Post, parcels and online shopping
Sending a postcard, collecting a parcel or ordering from abroad: how the postal system works, what you pay in customs and VAT and where parcels are picked up.
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Are books exempt from VAT in Norway?
Yes, books are exempt from VAT in Norway when they are sold to the reader, and since 2019 the exemption has also covered e-books.
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Do I pay customs on goods ordered from Sweden or other EU countries?
Goods ordered from Sweden or other EU countries are imports to Norway, so you pay Norwegian VAT and possibly customs duty, which applies only to clothing and food.
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How do parcel lockers (pakkeboks) work in Norway?
Parcel lockers in Norway open with the carrier's app, so you collect a parcel from a Posten Pakkeboks with the Posten app and Bluetooth, at any time of day.
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Can I order groceries online in Norway?
You can order groceries online in Norway, for example from Oda, which delivers to homes and businesses in Eastern and Southern Norway, or from MENY.
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Can I send parcels from Norway to the USA?
You can send parcels with goods from Norway to the USA again, but every shipment must be booked and declared digitally through Posten.
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Why do some international online shops not ship to Norway?
Many foreign online shops do not ship to Norway because it is outside the EU customs union, so each order must clear customs and carry Norwegian VAT.
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How do I send a parcel to Norway from the UK or Europe?
Parcels to Norway from the UK or the EU count as imports, since Norway is outside the EU customs union, so they need a customs declaration.
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What are the rules for dropshipping from Norway?
Dropshipping is legal in Norway, but the online shop must follow Norwegian consumer rules, including the 14-day right of withdrawal and clear seller details.
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How much does it cost to send a postcard or letter from Norway?
A postcard or small letter from Norway costs NOK 37 to Europe, NOK 44 to the rest of the world and NOK 28 within Norway.
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Can I send Norwegian food like chocolate or brown cheese abroad by post?
You can post Norwegian food such as chocolate and brunost abroad, but Posten requires customs information for every shipment of goods, including gifts.
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Which online shops do people in Norway use instead of Amazon?
Without a Norwegian Amazon store, people in Norway shop online at specialist sites such as Komplett and Elkjøp for electronics, Zalando for clothes and FINN for second-hand goods.
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Can I get food delivered in Tromsø, Stavanger and smaller towns?
Yes, Wolt and foodora both deliver food in Tromsø and Stavanger, and Wolt also covers many smaller towns, from Alta and Narvik to Mosjøen and Kopervik.
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How can I send flowers to someone in Norway?
You can send flowers in Norway by ordering online from Interflora or Euroflorist, which deliver bouquets made by local florists to addresses around the country.
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Do Temu, Shein and AliExpress ship to Norway?
Yes, Temu, Shein and AliExpress all sell to customers in Norway, and a Forbrukerrådet survey from October 2024 found Norwegian shoppers on all three platforms.
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What is VOEC, and why do I pay Norwegian VAT on foreign online orders?
VOEC, short for VAT on E-commerce, is a Norwegian scheme in which foreign online shops charge Norwegian VAT at checkout on items worth less than NOK 3,000.
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How do I pay the customs and VAT charge on a parcel in Norway?
When Posten clears a parcel from abroad, it sends a payment request through the Posten app, Digipost or a letter, and you pay with Vipps or card.