A 25-minute call usually settles it.
Book a call →From decision to live entity.
The end-to-end registration sequence for a Norwegian AS — managed by Grant & Graham with senior Norwegian counsel and accountant, end-to-end via the Altinn digital portal.
D-number applications for foreign directors
Non-resident directors and shareholders need a Norwegian personal identification number — either a full national ID number (fødselsnummer) for residents or a D-number (D-nummer) for foreign individuals. Typical turnaround 2 to 4 weeks. Often the critical path.
Reserve a company name
Confirm the proposed name is unique and meets Norwegian naming regulations. Name reservation is filed via the Brønnøysund Register Centre. Have one or two backup names ready in case of conflict.
Brønnøysundregistrene →Prepare Articles of Association & Memorandum
Draft the foundational documents in Norwegian (with sworn translation where needed): stiftelsesdokument (memorandum of incorporation) and vedtekter (articles defining business purpose, share capital, board composition, financial year).
Appoint board & check EEA-residency rule
Appoint at least one director. At least half of the board members and any managing director must reside in Norway or another EEA country. Where the company has no EEA-resident director, a Brønnøysund exemption (dispensasjon) is required. We handle the exemption application where needed.
Open a temporary capital account & deposit share capital
Open an initial capital account at a Norwegian bank (DNB, Nordea, SpareBank 1, Handelsbanken). Deposit the minimum NOK 30,000 share capital for an AS. The bank, auditor or lawyer issues a payment confirmation (bekreftelse) required for the Brønnøysund filing.
Register with Brønnøysund via Altinn
Submit the incorporation documents and capital confirmation to the Brønnøysund Register Centre via the Altinn online portal. Registration fee NOK 5,570 (electronic) or NOK 6,797 (paper). Standard turnaround 5 to 15 working days. Brønnøysund issues the company’s organisation number (organisasjonsnummer).
Altinn portal →Tax registrations with Skatteetaten
Register for the company tax identifier with the Norwegian Tax Administration. Register for VAT (MVA) once turnover exceeds NOK 50,000 over 12 months — or voluntarily earlier where useful for intra-EEA operations. Register as employer if hiring.
Skatteetaten →Operating bank account
Convert the temporary capital account into a full operating account. Norwegian banks have become notably more thorough on KYC for foreign-owned companies post-2023 — expect detailed UBO and source-of-funds documentation. We coordinate this end-to-end.
Ongoing compliance & a-melding reporting
Annual CIT return (skattemelding) due 31 May of the year following the income year. Bimonthly VAT returns by default (monthly or annual for some). Monthly a-melding — the combined employer/employee declaration covering payroll, tax withholding and employer contributions. Annual financial statements filed with Brønnøysund. Statutory audit required where the company exceeds two of: 10 employees / NOK 27M balance sheet / NOK 70M turnover (default exemption for smaller AS).
What it costs to incorporate & run.
All figures are indicative for a standard AS setup with one shareholder and one EEA-resident director. Norway is broadly mid-priced for Western Europe — comparable to Sweden, materially cheaper than Switzerland.
One-time setup
Excludes the NOK 30,000 minimum share capital. EEA director exemption only applies where the company has no EEA-resident director or alternate.
Ongoing monthly / annual
Audit thresholds trigger at 2 of: 10 employees / NOK 27M balance sheet / NOK 70M turnover. Smaller AS are audit-exempt by default.
The legal framework to know.
A summary of the core legislation governing companies in Norway — we coordinate with senior Norwegian counsel where specialist advice is needed.
Corporate Law
- Companies Act Aksjeloven
- Public Limited Companies Act Allmennaksjeloven
- Partnership Act Selskapsloven
Tax Law
- Taxation Act Skatteloven
- VAT Act Merverdiavgiftsloven
- Tax Administration Act Skatteforvaltningsloven
Employment Law
- Working Environment Act Arbeidsmiljøloven
- National Insurance Act Folketrygdloven
- Holiday Act Ferieloven
Data Protection
- Personal Data Act Personopplysningsloven
- EU GDPR (applicable via EEA)
- Norwegian Data Protection Authority Datatilsynet
Environmental Law
- Pollution Control Act Forurensningsloven
- Norwegian Environment Agency Miljødirektoratet
- EU environmental directives (via EEA)
Intellectual Property
- Patents Act Patentloven
- Trademarks Act Varemerkeloven
- Copyright Act · Norwegian IP Office Patentstyret
Norway, answered.
Four steps from enquiry to live entity.
Discovery call
30-minute conversation to understand your business, tax position, shareholder structure, EEA-residency arrangements and what you actually need from the Norwegian entity.
Recommendation
Senior advisory on the right structure (AS, ASA, NUF), board composition, banking partner, tax setup and ongoing compliance. Fixed quote.
End-to-end formation
D-number applications, Brønnøysund filing via Altinn, capital deposit, EEA director exemption where needed, Skatteetaten registration, VAT setup, employer registration, banking introductions.
Ongoing support
Retained accounting, monthly a-melding, VAT and CIT compliance, payroll, annual filings, audit coordination where required, and structural changes as you scale.
Ready to incorporate in Norway?
Tell us in 25 minutes what you need. We’ll tell you honestly whether Norway is the right jurisdiction — and if it is, we’ll handle the setup end-to-end.