The official language is Norwegian (with the two very similar official written languages, Bokmål and Nynorsk). In northern Norway, Sami (another official language) is also spoken. Many Norwegians speak English, some also German and French.
The following items can be brought into Norway duty-free: Foreign travelers and travelers who are resident in Norway and have stayed outside of Norway for 24 hours or more. The allowances per person for alcoholic beverages depend on whether or not tobacco products are also imported: 200 cigarettes or 250 g of other tobacco products OR 1.5 l alcoholic beverages (over 2.5% up to a maximum of 22%) (persons aged 18 and over.); 200 sheets of cigarette paper; 1 l spirits (over 22% up to max. 60%) (persons over 20 years), 1.5 l (2 bottles) of wine (over 2.5% up to max. 22%) (over 18 years) and 2 l (6 x 0.33 l bottles/cans) beer (over 2.5%) (including strong beer) or alcopops (from 2.5% to 4.7%) (over 18s); Persons aged 18 and over may import tobacco products, wine and beer. You must be at least 20 years old to import spirits. The value of imported personal items is unlimited for tourists if these items are re-exported from Norway after the stay. If the items remain in Norway after the stay, they must be declared if they have a value of NOK 6000 or more. Example combinations for the import of alcoholic beverages without tobacco products: 1l spirits + 3l wine (4 bottles) + 2l beer (6 cans of 0.33l each) or 4.5l wine (6 bottles) + 2l beer (6 cans at 0.33l) or 6.5 l beer (19 cans at 0.33l) Example combinations for the import of alcoholic beverages with tobacco products: 3 l wine (4 bottles) + 2 l beer (6 cans at 0, 33l) + 200 cigarettes or 250 g other tobacco products and 200 sheets of cigarette paper. or 5 liters of beer (15 cans of 0.33 liters each) + 200 cigarettes or 250 g of other tobacco products and 200 sheets of cigarette paper.
Export Restrictions
Fishing tourists are allowed to export a maximum of 10 kg of self-caught fish per person out of Norway. If the fish was caught as part of a fishing trip organized by a registered fishing company, a maximum of 20 kg of fish per person may be exported from Norway. Proof of the origin of the fish from the registered fishing company is required for export.
Prohibited Imports
Spirits with an alcohol content of more than 60%. More information is available from Countryaah.com.
Contact addresses
Norwegian Embassy
Consulates General in Zurich and Geneva. Consulate in Losone.
Honorary Consulate General in Vienna. Honorary consulates in Bregenz, Graz, Innsbruck and Salzburg.
Reisnerstrasse 55-57
Vienna
Austria
+43 (1) 716 60 and +47 (2) 395 37 83.
http://www.norway.no/de/austria
http://www.norway.no/de/austria
Mon-Fri 08.30-12.00 and 13.00-16.00. Consular Section: Mon-Fri 10am-12pm.
Norwegian Embassy
Honorary Consulate General in Essen. Honorary consulates in Bremen, Leipzig, Rostock, Hamburg, Kiel, Lübeck, Hanover, Bad Homburg, Munich and Stuttgart.
Suit and tie are appropriate for business visits. Appointments should be made and business cards used. Punctuality is appreciated. Norwegian business people tend to be reserved. International business is mostly conducted in English, some Norwegians also speak German. The best times for business visits are February to May and October to December.
Opening hours
Business hours: Mon-Fri 08.00-16.00.
Business contacts
Communication
Phone
According to Abbreviationfinder.org, the country code is 0047. Toll-free numbers start with 800. The last 100 red telephone boxes in Norway are protected monuments. They can be used with a credit card. Emergency numbers: police 112, accident ambulance 113 and fire brigade 110.
Mobile phone
GSM 900/1800, 3G 2100 and 4G. Mobile phone companies include Telia and Telenor Mobil. The transmission and reception network is good, but there may be limitations in remote areas, such as in the mountains. Roaming agreements exist. Like Liechtenstein and Iceland, Norway has signed up to the EU roaming regulation. As a result, international roaming charges within the EU, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland have been abolished. Nevertheless, purchasing a Norwegian SIM card can be worthwhile.
Internet
There are many internet cafes in Norway. Access to the network is mostly free of charge in most cities and towns in public libraries, in hotels, cafes, restaurants, in some tourist offices, in airports, train stations and other public areas and on public transport. Good network coverage for mobile surfing on the Internet. Network coverage is patchy only in sparsely populated areas.
Post office
Hotel receptions, shops and kiosks sell postcards and stamps. Postal items to Germany, Austria or Switzerland take two to four days. Poste restante items can be sent to the post offices in larger cities. Post office opening hours: Mon-Fri 08.30-16.00 and Sat 08.00-13.00.
Radio
Numerous German-speaking radio stations can be received via Astra satellites or via the Internet in Norway.
