How to Claim your VAT Refund in Norway:
Bergen Airport
Norway is not a part of the EU, but shoppers will be pleased to know that tax-free shopping is available in this country. If you are already familiar with how VAT refund works in the EU, pay attention, as there are some differences in how to get your VAT refund in Norway.
An Expensive Country
Norway is an expensive country and if you do any shopping on your holiday, it’s worthwhile noting that you can get your VAT refunded. As Norway is not a part of the EU, any VAT refund that you have from your Norwegian shopping must be export-validated on leaving Norway.
Likewise, if you have done some duty-free shopping in the EU and are flying into Norway, you must claim your VAT refund on leaving your EU destination. You won’t be able to get a Customs stamp for your EU VAT refund in Norway .
VAT Refund Companies in Norway
Tax-free shopping
Global Blue and Tax Free Worldwide are companies that offer VAT refund services in Norway. Unlike the EU countries, the Norwegian Customs Service is not involved in validating VAT refund forms. The export validation is performed by the VAT refund companies and their agents. Global Blue has an extensive list of refund offices located at airports, cruise ports, road borders, ferries and trains. To find out where you can claim your VAT refund, check the website of both companies to see where their refund points are and their operating hours.
Do not leave Norway without validating your forms
If you leave Norway without getting your export validation stamp, you’ll miss out on your VAT refund – I’m speaking from experience here! On my last trip out of Oslo Airport, I could not find a Global Blue representative as my flight was early in the morning (the Global Blue desk is to the right of security check-in).
At CDG Airport, I had my VAT forms stamped by French Customs as we were flying out from Paris. In spite of having French Customs stamp on my Norwegian VAT form and a boarding pass to prove that I had left Norway, Global Blue would not process my claim. I went as far as to offer to send them proof that the goods had been exported, but didn’t succeed in advancing my case. They maintained that export validation had to be done by them in Norway. We had bought some expensive winter gear and needless to say I was disappointed at missing out on our VAT refund.
Rules for VAT Refund in Norway
To be eligible for VAT refund in Norway, these are the specific requirements:
- The minimum purchase amount in one shop is NOK 315 on regular goods
- You can claim VAT refund on food. The minimum purchase in one shop is NOK 290
- Goods must be exported in unused condition
- Export of goods must take place within 30 days from date of purchase.
When approaching the refund counter, you must have your goods, refund cheque as well as your passport.
Enjoy this post? Leave a comment below and add to the discussion. Thanks!
Take Better Digital Photos eBook
Guerrilla Travel Photography eBook
Hi May I check once I get my VAT forms validated by Norway customs, do I still need to send the forms back to Global Blue through mail or I could send to the counters at airport?
May,
As mentioned in my post, the Norwegian Customs service is not involved in the validation of VAT forms. Go straight to the Global Blue desk and they will validate and handle your VAT claim and documents. At Oslo Airport, Global Blue is in the departure hall to the right of security check-in. There is no Global Blue desk once you go past security.
Regards,
Helen
Hi Helen,
Do I have to get a Norwegian customs stamp on tax free form before send them to Global Blue desk like other country in EU?
My refund status on Global Blue website show “Need customs stamp”
Regards,
Mo
Hi Mo,
Yes, you do need to get your tax free form validated. Validation is done by the VAT refund companies or their agents. So in your case, you should have gone to the Global Blue desk at the airport to get your form validated. You might ask Global Blue if there is anything you can do about your VAT claim.
Kind regards,
Helen
Norway VAT: what about online purchases of goods from Norway, and shipped globally ? Do retailers knock off the tax upon checkout? Tks
Dave,
The VAT refund scheme is generally for personal shoppers only and not all stores participate in it. Amongst other things, the shopper has to provide proof of residency to Customs and the VAT form must be stamped by Customs in order for the VAT to be refunded. On-line shopping doesn’t meet these requirements.
Regards,
Helen
I filled out form on Princess Cruise on July 6.2018 for a rebate of $150.00 that my credit card has not received yet.My credit card is Capital One xxxxxxxxxx.Thank Yon Nancy Raymond
Hi Nancy,
We are a travel information website and not a VAT company. Please note that filling out a form alone is not sufficient as it needs to be stamped by Customs. I am not familiar with the process on Princess Cruise so you may wish to enquire with them as to how your VAT form was handled. VAT payments usually take up to 6 weeks to show in your credit card account. If you have a copy of your VAT form you can do an online status check with the particular VAT company. To use their refund tracker you’ll need to provide your VAT Document ID which can be found on the form.
By the way, I’ve deleted your card number from your query.
All the best,
Helen Page
Hi , We are in Norway now and bought some goods for around nok 5000,- in a shop that does not have Global Blue, the salesman there told us we can still get it back.
But i cant find out how to do it.
Hi Rod,
Companies in Norway offering VAT refund service are Global Blue and Tax Free Worldwide. These companies process VAT refunds at their refund points and Customs doesn’t get involved.
If the salesman told you that you can still get your VAT refund without going through the above two companies, he should have explained how the process works and provided you with a completed Exportation of Goods Form.
https://www.toll.no/contentassets/aa1ba9d1efe340cfabf8fd0ae0b83610/rd-0032e.pdf
You will need to have the form stamped by Customs and return it to the shop who then has to process your VAT refund. Yes, shops can process their own VAT refund, but the question is will they do it when you’re gone? How is this salesman going to remit the VAT refund to you?
If you are still in the vicinity, you might want to go back and have a chat to the salesman.
Kind regards,
Helen
I buy goods in France and through norway. then i go to asia. So how can I get a refund for the item purchased in France?
Hi Hung Duong,
Claim your VAT refund when you are leaving France because Norway is not in the EU.
Regards,
Helen
Same like hung dong
I buy the goods from paris and after that fly domestic to oslo and after that flying back to asia
If oslo cant claim the tax , can i claim the tax at paris airport by domestic flight ?
It need to be international flight right ?
Linda,
Paris to Norway is an international flight
Regards,
Helen
Hi..
Want to buy a guitar from Norway online..my friend is a resident of Norway and will order my guitar on his name and address..
But as I am travelling on business visa to Norway ..I will take that guitar along with me to India..
My questions are
1)Will I get the VAT reimbursed if I buy online at Oslo airport?
2)will I get VAT reimbursed as I am buying guitar online on my friends name and I will claim that VAT at Oslo airport? Is it ok if I do so..
Hi Tushar,
As a resident of Norway, your friend is not entitled to VAT refund on any shopping. Please also note that not all shops offer tax-free shopping and online purchases are generally do not qualify for VAT refund either.
If you’re interested in tax-free shopping, you must first check that the shop in question offers this service. When you make your purchase, you must tell the shop that you would like to claim VAT refund and ask for a VAT form. They will ask for your passport details, country of residence, etc. to complete the form.
I suggest that you buy your guitar when you are in Norway. The guitar must be exported within 30 days of purchase.
Regards,
Helen Page
Hi,
I made a purchase in Denmark and am now in Norway. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the Taxfree Form validated in Denmark?
Would I be able to get it stamped while leaving Norway? I don’t need immediate refund, I will be fine sending the form by post, but I need the customs validation.
Any help?
Hi Mostafa,
Your VAT Refund form must be stamped on exiting the EU. Norway is not in the EU so regretably you’ll not be able to get your form stamped there.
Regards,
Helen Page