More than 3,000 shops across Norway offer foreign tourists the opportunity to shop and receive a refund on VAT (Value Added Tax) when leaving the country. Most of these shops display the tax free shopping logo in their window, on their door or on their counter. However, not all of them do, so we advise you to ask the assistant whether tax free shopping applies on purchases made in the shop.

Fast facts

In Norway, sales tax/VAT is included in the retail price and amounts to 25% of the price tag, of which 20% is VAT (the amount refunded when shopping tax free). For food the rate is 14%.

• The goods must be exported in unused condition within a month of purchase.
• The Tax Refund Service is applicable to all EU residents provided they live outside Sweden, Denmark and Finland, and all travellers coming from outside Europe.
• The minimum purchase amount (set by the government) is NOK 315 on regular goods, and NOK 285 on food (including tax). This applies to goods bought at one retailer on one given day.

Please note that you can only claim VAT refund for goods you will take with you out of the country. Services are therefore not included, nor is food you consume during your stay.

How to get your refund

When you shop somewhere displaying the Tax Free Worldwide sign, simply ask for a Tax Free form at the till.

Show the goods at the Tax Free counter when leaving the country. If flying from Gardermoen Airport in Oslo, take your Tax-Free form to the information desk at the ground floor (before security) for stamping. VAT will be refunded to your credit card.

Alternatively, you can go to any Forex cash refund points in Oslo centre during your stay and get pre-payment for your VAT refund in cash. You will receive a Tax-Free form that you must return within 30 days from payment with the approved export verification. Remember you still have to get your verification stamp at the airport (If the form is not returned within 30 days, the full VAT amount will be charged to your credit card account).

There are approximately 55 refund points at various exits from Norway at airports, road borders, on board ferries and cruise ships.

As a part of the Global Blue network of Cash Refund Offices, Norwegian Global Refund Cheques may also be cashed at most of the large airports in Europe as well as countries outside Europe such as Japan, Singapore, Korea and China.

You will need

When you approach the Cash Refund Counter, please make sure that you have the following with you:

• Your goods
• Your Global Refund Cheque
• Your passport/ID

Please note: Norwegian Custom Authorities are not involved in the Global Refund Service and do not stamp Global Refund Cheques whether issued in Norway or any other country.